David G: Please introduce yourself and explain your role at IBM.

David M: I'm the Senior Product Manager for Real-time Collaboration. My role is to guide our product strategy and features in the real-time space based on customer and market requirements. Specifically, I manage our Sametime (Instant Messaging and Web Conferencing) and the similar functionality within our Workplace Collaboration Services and Workplace Managed Client products. I also manage our audio/telephony and video integration products and strategy.

David G: Collaboration via instant messaging is no longer tied to the office and wires any more. Can you explain how you can take the "act of collaborating" on the road?

David M: Today, users can have all of the major IM features (access their Sametime Buddy Lists, present presence, and have text chats) from different mobile devices. This means that users on the road can appear in other people's buddy lists and be contacted based on their availability. Perhaps more importantly, a person on the road can see who is available either back at the office or also on the road to help them.

For example, a user who is visiting a client may need to talk to a technical resource. Rather than making a bunch of phone calls or sending a bunch of emails, the user can simple look at his or her Sametime group and see who is available right now. This completely changes being on the road from a disconnected to a connected real-time experience that leverages the company's knowledge and expertise.

David G: Who are the major players IBM works with and what unique parts of the solution does each provide? This might be an opportunity to talk, for example, about RIM vs. palmOne vs. Pocket PC vs. phones.

David M: IBM Sametime has a growing ecosystem of business partners that include RIM, WebMessenger, and Air2Web. These IBM Business Partners add value by creating a mobile IM client, as well as a proxy that extends the reach of Sametime. With a wireless connection (e.g. GPRS, GSM, CDMA, WiFi, etc.), the Sametime capability is being delivered to mobile devices such as RIM's BlackBerry, palmOne's Treo 650, and the Nokia 9300. With broad demands from customers, it's essential to offer choice in the devices that can be supported.