Some of these models were pretty cool, though still unfinished work. How about things like the ability to have a Notes document open in a new window, and not necessarily replace the view it was opened from? Oh, and you can have a vertical placement of the preview pane, if you want it.

Composite applications
The WMC framework has a component called the Property Broker, whose job is to integrate WMC applications by passing data and actions between them. When you open an account document in one window, it can signal another one to go look up some data, maybe from DB2, and refresh itself.

This idea of being able to create composite applications using both existing and new applications is cool, especially when you realise that they don't have to be Notes applications -- they can be anything you like, surfaced in the WMC, and linked together. Integration on the glass. Neat.

The Open Document Format editors from Workplace will be in Hannover
You don't have to use Word, any more (see my previous ranting about Word, at http://www.dominopower.com/issues/issue200506/00001571001.html).

More apps
more applications will also live in the WMC space, such as Activity Explorer, and a hugely expanded Sametime, of which, yes, more later.

Dnext
All this needs a new server, Dnext. And here we have more development of the story of how IBM is sharing components between products. IBM's leveraging the scalablility and robustness of products like DB2 and WebSphere Portal Server in new ways, and with innovative licensing (free, in most cases).

Just like Hannover being Notes, Dnext will be Domino. It will still do all the things it does now, but it will do more, to serve the needs of the Hannover client.

The whole idea about the Eclipse platform used for the WMC is server provisioning. It all comes from the server, as a no-touch install over the network (actually a CD-ROM will be available as an option). So the Domino server gets all the ability to provision and manage the client. Free.

It will also get a large chunk of WebSphere Portal Server. This is so that you can provide a portal-based Domino environment driven by WebSphere Portal Server right off the Domino server. Free, so long as it only serves Domino-based data. I guess that also means that DB2 is now a required part of Domino, but using it for storing .nsf data will still be optional. And the DB2 is free, too, while you use it only to back the Domino server.

Hannover will, as we said, contain Activity Explorer. Guess where the server for that is? And the price?

And the Sametime server that you will use with the new Sametime client? Actually it will still be a Sametime server, or a Workplace Server, but if you only use them for the Sametime integrated client in Hannover, still free.

All that, from something that's every year some naysayers tell us is dead?

Sametime, different year
There's more. Sametime 7.5 is a wholly new Sametime client, with huge new capabilities (how about selective do-not-disturb, or a new status of "in a meeting"?).