IBM has teamed up with Ubuntu and Virtual Bridges to offer a virtualised version of the popular Lotus Notes software. The companies claimed that users would be able to experience significant savings compared to a Windows-based machine.
The user will see an identical screen to a traditional PC but the software will be provided through a server with many devices being linked to that one server.
The Virtual desktop itself, will be provided by Virtual Bridges; the underlying operating system is Canonical’s Ubuntu while IBM will be providing its Open Collaboration Client Solution software (OCCS) based on IBM Lotus Symphony, IBM Lotus Notes and Lotus applications.
“When we look back several years from now, I think we’ll see this time as an inflection point when the economic climate pushed the virtual Linux desktop from theory to practice,” said Inna Kuznetsova, director, IBM Linux Strategy in a statement. “The financial pressures on organisations are staggering and the management of PCs is unwieldy. Today’s virtual desktop is delivering superior collaborative software, an innovative delivery method, and an open-source operating system that is demanding clients’ consideration.”