Lotusphere: IBM to support Microsoft ActiveSync

Lotusphere 2009: ActiveSync support will be embedded into Lotus Notes Traveler 8.5

Lotus Notes users will soon be able to access real-time information from their Domino email, calendar, address book and to-do lists on mobile devices that support Microsoft's ActiveSync protocol.

IBM announced at Lotusphere 2009 that the new support will be embedded into Lotus Notes Traveler 8.5, and can be expected before the end of the year. It will be available in beta before then, according to the company.

Bruce Morse, unified communications software vice president at IBM, said that the beta will support a range of devices including Apple's iPhone.

With no ActiveSync support, iPhone users had to use the mobile Safari browser to access a web client version of the Lotus software.

"ActiveSync is not the most efficient protocol, but we are announcing support so that devices can fall back on it," said Morse. "We are not ready to announce a specific date, but expect it before the end of the year."

Microsoft's ActiveSync is a free download that allows users to synchronise desktop Windows documents and email with mobile devices that support the proprietary protocol. Mobile vendors can then license the protocol to achieve compatibility.