On Tuesday, the company said that Lotus Notes and Domino 8.5.1, which is due later this year, will introduce Exchange ActiveSync support to Lotus Notes Traveler, software that links Notes and mobile devices. This will make it possible to receive near-real-time notifications of new messages and meetings on the iPhone.
Users of Apple's popular smartphone can already access Notes email through the lightweight, browser-based iNotes Ultralite. The new version of Lotus Notes Traveler, however, will use ActiveSync technology to add push functionality and allow data to be viewed even when there is no data connectivity.
'Push' functionality involves near-real-time updates of email, calendar and contacts sent from the server to the client, although in reality such updates are 'pulled' by the client at very short intervals.
Other mobile platforms currently supported by Lotus Notes Traveler include Nokia Series 60 and Windows Mobile.
An invitation-only beta version of Lotus Notes and Domino 8.5.1 will be made available from Friday to a few hundred current customers and design partners, an IBM spokesperson told ZDNet Asia's sister site ZDNet UK on Wednesday. The beta version also includes version 1.3 of IBM's Lotus Symphony document, spreadsheet and presentation software.
According to IBM, an open beta of Lotus Notes and Domino 8.5.1 will be made available before the final release.