Lotus develops Domino Web server

NEW YORK--IBM (IBM) subsidiary Lotus Development today expanded its Domino groupware server lineup with new rentable versions of the application, as well as new tools and distribution options.

Lotus announced Instant Teamroom, an application rental program that will bring collaborative Internet computing to the massive and virtually uncharted market of small businesses and individual consumers.

Instant Teamroom lets small groups of users establish groupware applications without the pain and expense of buying and installing a Domino server at their own location.

Instead, applications can be rented from ISPs (Internet service providers). Lotus has already enlisted Netcom Online Communications, which will begin offering the services in 30 days, according to Lotus. Other ISPs will follow, the company says.

To speed the process of getting ISPs on board, Lotus also announced a hosting program and a toolkit to allow ISPs to set up Domino host services.

The rentable Teamroom applications and services will be priced by participating ISPs, Lotus said.

The company also today announced Lotus debuted the Domino Intranet Starter Pack, priced at $1,695. The pack is targeted at Lotus resellers as an easy way to distribute Domino. The pack includes Domino server, client software, and a choice of 12 business applications.

Lotus also debuted new tools for making Domino applications easier to build. A new Java-enabled development tool called Notes Designer for Domino, is priced at $495. The tool includes Lotus BeanMachine for Java 1.0 that integrates Java Beans applications with custom-developed software. The tool is due in the third quarter.