In an unusual alliance, Lotus Development Corp and Philips Electronics NV are negotiating an alliance on computer-integrated telephony according to the Wall Street Journal. The suggestion is that Lotus would hold about 30% of the venture, which would be capitalised at about $20m, and would likely contribute its Notes workgroup software. The suggestion is that the product will be based on standard personal computer components and will use technology licensed from Citicorp, which was developed for the New York bank’s Enhanced Telephone. Philips is to manufacture the hardware, although the jount venture may also produce software and add-in boards that can be used with other vendors’ hardware as well. AT&T Co and IBM Corp are both pursuing computer-integrated telephony markets.
