IBM Reveals Android-based Lotus Notes Traveler Beta

Smartphone users running Android 2.0 or later can now access their back-end office systems after IBM released the beta version of its Lotus Notes Traveler for Android software.

Following similar offerings for Apple’s iPhone, and most recently for the iPad, Lotus Notes Traveler for Android enables two-way synchronization of e-mail, calendar and contacts.

This application helps bring the data over the air from Lotus Domino servers for users to access and read on their Android smartphones.

As Promised

The app, whose delivery makes good on the promise IMB officials made at Lotusphere 2010 in January, will work for the Android 2.1-based Motorola Droid, Nexus One, HTC Droid Incredible and HTC Evo 4G.

IBM also said its next version of Lotus Connections social software will support Android, which has launched on more than 60 smartphones and tablets in the market.

Google is preparing to roll out Android 2.2 with several new enterprise-minded capabilities that should delight Lotus Notes road warriors who use the aforementioned high-end Android smartphones.

New features will include policy management APIs to enable developers to write applications that can enable remote wipe, lock-screen timeout and other features for Microsoft Exchange on Android smartphones.

Enterprise Mobility

The Lotus Notes Traveler for Android app launch coincided with the opening of the IBM Mass Labs, the company’s largest software development lab in North America.

Mass Labs will encompass a lot of research, but there will be an emphasis on enterprise mobility, which is a big deal at a time when a host of devices are saturating the market for travelling workers.

The launch of Lotus Notes Traveler for Android comes roughly a week after the app was adapted for Apple’s iPad, which sold some 2 million units in 60 days.

Analysts polled said the allure of the iPad and tablets in general is strong among travelling salespeople who need to make presentations.