HCL Sametime
| Company type | Software product |
|---|---|
| Industry | Unified communications, Collaboration software |
| Predecessor | IBM Sametime, IBM Lotus Sametime |
| Founded | 1998 |
| Founder | Databeam, Ubique (acquired by IBM) |
| Headquarters | No specific city provided , India |
Area served | Worldwide |
| Products | HCL Sametime Premium, HCL Sametime Connect |
| Owner | HCL Technologies (HCL Software) |
| Parent | HCL Software (branch of HCL Technologies) |
HCL Sametime Premium—previously known as IBM Sametime and IBM Lotus Sametime—is a client–server platform and middleware solution designed to provide enterprises with real-time unified communications and collaboration. Its functionalities encompass presence information, enterprise-level instant messaging, web conferencing, collaborative community features, and telephony integration. The product is developed and marketed by HCL Software, a branch of the Indian corporation HCL Technologies, having transitioned from IBM’s Lotus Software division management in 2019.
Functioning as middleware, HCL Sametime facilitates integration with enterprise applications and business workflows (Communication Enabled Business Process) through plugins or interfaces for third-party software. It seamlessly connects with numerous applications, including Lotus collaboration suites, Microsoft Office productivity tools, and portal or web-based applications.
Features
Key Features of HCL Sametime Premium:
HCL Sametime Premium (version 12.0.1)
- Kubernetes support limited to chat functionality
- Compatibility with MongoDB version 6
- Podman container support
- Safari browser compatibility enhancements
- Meeting timer and network status indicators
- Improved experience on Firefox browser
- Enhanced keyboard shortcuts and chat interface usability
- Support for nicknames in Web Chat contact lists
- Right-to-left (Bi-Directional) language support
- Updates to Chat API in technical preview stage
- Grafana dashboards for comprehensive monitoring and analytics
- Push Proxy functionality enabled
- Utilities for managing the Sametime Database
- Updates to Outlook Calendar add-on for HCL Meetings
HCL Sametime Premium (version 12.0)
- Customizable company branding options
- Virtual backgrounds available during meetings
- Access to meeting reports and recording features
- Click to Call integration
- File transfer capabilities within chats and meetings
- Ability to pin and mute chat conversations
- Background noise detection for microphones
- Meeting modes supporting participant management and waiting rooms
- Policy enhancements for mobile clients
- Improvements in video layout presentation
HCL Sametime Premium (version 11.6 IF2)
- Upgraded Apache Tomcat server component
- Updated OpenJDK runtime environment
- Renewal of APNS certificates
HCL Sametime Premium (version 11.6)
- Refreshed modern user interface design
- Persistent Chat enabled for HCL Verse and iNotes platforms
- Introduction of Click to Meet feature
- Redesigned Web Chat client with new functionalities
- Updated mobile clients for both iOS and Android devices
- Multi-device support for persistent chat sessions
- Enhanced administrative controls and features
- Community Server architecture updated to 64-bit
- Streamlined installation process for Proxy Server
- Option for standalone Community Mux installation
- Support added for APNS HTTP/2 protocol
HCL Sametime Premium (version 11.5)
- Instant meeting creation alongside persistent chat capabilities
- Personal meeting room availability
- Support for multiple simultaneous screen shares per meeting
- Comprehensive moderator controls
- Video meeting options included
- Availability across desktop applications, web browsers, and mobile clients
- Capability to record meetings
- Integration with calendar systems
- Livestreaming functionality
- Secure handling of data
- Flexible deployment models: cloud-based, on-premises, or hybrid environments
- Administrative policies configurable at user, group, and server levels
- Support for both inbound and outbound telephony systems
Features in Versions Prior to 11.0:
HCL Sametime operates as a client–server enterprise solution consisting of the HCL Sametime Connect client used by end-users and the HCL Sametime Server responsible for system administration. Earlier than version 11.5, the product was organized into four distinct functional tiers:
HCL Sametime Limited Use (formerly called Entry) delivers fundamental presence awareness and instant messaging services.
HCL Sametime Standard expands on this foundation by offering:
- Advanced presence features including location awareness
- Rich-media chat supporting VoIP/video communication, timestamps, emoticons, and message history
- Group or multi-user chat sessions along with web conferencing capabilities
- Contact business card display functionality
- Interoperability with public instant messaging networks through HCL Sametime Gateway (such as AOL Instant Messenger, Yahoo! Messenger, Google Talk, XMPP)
- Open APIs allowing integration with external applications
- Support for audio/video codecs including G.722.1 and H.264
HCL Sametime Advanced builds upon Standard by adding:
- Persistent chat rooms that maintain conversation history
- Instantaneous screen sharing features
- Geographic location services integration
HCL Sametime Unified Telephony incorporates telephony-related capabilities such as:
- Telephony presence indicators
- Softphone functionalities enabling calls via software clients
- Click-to-call and conference options
- Management of incoming calls with live call transfer abilities
- Compatibility with IP-PBX systems as well as traditional TDM telephone infrastructures
HCL Sametime Gateway facilitates interoperability between servers across different communities by converting protocols, managing presence information, and bridging instant messaging across external networks like AOL AIM, ICQ, Yahoo, Google Talk, and XMPP-based platforms. This component replaces earlier SIP Gateway solutions.
