DaveNet : More IBM/Lotus Notes

More IBM/Lotus Notes

Monday, June 5, 1995 by Dave Winer.

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Philip Elmer-DeWitt, Time Magazine, ped@panix.com: ;

I love that Lotus Dev. jumped 3 points on Friday for no apparent reason. Sounds like someone with inside info took the Lotus position.

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Donald Norman, Apple Computer, dnorman@applelink.apple.com: ;

I immediately logged on to the net site for the Mercury News and got:

IBM OFFERS $3.3 BILLION FOR LOTUS

ARMONK, New York -- IBM stunned the computer industry today with a $3.3 billion bid for Lotus Development Corp., in what would be the biggest software acquisition ever.

But when I tried to get the story, I discovered I had to subscribe. So I called the 800 number and waited with music for 15 minutes. Then I subscribed. Then I was told I had to wait an hour before it would take effect. Huh? Why couldn't the person have enabled me atthe same time he set up the mechanisms for charging me?

Anyway, thanks -- you scoooped all the other media I subscribe to.

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Joe Friend, Microsoft, jfriend@microsoft.com: ;

Check out http://www.ibm.com. [Checked it out, they're covering their own story! Coooool. They have a statement from Louis Gerstner, his letter to Jim Manzi, and a note to IBM employees. They're using the web. Lotus is covering it too, with much less detail at http://www.lotus.com. Also check out http://www.ziff.com/ for reports from PC WEEK. DW]

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Ben Hyde, former Lotus employee, bhyde@gensym.com: ;

I will not multiply the options I left on the table times 60.

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Heard on the newswires and in my inbox...

Lotus will likely counter with an anti-trust suit.

IBM said that it had tried unsuccessfully for five months to convince Lotus to sell. IBM's interest centers on Lotus Notes.

Possible complication: Lotus's deal with AT&T. Speculation that AT&T might put in a bid of their own.

The deal is valued at $3.3 billion.

Dave