Lotus Notes, now in Hindi and Tamil

NEW DELHI: Lotus-IBM today announced the launch of Lotus' flagship groupware, messaging

and collaboration product, Lotus Notes version 5.0.4 in Hindi and Tamil. This

version will support two primary scripts–Devanagari and Tamil–which would

also enable the usage of Marathi and Konkani at a later stage. This launch is

the first in the series of other software in local languages. Another two or

three months will see the launch of Universal Database 2, IBM's database product

in local languages. In 2001, the local version of Websphere, a software for Web

enabling business applications, will be launched. Thereafter, the RISC UNIX OS

will support Hindi, following which OS/400, IBM's mid-range operating system

will also be available in Hindi.

Priced at Rs 5,000 per seat (same as the English version), Lotus Notes in

Hindi will be targeted primarily at government and public sector organizations,

banking, finance and insurance companies, the education sector, private

corporates, social welfare organizations and NGOs.

Lotus is currently doing a Hindi pilot project in Notes for the Rajasthan

government. It is also in talks with the UP government and other non-government

public sector organizations for the deployment of Notes in Hindi. However,

according to Lotus India country manager Souma S Das, none of the deals have

been finalized as yet.

The products will also be sold to independent software vendors, application

developers and existing business partners. New business partners in the B and C

class town and cities will also be appointed.

Talking about the potential of the local language market in India, IBM India

country manager (Software and Solution Developer Marketing) Vishwesh Padmanabhan

said, "In a study commissioned by IBM to IIIT Bangalore, it was found that

this segment could become a $29 million opportunity over the next five years.

Seeing this opportunity, IBM decided to focus on focusing on the local

languages."

IBM has not set itself a target, in terms of revenues, installed base or

market share for Notes in Hindi. Said Padmanabhan, "It is very difficult to

estimate the market size. All we have is the figure from the study that we

commissioned to IIIT Bangalore."

IBM had in 1997 launched the Hindi version of DOS. Though Padmanabhan could

not give any figures in terms of installed base of the product, he did say that

it was an extremely popular and a well-received product.