SmartCloud Notes new sixth release now available!

August 14 2012

Today marks the announcement of our sixth major release of the IBM SmartCloud Notes service. The new release incorporates the following enhancements:

•        Support for IMAP clients (supported clients include:  Microsoft Outlook 2003 and 2007, Mozilla Thunderbird 9.0.1, Apple Mail 4 and 5)
•        Additional mail management settings for precise control over the deletion of email messages
•        In SmartCloud Notes web, support for Domino database Notes links
•        Support for preventing auto-forwarding of email messages to external addresses
•        Support for SmartCloud Notes ID password expiration

In addition to the enhancements to SmartCloud Notes, we are also expanding the value of IBM SmartCloud Engage Advanced by including IBM Notes Traveler for SmartCloud Notes as part of the base offering. This additional value enables customers to access SmartCloud Notes via Android, iOS, and other Traveler-supported device operating systems.

The new release was deployed about ten days ago, and in true SaaS fashion, the update happened behind-the-scenes with no impact on the customers using the SmartCloud Notes environment. We have also been doing fine-tuning on the service throughout the year, and will continue to do so with perhaps one more major update in 2012.

SmartCloud Notes continues to generate interest and business for us. We have recently opened up the capability for business partners to offer the entire process of selling and deploying SmartCloud Notes through a new certification program. Our first partner success happened a few weeks ago, and many more partners have expressed interest in the certification program. If you would like to find out more, be sure to let me know.

Ed Brill | Highland Park, IL USA Category:  SmartCloud  Add/View Comments [14]

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  1. 1  Eric Mack http://www.NotesOnProductivity.com | 8/14/2012 6:07:44 PM

    Excellent news, Ed. These look like worthwhile improvements.

    We would love to help bring customers to SmartCloud Notes. One thing holding us back has been the inability to use custom templates (e.g. eProductivity).

    I heard there were plans to do this. Has there been any progress on this front?

  1. 2  Ed Brill http://www.edbrill.com | 8/14/2012 6:27:29 PM

    @1 Eric, there is some limited support for custom templates. They have to be tested by our service team at a cost, but that is a one-time activity. However, there are some limitations that are architectural in nature, template mods that might affect the performance of the system are typically the issue.

  1. 3  Patrick Kwinten  | 8/15/2012 12:34:34 AM

    Out of curiosity: does it sell?

  1. 4  Danilo  | 8/15/2012 3:10:17 AM

    Always something strange in IBM ...

    Why do I have to contact a sales man from IBM (at least here in Italy) to buy i?

    This could be a perfect service to sell everywhere (a la Google Apps) but it is something ... "hidden" ... I discover it only because I read this blog (and other Notes blogs too)

  1. 5  Ed Brill http://www.edbrill.com | 8/15/2012 4:15:52 AM

    @3 yes.

    @4 there is a "buy online" option in many countries.

    https://apps.lotuslive.com/manage/buy/initBuy/input

  1. 6  Steve Medure  | 8/15/2012 9:17:04 AM

    FYI, choosing Buy Online, selecting Unites States and English...here is the description for SmartCloud Engage Advanced. Not sure what und Kontake mit hoher Sicherheit is? Is that German?

    IBM SmartCloud Engage - Advanced

    Social Networking, File-Sharing, Web-Meetings, Instant Messaging, E-Mail, Kalender und Kontakte mit hoher Sicherheit. Umfasst IBM SmartCloud Traveler for Notes für mobile E-Mail und Kalendersynchronisation.

  1. 7  Ed Brill http://www.edbrill.com | 8/15/2012 10:34:03 AM

    That's not what I see. What language do you have your browser set at? Any other reports of that?

    What do you want to buy today?

    Plans

    IBM SmartCloud Engage - Advanced

    Security-rich social networking, file-sharing, web meetings, instant messaging, e-mail, calendar, and contacts. Includes IBM SmartCloud Traveler for Notes for mobile e-mail and calendar synchronization.

  1. 8  Steve Medure  | 8/15/2012 1:33:07 PM

    Happens on Safari 6, running on Mountain Lion OS, and Firefox 14.0.1, and Google Chrome 21.0.1180.79. Language is set to English on the Mac, Chrome set to English, Firefox set to English and Safari uses the system language.

    It appears to look ok on Windows 7, running IE. Maybe it's a Mountain Lion thing..?

    Thanks

  1. 9  Andy Steven  | 8/15/2012 7:12:23 PM

    Buying it is a painful process. Took me over 2 weeks and dozens of emails to get going. Now I have it, it is working OK for me. But it has a few major clunks that frustrate me a lot

  1. 10  Danilo  | 8/16/2012 5:14:11 PM

    @5 @7

    No way here in Italy. Choosing Italy and Language "Italiano" or "English" the result is the same ... contact a salesman ..

  1. 11  Frank  | 8/20/2012 10:05:10 AM

    Outlook 2003 & 2007

    Mozilla Thunderbird 9.0.1

    Apple Mail 4 & 5

    Why was chosen to list this set of clients; both Outlook 2003 & Mozilla 9.0.1 are pretty outdated products while there are new versions available not listed (aka Outlook 2010 & Mozilla 14).

  1. 12  Ed Brill http://www.edbrill.com | 8/20/2012 10:11:42 AM

    @11 well, the Outlook requirement surfaced from specific customers who asked us to test those versions first, and Mozilla, well, it iterates fast and we started testing only a few months ago. We will continuously update what is tested and supported.

  1. 13  Frank  | 8/20/2012 3:16:16 PM

    Ok, clear.

    Frank