Daimler sends IBM some bitter Notes

The German car maker Daimler has just decided (here a German news headline) to move away from IBM's Notes to Microsoft's Exchange. It means 180,000 licenses less for IBM and more for Microsoft, and a prestigious victory for Steve Ballmer.

Daimler spokesperson says that their decision was made based on a lower TCO. I believe that it is a diplomatic excuse.

Have you ever used Lotus Notes? I have used it, many times, in various organizations. It has always been a struggle. Notes is a dying dinosaur of the IT industry. IBM has never been a software company, and they never know how to sell this stuff. They actually never wanted to. IBM is a in hardware and warm-body (read: consultancy) business, and nothing else.

In any case, my point is that this is a sure sign of Notes sliding into oblivion. It will be in good company: Lotus Organizer, Smart Office, Lotus 1-2-3, Rational Suite, OS/2 - they are already there waiting.

Fare well, Notes! Don't call me, I'll call you!