Constructed on IBM WebSphere Application Server, the Gateway supports high availability through failover mechanisms, clustering capabilities, and scalability. It includes built-in connectors for Virtual Places, SIP, and XMPP protocols, with additional connectors available as extensions.
Platform compatibility, APIs, and application integration
Functioning as middleware, HCL Sametime facilitates the integration of applications and business workflows, commonly referred to as Communications Enabled Business Processes within real-time communication environments. This integration is achieved through two primary methods:
- incorporating the application within an HCL Sametime plug-in
- embedding HCL Sametime functionalities directly into the target application
Instances of integration encompass:
- HCL solutions such as HCL Notes, HCL Domino applications, HCL Connections, and HCL Quickr
- Microsoft productivity tools including Microsoft Office, Microsoft Outlook, and Microsoft Sharepoint
- portal platforms like IBM WebSphere Portal
- web-based applications
- packaged enterprise software
- telephony applications designed for embedded or client–server architectures
The client-side component, HCL Sametime Connect, is developed atop the Eclipse framework, which enables developers to efficiently build plug-ins. It employs a proprietary Virtual Places protocol while also supporting industry standards such as Session Initiation Protocol (SIP), SIMPLE, T.120, XMPP, and H.323.
Sametime Connect is compatible with Microsoft Windows, Linux, and macOS. Additionally, a zero-installation web client is available for Microsoft Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox, and Apple Safari browsers. Mobile clients extend support to Apple iPhone, Android, Microsoft Windows Mobile, RIM Blackberry, and Symbian devices. The server software runs on Microsoft Windows, IBM AIX, IBM i, Linux, and Solaris. Furthermore, Sametime can be accessed through free clients such as Adium, Gaim, Pidgin, and Kopete.
Development history
HCL Sametime entered IBM's product portfolio in 1998 following acquisitions from two firms:
- Databeam (USA), which provided the architecture for hosting T.120 data conferencing and H.323 Multi-Media Conferencing
- Ubique (Israel), whose Virtual Places Chat software introduced "presence awareness," allowing users to identify which contacts are online for messaging or conferencing purposes
For several years, the Sametime v3.1 client was distributed via the IBM Standard Software Installer (ISSI), facilitating internal communications across IBM’s intranet. A major advancement arrived with Sametime v7.5, which was constructed on the Eclipse platform to enable plug-in support.
In 2008, IBM was acknowledged by Gartner as a leader in its Unified Communications Magic Quadrant for the first time.
Versions
| Release | Date | Details |
|---|---|---|
| 2.5 | 2001-09-04 | Lotus Sametime 2.5 announcement |
| 3.1 | 2003-07-15 | IBM United States Software Announcement 203-174 |
| 6.5.1 | 2004-03-30 | Sametime 6.5.1, synchronized release compatible with Domino 6.5.1; officially named IBM Lotus Instant Messaging and Web Conferencing. |
| 7.5 | 2006-08-22 | IBM United States Software Announcement 206-209 |
| 7.5.1 | 2007-04-24 | IBM United States Software Announcement 207-084 |
| 8.0 | 2007-11-27 | Announcement Letter No. ZP07-0498 |
| 8.5 | 2009-12-22 | |
| 8.5.1 | 2010-08-04 | |
| 8.5.2 | 2011-05-18 | IBM United States Software Announcement 211-165 |
| 9.0 | 2013-09-20 | |
| 9.0.1 | 2016-05-03 | IBM United States Software Announcement 216-042 |
| 10.0 | 2019-06-14 | IBM United States Software Announcement 219-296 |
| 11.0 | 2019-12-04 | HCL’s Global Launch of Domino v11, Connections 6.5 and Sametime v11 |
| 11.5 | 2020-11-10 | Introduction of HCL Sametime Premium: Secure Video Meetings & Persistent Chat with Cost Benefits |
| 11.6 | 2021-05-27 | Overview of New Features in HCL Sametime 11.6 |
| 11.6 IF2 | 2022-03-15 | Details on HCL Sametime 11.6 IF2 Release |
| 12.0 | 2022-04-28 | Launch of HCL Sametime Premium v12: Secure Video Meetings & Persistent Chat |
| 12.0.1 | 2022-11-15 | Release Information for HCL Sametime and HCL Sametime Premium 12.0.1 |
| 12.0.1 FP1 | 2023-03-29 | Release Notes for HCL Sametime and HCL Sametime Premium 12.0.1 FP1 |
References