IPhone with Lotus Notes: IT manager's nightmare?

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IT managers who have been worrying about how to support the iPhone for their executives may want to start some serious fretting

By Matt Hamblen | Framingham | Saturday, 19 January, 2008

A report from Engadget and the Associated Press said that IBM's Lotus Notes email is coming soon to Apple's iPhone and the iPod Touch. An announcement may occur on Sunday at the start of Lotusphere.

Apple and IBM officials could not be reached for comment on the report.

This development would apparently be the first big-time third-party application since Apple said it would open the iPhone and iPod Touch to outside developers. Apple CEO Steve Jobs said in October that the software developer's kit (SDK) would not be available until next month, sometime after the presumed Lotus Notes announcement.

Many have criticised the iPhone as being less than desirable for corporate users. One of the major reasons is that the device doesn't natively support a "push" corporate email system such as Lotus Notes.

But iPhones with Notes, which has a commanding share of the email market, would give business users another reason to bang on the door of their employer's IT support team to insist on having the popular device as a standard.

Engadget said IBM is also planning to announce its free Lotus Symphony for the Mac at Lotusphere.