Lotus to back IE 4.0 in Notes, SmartSuite

IE will be the integral Web browser used in Notes 4.6 and the next version of SmartSuite, and Lotus adds it will also support Microsoft's Component Object Model (COM) to ease collaborative working with apps from either firm.

Microsoft's success in signing up its old enemy for IE 4.0 is just the latest stage in its attempts to put a stranglehold on the Web desktop.

"Users need to know that their favourite products will work together, so that they can get on with their core business and not be distracted by dueling interpretations of standards," said Lotus president Jeff Papows.

"With Notes 4.6, Lotus is taking an evolutionary step in client functionality by extending the browser functionality beyond mere browsing, Users want to mail-forward Web pages with all their associated elements intact; to manage, categorise, search and store pages locally; to perform group browsing and rating functionality, and more."