IBM Lotus Domino Utility Server Express and Lotus Domino Collaboration Bundle Express
Lotus Domino Collaboration Bundle Express combines the Lotus Domino Server and your choice of the Lotus Notes client or Lotus Domino Web Access (iNotes) for email and collaborative applications. Lotus Domino Utility Server Express will allow unlimited access to collaborative applications via either a Web browser or a separately purchased Notes client.

WebSphere Portal--Express
In the second quarter, IBM will also release the next version of WebSphere Portal--Express, which will include support for Linux and Microsoft SQL Server as well as offer new collaboration features from Lotus software. WebSphere Portal--Express on Linux is designed to give SMBs an open, cost-effective, and reliable workplace platform for all industries.

More than a thousand Business Partners have already adopted WebSphere Application Server--Express and WebSphere Portal--Express since the products were first announced late last year. WebSphere Application Server--Express, which had already supported Linux and Windows, added support for IBM's iSeries on February 21 and will add support for AIX, Solaris, and HP-UX later in the first half of this year.

Passport Advantage Express Licensing
IBM is going to offer new training and support programs designed to help business partners resell, install, integrate, and finance the new Express software. For example, a new offering, known as the Passport Advantage Express, has a much simplified licensing model that will make it easier for small and medium-sized customers to acquire IBM technology--particularly Express offerings. It should also make it easier for Business Partners to work with IBM to serve this community. Passport Advantage Express will have the following characteristics:

• Single suggested retail price for each product;

• One license model: perpetual license includes a full 12 months of maintenance (subscription and support);

• Transaction-based renewals: Software Maintenance renewal on anniversary date of each purchase;

• Simple license terms: no contracts or signatures;

• One step end user registration process.

More information on all the products described above will become available as they're released at http://www.ibm.com/software.

DominoPower Contributing Editor Jon Johnston is messaging consultant with Creative Business Solutions based out of Minneapolis, MN. He can be reached at jon@msphub.com.