Skype, IBM collaborate on LotusLive integration 
ConvergenceAsia staff
20/01/2009

Internet phone service company Skype has announced it will integrate Skype functionality with LotusLive (www.lotuslive.com), IBM’s new cloud services which are designed to help individuals build communities to work smarter, more effectively and more efficiently across and beyond their own companies. Skype’s voice and video calling will add rich, real-time communications capabilities to LotusLive, making it even easier for enterprises to collaborate in the cloud.

This planned integration, which was previewed at IBM Lotusphere 2009 in Orlando, Florida, will join LotusLive collaborative services with Skype Internet communications to create a seamless communications experience for mutual customers. Employees of companies using LotusLive will be able to use Skype to initiate voice and video calls, simply by clicking on their contacts’ Skype names or phone numbers within LotusLive. Future possibilities include the ability to import Skype contact information into IBM cloud services to enhance online collaboration.

“Our relationship with IBM demonstrates how serious Skype is about bringing the benefits of ‘anytime, anywhere, any mode’ Internet communications to the enterprise environment,” said Scott Durchslag, Skype’s Chief Operating Officer.

During tough economic times, every business is seeking to cut costs while enhancing competitiveness and we look forward to broader, long-term cooperation between IBM and Skype to help businesses of all sizes around the globe save money, save time, and stay ahead, he said.

This integration will simplify and improve the way businesses interact with their customers and partners, added Sean Poulley, vice president of online collaboration, IBM Lotus.

Founded in 2003, Skype has more than 370 million registered users globally who use Skype software to communicate for free through voice and video calls as well as instant messages.

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