Fontaine on messaging ("Apparently, IBM Lotus has made a comeback.")

Fontaine on messaging ("Apparently, IBM Lotus has made a comeback."): "What is up in the contest of messaging platforms? Apparently, IBM Lotus has made a comeback. Fontaine points to steps IBM Lotus took to be more competitive in recent years as now paying dividends.
'In 2003, we set up a swat team,' he said, and, since that time, 'we have seen solid growth in [user] seats.' The swat team's role was to vigorously defend big Notes placements that were being courted by Microsoft. IBM estimates Lotus Notes seat count at 118 million.
'We are winning six of seven [competitive] engagements,' Fontaine claimed.
'Last year we competed successfully against Exchange. We gained share last year,' said Fontaine, who like others, now awaits IDC research numbers that could bear out this prognostication.
What Lotus missteps contributed to Microsoft's ascent in this field? Among issues Fontaine cites is the fact that R5 was 'in the market a little too long.' Lessons IBM Lotus has taken from that experience have led the company to forgo adding features to maintenance releases, while ensuring that Lotus Notes and Lotus Domino Designer are released in synch."