Last week at Lotusphere, IBM (NYSE: IBM) unveiled new capabilities to integrate the Sametime instant-messaging application into Outlook/Exchange environments, as well as new tools that bring social-computing capabilities to users of Lotus Notes and Domino. In addition, Lotus stressed an overall vision of openness as a way of differentiating itself from its primary competitor in the office and collaboration space, Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT).

One of the challenges IBM is facing is a growing mindshare in the enterprise environment around Microsoft as the strategic vendor of choice for unified communications and collaboration. In Nemertes' upcoming benchmark, "Building a Successful Virtual Workplace," more than half of the participants have selected a strategic collaboration vendor, with the majority choosing Microsoft.

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