Frequently Asked Questions

Blue Tree has been involved with Lotus Notes since 1997. We are also Microsoft partners. We currently manage environments for large multi-national corporations and in terms of these agreements, the whole environment has been outsourced to Blue Tree. This includes the email server.

Blue Tree employs Domino administrators and we hold core competence in configuring, deploying, migrating, upgrading and administering the Domino email server.

In addition Blue Tree holds core competence in Microsoft Exchange and manages Microsoft Exchange servers.

The answer to this question is really dependent on the number of email users that have to be managed. The larger the environment the more likely that it is a requirement.

Blue Tree does have contracts with clients where we manage the email environment but we do not have a full-time administrator on site. This is done by means of a stringent Service Level Agreement, remote access if necessary and clearly defined call-out procedures.

Finally, the Domino mail server is consistently rated as the most robust and reliable mail server in the world. The server is an award winning platform and still holds various records such as the largest single address book, best rated uptime (running Domino on the AS400), and others. The result is that the platform is very robust and reliable and does not need to be managed all the time by a full-time mail administrator.

This is another tough question to answer. If you troll the web there are hundreds of articles and research studies who show you different results and outcomes. In addition, of you talk to the software vendor they will highlight the failings of the other application.

As an IBM business partner and a Microsoft Partner, Blue Tree is loyal to both.  Blue Tree has a long history with Domino and use it internally - however we promote both solutions. Having said that we do understand why people use either an IBM or a Microsoft product and we manage Microsoft environment and IBM environments through our technology division.

So what is the answer?

We believe that Domino is better - not on an email level (email is a business tool and it does not really matter what tool you choose), for various business reasons.  Domino is a premier application and browser delivery platform and if you want to build bullet proof robust apps and want to maximise your investment, Domino is much cheaper.  Domino allows secure encrypted replication from the users laptop from anywhere in the world and Lotus Notes allows the organisation to have 1 license for email and applications and there are many more benefits. This, in addition to the same services that other email applications offer such as a browser front-end, secure login, etc.  It is these additional features which really make Lotus Notes stand apart.

So the difference is really in the nuts and bolts of how the email server is structured and runs and what you want out of it. 

What does that mean for a company?

The decision maker would need to look at issues such as TCO, platform leverage, distribution, etc. These are also factors in influencing a decision. It is not only a technology decision. If it is was then Domino wins hands down, always.  If the organisation has a Domino application, then the organisation should be leveraging off the Domino email server. If you are looking at an email server for the first time - then you need to look at both options seriously and see what you want to get out as a total package.

Yes - to be proficient in developing in the Notes environment a strong understanding of the mail environment, security setup, architectural planning and administration are required. Blue Tree holds all of these skills.

Yes - Lotus Notes enjoys the support of IBM which has invested substantially into the longevity of the tool. Further, mail is only one function, Lotus Notes has powerful collaborative functions, is ideal for knowledge management, enjoys unique data sharing capabilities (such as the replication topology it offers), has a powerful web engine, is the most advanced workflow tool currently available, has the fastest to market delivery time on new projects due to the RAD environment that it offers, offers a real return on investment, provides sophisticated integration tools and has loads of great add-on products.

Blue Tree offers the service to companies and can arrange the initial subscription, license renewal and general license information.