IBM rolled out at LinuxWorld assorted software designed to help customers build the front end of a Linux solution. SearchDomino.com reports that a plug-in that will allow Linux desktop customers to access Notes and Domino systems with a double-click is included.

IBM announced an agreement with Red Hat that enables organizations to evaluate, for a period of 90 days, a combined IBM Workplace Services Express version 2.5 collaboration software and Red Hat Enterprise Linux operating system. Internet News reports that the software can be downloaded from Red Hat to simplify the process.

The Microsoft Exchange team has brought aboard two highly respected developers known for their expertise in collaboration software. According to Information Week, Julio Estrada, a former star at Lotus Development who went on to launch Kubi Software, has joined the Exchange Server team. Also joining Microsoft is Bob Congdon, who was at IBM until recently.

Citrix GoToMeeting version 2.0 now offers ##meeting recording and playback##, and specific application sharing and drawing tools. It also integrates with IBM Lotus Notes and Microsoft Outlook.

Here’s a look at DESLock+, a program that’s primarily for securing static data. It can be used to encrypt Microsoft Outlook and Lotus Notes emails, though the process of decryption is more involved than it would be using a public key encryption design.

Impatica announced the release of the Impatica for BlackBerry Enterprise Server. Impatica for BlackBerry Enterprise Server is an enterprise software product that installs behind the customer’s firewall alongside the BlackBerry Enterprise Server. It integrates with Microsoft Exchange, IBM Lotus Domino and Novell GroupWise email servers and enables PowerPoint viewing for all BlackBerry subscribers associated with the BES.

Hutch has announced the launch of HutchMail, a GPRS-based solution that allows you access to your office mail on your Hutch phone and can be deployed across all levels of a corporate organization. You can use your Hutch phone to access email from Microsoft Exchange and IBM Lotus Notes.

IBM plans to make its enterprise search middleware available as open-source code. It’s called Unstructured Information Management Architecture. The company also is wedding the latest iteration of its WebSphere Information Integrator OmniFind Edition with UIMA.

IBM announced it has completed the acquisition of PureEdge Solutions. IBM will integrate newly-acquired e-forms into its portfolio of collaboration technology, including IBM Workplace, WebSphere and Lotus offerings.

Enterprise Networking Planet takes a look at monitoring systems. In this overview, the article covers Microsoft’s solution (MOM) and NetIQ’s AppManager, since these two are related by technology and commonly used for Windows-based application environments.