<p>IBM is planning to release on Dec. 14 a public beta of Notes and Domino 9.0 Social Edition that will no longer use the Lotus brand.</p><p>IBM has decided to offer a public beta, the first in a long time for Notes and Domino, because of the importance of the release, Ed Brill, director of product line management and in charge of IBM's Collaboration Solutions, said in a blog post.</p><p>This beta also signals the point where Notes and Domino will join IBM's other software products in sporting only the IBM name, which the company feels is a stronger brand than Lotus, according to Brill.</p><p>The Lotus brand became part of IBM when the company acquired Lotus Development Corporation in 1995.</p><p><a href="http://www.pcadvisor.co.uk/news/small-business/3411031/ibm-kills-lotus-brand-readies-beta-of-notesdomino-social-edition/">Keep reading...</a></p>