IBM set to ship new Android-compatible Lotus Notes Traveler

IBM is all set to ship Lotus Notes Traveler 8.5.2.1, an Android-compatible new version of its e-mail software Lotus Notes Traveler, revealed an IBM employee.

Ed Brill, IBM's director of product management for Lotus software wrote in a blog post Tuesday that Lotus Notes Traveler has worked with iOS, Windows Mobile and Symbian operating systems so far.

"Today, IBM is shipping Lotus Notes Traveler 8.5.2.1. New in this release -- the Notes Traveler client for Android OS. The new client provides support for mail/calendar/contacts on any Android 2.x-based device. Yes, it works on tablets as well as mobile phones -- there was a draft technote prior to ship that seemed to indicate narrower support, but we've corrected that in the final release notes.



A couple of things to note about the final release:

• Your Notes Traveler server must be running 8.5.2 to support the Android devices. This has the nice bonus of supporting the Traveler mobile installer, so that the software on the device side is always up-to-date.
• Having said that, the Traveler client for Android still cannot be installed on AT&T devices. This is due to their approach to device security; apps can only be installed from the Android Marketplace. AT&T has indicated they will have a solution available in early 2011.
• If you have been running the beta, you'll need to uninstall and reinstall in order to run the final version.

As I have said many times in the course of the last two years, Notes Traveler just works. The feedback during beta has been positive and the experience of building an Android client enlightening. Congratulations to Jan Kenney and to the engineering team on shipping -- this is the last piece that completes our leadership equation in the business mobile collaboration space, and now we're on to 2011. Thank you all for your beta participation and feedback!
"
Hence, Android support is "the latest feather in IBM's cap". According to him, the new version of the software gives access to e-mail, calendar and contacts on any smartphone or tablet based on the Android 2.x.
Lotus Notes Traveler is a push solution that delivers Lotus Notes mobile users quick access to e-mail, calendar address book, journal and to-do list. It has some other key features like automatic, two-way, OTA synchronization of Notes E-Mail, calendar and contact data. It can remotely swab lost or stolen devices while enabling one to read encrypted e-mails, wrote Brill.

According to IBM, the Traveler software is included in the Domino Messaging Client Access License and Domino Enterprise Client Access License.