IBM launches cloud-based social networking tool

IBM has announced its Lotus Live Engage social networking service

IBM today announced Lotus Live Engage, a new cloud-based social networking package designed to offer firms of all sizes the ability to communicate and collaborate with clients, business partners and supply chains.

Formerly known in beta as Bluehouse, the new offering will appeal to smaller firms that do not have the resources to set up their own collaborative services, and larger companies looking for ways to securely interact outside the firewall, according to IBM's messaging and collaboration business unit leader, Darren Adams.

Lotus Live Engage will also provide seamless links to on-premise Lotus solutions that other enterprises may be using.

"You will be able to take a file attachment within Lotus Notes and drag and drop it into a document library in Lotus Live Engage, for example," said Adams. "The integration is seamless between what you use in-house and what you use in the cloud."

Lotus Live Engage features web conferencing, document and file sharing, instant messaging, form designing and the ability to build up and share contact lists, IBM said.

Existing Lotus customers can purchase Lotus Live Exchange through IBM Passport Advantage, although some of the products can be bought on a more flexible pay-as-you-go basis.

Paid subscribers can also invite guests, who will have access to a limited number of functions, and users can trial the service for a 30-day period, Adams said.