eWeek has this interview with Ray Ozzie. In the article, Ozzie shares his thoughts on Microsoft Longhorn and his own company, Groove Networks.

CertFX announced a partnership with The Learning Continuum Company to assist individuals with becoming an IBM Certified Associate Developer on WebSphere Studio, V5. TLCC has released a new curriculum for WebSphere developers. The Introduction to WebSphere Studio 5 is for any developer with a basic knowledge of Java. In this course they will learn the J2EE multi-tier application model, the Model-View-Controller design pattern, how to create and test WebSphere servlets and JavaServer Pages, create and test Web pages, and how to write, test, and debug Java applications.

Cisco Systems will acquire Latitude Communications Inc. Cisco agreed to pay approximately $80 million cash for all the outstanding shares of publicly held Latitude, an enterprise conferencing company. Computerworld reports that Latitude’s software already can be closely integrated with Cisco’s IP phones and CallManager software for IP call control, Proctor said. It also has been integrated with enterprise applications such as Microsoft Corp. Outlook and IBM’s Lotus Notes and Sametime.

The Learning Continuum Company has released two new distance learning user courses.R5 to Notes 6.5 User Update is for Release 5 users moving to the Notes 6.5 client. Using Notes 6.5 is for users who have never used Notes before. The course covers using the Notes 6.5 client features like mail, instant messaging, calendar and scheduling. The purchase of TLCC’s Notes 6 user license now entitles customers to four courses. In addition to the two Notes 6.5 courses above customers also get R5 to Notes 6 User Update and Using Notes 6. This provides great flexibility to deploy exactly the course needed for each group of users in your organization.

Network World Fusion takes a look at IBM’s internal on-demand overhaul. Sam Palmisano pledged to assign a top IBM official to internally revamp the company in a bid to save billions and improve IBM’s flexibility and responsiveness. In IBM’s view, ‘on-demand’ means moving beyond mere integration of systems to create a more flexible IT infrastructure agile enough to rapidly adapt to changing business conditions.

IBM Lotus General Manager Ambuj Goyal says the messaging and development platform isn’t disappearing, but don’t look for IBM to feature it in any marketing campaigns anytime soon. SearchDomino spoke with Goyal last week, after the launch of new products in the open standards-based IBM Lotus Workplace line.

Roaring Penguin Software released primary data that indicates system administrators in mid-size organizations bear the brunt of the spam problem. Roaring Penguin offers CanIt, an anti-spam and anti-virus solution. As a stand-alone gateway appliance, it can protect email environments running non-UNIX servers, such as Microsoft Exchange, Lotus Notes and Novell Groupwise.

Network World Fusion reports that Linux advocates are trying to convince IT managers to abandon Microsoft’s licensing fees and security issues in favor of Linux software for the desktop at the Desktop Linux Conference. Codeweavers CEO Jeremy White mentioned that software is available for those companies that can’t afford to make a full transition to Linux. Codeweavers makes a product called Crossover Office, which allows Linux users to run Windows programs such as Microsoft Office and IBM’s Lotus Notes.

IBM is adding new applications for instant messaging and team collaboration, e-learning, and content management on top of its Lotus Workplace platform. According to eWeek, the products add to Lotus’ J2EE (Java 2 Platform, Enterprise Edition)-based, next-generation platform. A new version of the original Lotus Workplace product, Workplace Messaging 1.1, was also announced. New features include a personal calendar and address book and an updated user interface based on IBM’s WebSphere Portal.

eBizQ.net reports that IBM has unveiled software designed to make it easier for companies and solution providers to develop and integrate Web portal technologies. WebSphere Portal will now allow customers to use many of the capabilities found within Lotus Workplace Web Content Management to accelerate the development and delivery of critical business information and lower the cost of managing content.