IBM Sametime
| IBM Sametime | |
|---|---|
| Basic data
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| developer | IBM |
| Current version | 9.0.1 (May 3, 2016) |
| operating system | Windows , Linux , Mac OS , iOS , Android |
| category | Instant messaging |
| License | Proprietary EULA |
| www.ibm.com/software/products/de/ibmsame | |
IBM Sametime is instant messaging and conferencing software that is developed by IBM and, in addition to being used as a separate product, is part of the IBM social business platform.
Range of functions
IBM Sametime is a product family that is designed for location-independent, synchronous teamwork. Some of the features are:
- working together on documents and other objects
- communicate online within working groups
- Information about participants available online
- direct exchange of text messages
- Provision of applications
- Setup for audio or video communication
Sametime is a web- and Java- based client-server architecture for the provision and organization of multipoint data conferences including an awareness function (“Who is present?”). It can be integrated in MS Outlook, IBM Notes environments, IBM Connections or also in WebSphere . The platform offers the following uses in synchronous communication via the web, such as virtual classrooms with shared whiteboard, audio, video and chat.
history
Sametime 1.0 was released in December 1998 about six months after IBM took over Ubique (Rehovot, Israel) and Databeam (Lexington, KY, US) by IBM. It added “real-time collaboration functions” to the product portfolio, hence the name “Sametime”.
The technologies of Lotus Domino (application server, database, enterprise directory) were merged with Ubique's presence and instant messaging functions as well as Databeam's T.120 data conferences. Sametime 1.5 brought the first audio / video conferencing functions based on Databeam's H.323 implementation. In version 2.0, the functions have been more closely integrated and standardized. Version 3.0 and 3.1 brought many detail improvements.
The version jump from 3.1 to 6.5.1 was carried out to align the version number of the Domino and Sametime servers. At the same time, the Sametime client was now firmly integrated in the Notes Client 6.5.1 and offered e.g. For example, for every e-mail in the addressee and sender fields, in addition to the e-mail addresses, the presence status was displayed at the same time - and contact via instant messaging could take place immediately. Sametime 7.0 again brought improvements in details. Version 7.5 was made available in the summer of 2006, which among other things offers more modern user interfaces and connection options to other IM networks. As of version 7.5, Lotus Sametime is based on Lotus Expeditor . Sametime 8.0 was followed by the Notes client 8.0 on the Eclipse / Expeditor platform, and the integrated client received the full flexibility of the external client.
In Sametime 8.5, the web conferencing and audio / video functions have been completely redesigned. The meeting functions became much more scalable. Audio / video functions have been converted to SIP based on standards and support H.264 and H.263 codecs. A simple video conference MCU was provided, and the entire infrastructure is now also highly available. After the product update (8.5.1, 8.5.2), the current version 9.0 was released in September 2013. Here, the entire UI framework has been converted to a uniform design, the A / V functions have been significantly improved (especially through the support of H.264 SVC) and the provision of a full-fledged soft MCU based on SVC (Continuous Presence). The mobile clients for Android and iOS also received A / V functions.
Client support
The instant messenger Pidgin supports Sametime by default using the external libmeanwhile . Sametime support can be retrofitted for both Kopete ( Kopete Meanwhile ) and Miranda IM using a plug-in (only up to 0.9.0.0). Miranda NG also offers a plug-in for Sametime.
| IBM Sametime | Pidgin | Miranda IM | Miranda NG | Kopete | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Supports standard smileys | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | ? |
| Supports individual smileys | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | ? |
| Sending files | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | ? |
| Sending screenshots | Yes | No | With an additional plugin | With an additional plugin | ? |
| Group chats | Yes | Yes | ? | Yes | ? |
| Automatic takeover of all groups | Yes | Yes | No | No | ? |
Versions
| Release | date | Info |
|---|---|---|
| 8.0 | 2007-11-19 | |
| 8.5 | 2009-12-22 | |
| 8.5.1 | 2010-08-04 | |
| 8.5.2 | 2011-05-16 | |
| 9.0 | 2013-10-18 | |
| 9.0.1 | 2016-05-03 |