Backstory: I posted an entry about how I would have LOVED to see “Lotus Notes/Domino” support listed (by Apple) with the announcements of new iPhone features. I get questioned (a lot) from end-users (and for that matter, others who read this blog) about when that support is coming. — Ed Brill left a comment to that post which made me realize something VERY important: I made it sound like I was blaming IBM/Lotus. I thought correcting that was more important than burring a “comment” response to the post – thus what you’re about to read…
One of THE MOST IMPRESSIVE things that I learned at Lotusphere 2009 didn’t come from a session or presenter… it came from someone who I kept noticing appeared in multiple sessions. I introduced myself to the person only to find out they were from Apple and attending the event as part of the partnership that IBM/Apple have, and will build upon for the future.
That’s a big deal.
IBM and Apple are very different companies. Suits (or at least biz caz) vs. Jeans. PC (-bias) vs. Mac. B2B vs. B2C. — At the core, you have one company (IBM) that needs to produce roadmaps of their software offerings so enterprises can plan ahead. The other (Apple) wants to keep as many secrets as possible until the very end as part of their marketing/hype strategy.
And in the middle – you have the overlap issues; like getting the iPhone and Notes to work together. Which I learned, isn’t as much of a technical complication as it is a plain complication. (Ed talked briefly about this concept as well during … whatever the Mac-love-fest BOF event was.)
Leaving Lotusphere, I had an appreciation for how much effort both parties need to put into working together in light of some fundamental differences. I also (to Ed’s comment/point) gained a respect for the fact that its not ONE party’s “problem” for why there isn’t iPhone support … its more complicated.
So… back to my original blog post; what I meant to say was: It would have been GREAT to see “Lotus Notes/Domino” support in the Apple keynote presentation – and as I remind people to wait because “a product is coming” I need to also be careful to point out that its not the fault of one of the two parties … its more complicated than that.
Thanks, Ed, for keeping me honest with that! 
Tags: Apple / Mac, iphone, lotus
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