Mobile workers get Lotus Notes Traveler for Android

IBM has launched a version of its Lotus Notes Traveler software for the Android platform aimed at the ever-increasing numbers of workers who need access to emails from their smartphones.

The firm said the software will be free to download for Lotus Notes customers, providing them with two-way, over-the-air synchronisation of information between their accounts and mobile devices through the Lotus Domino server.

Any device running on Android 2.0 or higher will be able to use the software, including tablet devices and high-end smartphones such as the Google Nexus One and Motorola Droid 2.

IBM also claimed the software is the first native enterprise-grade email messaging client for Android that can offer instant and automatic software updates.

The announcement from IBM underlines the growing acceptance of the Android platform in the enterprise space, as it follows on from the availability of the platform for the Symbian, Windows Mobile and Apple operating systems.

IBM messaging and collaboration portfolio manager Darren Adams told V3.co.uk the addition of Android to its Lotus Traveler mobile platform underlines the consumerisation of IT.

"Staff often upgrade their phones far more quickly than IT budgets would allow so departments are now more willing to let staff have their own devices if they can add an enterprise level of control," he explained.

"Therefore there are a number of policies that IT staff can put in place such as enforcing password protection on the device and having the ability to remotely lock the device and wipe data from the Traveler application to ensure a level of corporate security."

Adams added that it would be down to IT departments as to whether or not staff could install the application through controls on the Domino server.