<p>The IBM Connect 2013 conference broke from the gate on January 27 with a heavy emphasis on social business transformation and knowledge sharing. For 20 years, this annual Orlando, Florida, event was called Lotusphere, and although that name hasn't quite yet been wiped from the slate, it no longer fits with IBM's dissolution of its Lotus division and the ensuing rebranding that the company is doing.</p><p>Unless you are a Lotus insider, a user, and a big fan, the Lotus brand is widely perceived to be out of touch with modern times. IBM is working feverishly to change that perception--which is tied to the old Lotus Notes and its basic email and calendaring capabilities--and this event is its most high profile showcase. Its portfolio of new technology tied to the ideas of social business, collaboration, and productivity will get the red carpet treatment.</p><p>New technologies on display will be highlighted by analytics, cloud delivery of collaboration services, mobile devices, and unified communications. The launch of Notes/Domino 9.0 Social Edition will, no doubt, get a lot of attention. (Ed Brill, the omnipresent evangelist for Notes/Domino social collaboration, wrote in his blog "the November webcast for IBM Notes/Domino 9.0 Social Edition beta attracted 2,000-plus live viewers and the resulting public beta downloads number in the tens of thousands.)</p><p>The lineup of educational tracks includes: social business, smarter workforce (see the IBM acquisition of Kenexa), smarter commerce, the Lotusphere technical program, strategies and innovation, application development, infrastructure, best practices, customer case studies, a spotlight on business partners, jump starts, and shown 'n' tell. Approximately 400 sessions are on the agenda.</p><p><a href="http://www.itjungle.com/tfh/tfh012813-story09.html">Keep reading...</a></p><p>Read also:</p><p><a href="http://www.computerweekly.com/blogs/cwdn/2013/01/what-social-enterprise-did-next.html">What social enterprise did next</a> (ComputerWeekly.com (blog))</p><p><a href="http://www.virtual-strategy.com/2013/01/27/messagesolution-showcases-ibm-smartcloud-integration-and-award-winning-archiving-solution">MessageSolution Showcases IBM SmartCloud Integration and Award Winning ...</a> (Virtual-Strategy Magazine (press release))</p><p>Explore: <a href="http://news.google.com/news/more?ncl=d9zQbxtUyhKO94Mccz7Tbl-8KnD1M&ned=us">4 additional articles.</a></p>