IBM adds Lotus Notes mail to to the next version of OS/2 Warp; Notes Mail complements other exciting features in OS/2 Warp.

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 18, 1996--At PC Expo today, IBM announced that the next version of OS/2 Warp, code-named Merlin, will include Lotus Notes Mail, the Notes Release 4 client/server messaging client, to provide OS/2 customers a state-of-the-art e-mail solution. With Notes Mail and OS/2 Warp's new speech recognition software, sending and managing e-mail will be as easy as saying "send," "delete," and "reply."

"Along with the WarpCenter, an enhanced version of the Lotus SmartCenter, this is another example of how IBM will incorporate Lotus technology to give users a superior operating system solution," said Wally Casey, vice president of client product management, IBM Software Group. "With speech recognition, Java technology and a wealth of other features, we think the next OS/2 Warp will be the standard by which all operating system solutions are judged."

"OS/2 and Lotus Notes Mail makes a powerful combination that raises the bar in electronic messaging wherever users are -- in the office, on the road or at home," said Steve Sayre, vice president, Lotus Development Corp. "Notes Mail provides OS/2 Warp with a world-class and proven client/server messaging system that complements OS/2 with its ease-of-use, Internet access and strong mobile support."

Vocally Send and Manage E-mail

With IBM's latest VoiceType technology in speech navigation and dictation, OS/2 Warp will be the first major Intel-based operating system solution to come with speech recognition. And, with Lotus Notes Mail, users will be able to give vocal e-mail commands. A user will be able to open a message quickly, dictate a reply and send it off without ever touching the keyboard.

Powerful Message Management Tools

Notes Mail brings a new level of functionality to users, wherever they use e-mail. Users can customize their mail boxes to suit personal preferences, resizing the message panels and expanding or collapsing folders for a better view. With one click on the appropriate column header, they can sort messages by date, sender, topic, and can arrange folders in hierarchical order. Through Notes Mail, the next version of OS/2 Warp also features type-ahead e-mail addressing, which will help eliminate misdirected e-mails by automatically filling in a recipient's name based on the first few characters typed.

Providing a significant enhancement to current e-mail, Notes Mail will provide OS/2 Warp with a full-featured word processing editor, providing multiple fonts, colors, a wide variety of formatting options, and one-click creation of tables. The next version of OS/2 Warp will extend Notes Mail with the inclusion of Post Office Protocol3 (POP3) and Multipurpose Internet Mail Extensions (MIME). POP3 support will provide users with one program for all of their e-mail activities, including Internet mail and office messages. This will allow users to receive all of their e-mail in one place, reducing the hassle of checking multiple locations for messages. With MIME, the standard Internet mail format, OS/2 Warp users will be able to send e-mails containing graphics, charts, scanned images, even video clips and sound bites. They will also be able to edit spreadsheets and word processing documents while still in Notes Mail.

The next version of OS/2 Warp also enables users to keep messages private. Users can click the "For Your Eyes Only" icon to restrict the ability of the recipient to forward a message; it turns off cut, copy, paste, printing and forwarding commands while allowing the recipient to reply only to the sender.

Since Notes Mail is a Notes Release 4 client, users can leverage the extensive facilities of the Notes Release 4 server to support scalable, reliable and secure client/server e-mail on the LAN or in a mobile environment.

You Can Take It With You

An increasingly important need for computer users is to access e-mail on the road or from home. Notes Mail provides the user with superior mobile e-mail support, in addition to its other strong connectivity features. With one click, users can specify their locations, communication methods and access codes, as well as different levels of access: full messages with embedded attachments, message headers only or the message header and the first few pages of a message.

A challenge for mobile users, who constantly switch from laptops to desktops, is to remember which computer holds which e-mail. Lotus Notes Mail and the new version of OS/2 Warp will solve that problem by providing a mailbox replication tool that automatically synchronizes between messages stored on the user's laptop and those on the local area network server.

"The ability to properly manage remote e-mail access coupled with a fully functional e-mail word processor is critical in today's business environment," said Jess Hurwitz, vice president at Parallel Storage Solutions, Inc. "Lotus Notes Mail permits me to control the way I access my e-mail, allowing me to download entire messages or simply the message header depending how much time I have between flights or meetings. Best of all, I can easily access and manage messages stored on my company network -- even if I'm traveling or working from home."

Improve Personal Productivity

Helping users to be more productive, Notes Mail provides a task management application that allows them to develop and manage "To Do" lists. Employees on the road, for instance, can assign tasks remotely to other colleagues and track their progress. Integrated form filler and workflow capabilities let users route forms and documents to others for action.

Because Notes Mail is a Release 4 client, it leverages the powerful enhancements that have been made to Lotus Notes, the leading solution that integrates messaging, groupware, and the Internet for developing and deploying custom client/server and Web-based applications. More than 7,000 companies and 3.3 million people already use Notes to improve key business processes such as customer service, sales and account management, and product development

More About the New OS/2 Warp

With IBM's latest VoiceType technology in speech navigation and dictation, OS/2 Warp will be the first major Intel-based operating system solution to come with speech recognition, taking the concept of ease-of-use to an entirely new level. It will also be the first PC operating system solution to include Sun Microsystems' Java technology and the first desktop operating system to organize all system management tools in one folder.

In addition to its improved system management and unmatched connectivity features, the product will provide customers with a broad range of enhancements, including an improved user interface which includes an enhanced version of the Lotus SmartCenter and new ease-of-use features. Other features, like superior networking capabilities, and OpenDoc for OS/2 Warp run-time support, should distinguish OS/2 Warp as the operating system solution of choice for the connected consumer to the large enterprise customer. -0-

OS/2 and VoiceType are trademarks or registered trademarks of IBM Corporation. All other product and service names may be trademarks and/or service marks of their respective owners.

Lotus, Lotus Notes and Notes Mail are registered trademarks and Notes is a trademark of Lotus Development Corporation. cc:Mail is a registered trademark of cc:Mail Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Lotus Development Corporation.

Java is a trademark of Sun Microsystems, Inc.

OpenDoc is a trademark of Apple Computer Corp.

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