<p>Evidence is mounting that Office 365 as much as Windows 8 is the linchpin of Microsoft Corp.'s future success as the software company is leveraging a tool licensed from a partner to lure IBM Corp. Lotus users to its cloud-based productivity suite.</p><p>According to published reports, Microsoft, of Redmond, Wash., has licensed a tool from Binary Tree Inc., which eases the deployment process and lowers costs of switching from conventional Lotus email and digital communications applications to Office 365.</p><p>The strategy could prove interesting as the two companies are pushing into the social business market, and email is one of the foundational elements. While IBM trails Microsoft in supported mailboxes, Lotus (the brand) is the worldwide market leader in enterprise social enablement tools. IBM also has been promoting its Lotus Notes Live, a cloud-based version of the enterprise email service. Conversely, Microsoft is playing catch-up in social business collaboration, and is accelerating its efforts with the success of the Lync communicator and acquisitions of Skype and Yammer.</p><p>IBM hasn't been a major player in the word processing or office productivity market since the early 1990s. Nevertheless, it's been trying to push forward versions of its Lotus and other office tools, particularly cloud based. Earlier this year, IBM introduced IBM Docs, a cloud-based compilation of office productivity tools designed to challenge Microsoft Office and Google Inc.'s Docs. Despite its efforts to jump back into the Office ring with Microsoft, IBM hasn't made much progress. Earlier this year, IBM reportedly lost one of its major Lotus customers, General Motors Co., to Microsoft.</p><p><a href="http://channelnomics.com/2012/09/10/microsoft-convert-lotus-users-office/">Keep reading...</a></p>