On 22 December 2009, IBM released Lotus Sametime 8.5, which features several enhancements, including improved Web conferencing features with a new persistent meeting model and a more user-friendly client interface; enhanced support for documents; and mobility support. New Web 2.0 application programming interfaces will enable developers to embed Sametime capabilities into websites and applications. Sametime 8.5 also offers social views and an improved platform for unified communications and collaboration (UCC).

Sametime 8.5 is the first major upgrade of the base Sametime platform in three years. (In that interval, IBM made available Sametime Advance and Sametime Unified Telephony.) This release occurs within the context of IBM positioning itself in the UCC space, where it faces heated competition from Microsoft and its Office Communications Server (OCS). The new version of Sametime offers several enhancements over previous versions, including:

• A "no download" Web browser client for on-premises Web conferencing and a no-download instant messaging (IM) client. OCS lacks this capability.
• iPhone browser support.
• Drag-and-drop capabilities from the Sametime Connect Client to immediately launch ad hoc meetings and invite participants.
• An improved video standards-based codec, enabling faster and clearer downloads of digital audio and video. Audio and video is based on Session Initiation Protocol (SIP).
• Integration with third-party video systems.
• Fully integrated persistent chat room and meeting room capabilities. (Persistent chat rooms were previously available in Sametime Advance.) OCS depends on a separate persistent chat room client, a technology that Microsoft acquired from Parlano.

For some time, Sametime's Web conferencing capabilities have needed improvement. The new user interface in Sametime 8.5 will go a long way toward remedying issues that Gartner clients have reported regarding its ease of use and the look and feel of its client. But IBM still needs to clarify its road map for integrating its hosted Web conferencing offering, LotusLive Meetings and the on-premises Sametime product.

Gartner believes that Sametime's status as a stand-alone application could give IBM the opportunity to market it outside of its traditional Lotus Notes base. Microsoft and Cisco both made major UCC announcements during 2009. To remain competitive with those vendors' offerings, IBM must use Sametime 8.5 to increase its mind share. This version offers a strong list of features and integration points with the rest of the Lotus portfolio and other systems like Microsoft Office. However, Sametime's success will largely depend on an intense focus on execution to grow its base in Microsoft-centric and other non-Lotus environments.

• Enterprises: Investigate Sametime as a stand-alone enterprise IM and UCC offering that will not require a full Lotus Notes investment.
• Current Lotus Sametime customers: Consider this release to be an important upgrade for accessing multiple communications modalities, such as audio, text and video, from a single client. 

• "Magic Quadrant For Web Conferencing"— Demand from the business has forced IT departments to take a more strategic look at Web conferencing products and services. By David Mario Smith
• "Magic Quadrant For Unified Communications"— Enterprise planners and managers should review how the emerging generation of unified communications software and systems can improve their business operations. By Bern Elliot and Steve Blood

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