Google's email service Gmail have annoyed their users dramatically recently. Long periods of downtime and instability have led the companies escape back to Exchange, Notes and other client-based solutions for their e-mail system.
Now, IBM will capitalize on this. They are therefore in the process of developing their own "Gmail" for the business market.
Not surprisingly, the new e-mail system will be named iNotes, in line with IBM's Lotus Notes and family with a small nod to Apple's little "i" in the bargain. Notes users with the iPhone will already know the name. An "app" was launched a year ago. iNotes for Web was first presented to the press in March this year.
The system is similar to Gmail entirely web-based, but is in contrast to Google's offer not available free to home users.
The full name is Lotus iNotes Live, and here also the similarity in name with a competitor's products are striking. In this case, Microsoft and their "Live" family of web-based products.
IBM will start the sale as early as next week. The price is subject to $ 36 per. User per year, which is 25 percent cheaper than the cost that Google offers to its corporate customers.
IBM's iNotes does not have as many additional features such as Google, but sold as an easier, safer and more robust product.
The analysts have already reacted positively, and believe that the IBM name will be crucial to any success.
- IBM's brand will help much, "said Liz Herbert of Forrester.
Business customer are not a large source of revenue for Google. Even if they charge for the corporate version of Gmail, the revenue from ads targeted to a consumer market that is Google's free services.
iNotes, however, also have another competitor: Enterprise version of Microsoft's Hotmail system. However, this is the most expensive option of the big three, with a price of $ 120 a year per. User.
