Bingham

My wife and I both decided to take the trip from South Africa to attend the recent Collaboration University in London. The conference was organised by a group of IBM Business Partners, and supported by IBMers such as Ken Bisconti providing the Keynote address. It specifically covered two products - Sametime and Quickplace.

We were both delighted by the whole experience. The event was a great success. The passion and energy these people have for the products was infectious in what felt to me to be the perfect interlude between Lotuspheres. The content was fantastic, the presenters experienced.I learnt a great deal at the event and thoroughly enjoyed it.

The passion and energy of Lotus runs deep within the roots of these individuals - it is clear to see. The event felt to me like a reunion in some way, possibly because there is much re-energising taking place within the Lotus brand, with big investments and exciting developments - Eclipse RCP, Hannover, Web 2.0 and big updates and releases coming thick and fast.

While there is lots to talk about product-wise, the stars of the show were the presenters. These are the people who have been holding the Lotus flag for some time now - during the ‘quieter’ years. The ‘we shall never surrender’ people of the Sametime and Quickplace community. They have been there during the ups and downs - always contributing, always supporting and in many cases being the product drivers. Their contributions to the community have been invaluable - and felt as far away as South Africa. It was truly an honour to be there to meet them. While a Carl ‘Winston’ Tyler may (probably) not put a flag on Everest, and a Chris Miller may (probably) not journey to the moon (his hair might spike someone in zero-g) - the journey they have taken over time and the knocks they have endured means all the same.

Thanks to all who organised the event. Those who missed out - be sure not to miss it next year. To the Collaboration University team - Instant Technologies, SNAPPS and the Novak’s for organising, Connectria , the IBM presenters, the Turtle Partnership, others and also the organisers thanks! Collaboration University team take a bow!