Lawson Software, The Global Solutions Company, announced the early availability of its AS/400 release 7.0 and the branding of this product as Lawson Insight on the AS/400 platform. The release, which includes Web Self-Service, Lawson’s trademarked Self-Evident Applications, activity-based management and performance management brings unprecedented capabilities to AS/400 users. The product ships commercially on March 31, 1999.

InfoImage Inc. today announced a completed merger with WorkFlow Designs, Inc. The two software and services companies now become the largest North American provider of Internet self-service centers. Self-service centers (SSCs) are Web-based software solutions that enable employees, partners and customers to easily and directly access, from a wide array of sources, the critical information they need to do their jobs, without relying on other people to serve as information intermediaries.

Globalware Computing announced public availability of Pylon ServerSync 1.5 Beta for Lotus Domino Release 5.0, the first fully integrated Domino/Lotus Notes and handheld solution that provides users with the unique ability to seamlessly combine a server, conduit and PDA application. Used in conjunction with Globalware

Stampede Technologies, Inc. will be announcing its new TurboGold Server-to-Server accelerator product for Lotus Notes at Lotusphere, Pedestal C116 being held at the Walt Disney Dolphin Hotel in Lake Buena Vista, FL on January 18-20. TurboGold Server-to-Server accelerates the replication of Lotus Notes databases between Domino servers by compressing and streaming the data. The software installs on the Domino server as an add-in task which helps simplify the installation and setup.

Cambridge, Massachusetts based Internoded will showcase WorkPlus at Lotusphere in Orlando, Florida on January 17-21, 1999. Conceived initially as a tool for non-technical personnel, the tool today is a scaleable business solution that accommodates a full spectrum of skills. Non-technical personnel can use the BASIC features to create effective communications websites without any programmer assistance.

Is Microsoft Exchange for real as groupware? PC Week’s John Taschek explains in this article why groupware is not yet a reality, though Notes and Exchange have tried their best.

Percussion Software also announced Notrix 5.2, an upgrade to its data integration tool that now offers SAP integration through a native driver and a real-time flexible query capability. The company will be unveiling the upgraded product at Lotusphere, Booths C104 and C105 on January 18, 1999 in Orlando, Florida.

Percussion Software announced Percussion ServerAdmin Plus 6.0. This major enhancement to its Lotus Notes/Domino administration tool eliminates the tedious, time-consuming tasks of Notes administration and cuts administration time by up to 50%. The company will be unveiling the upgraded product at Lotusphere, Booths C104 and C105 on January 18, 1999 in Orlando, Florida.

QCS.net Corporation announced that their Service would be on display at both the IBM Corp. booth and also at the Lotus Development Corp. booth at the NRF ’99 Convention & EXPO. The NRF Conference will be hosted this year in Jacob Javits Convention Center in New York City. This will be the 88th annual convention & exposition hosted by the NRF and will run from Sunday, January 17th through Wednesday, January 20th, 1999.

Computer Reseller News reports that Lotus will drop Domino.Merchant. According to the article, Domino.Merchant will get phased into IBM Corp.’s Net.Commerce product family.