Users indifferent to new Lotus server

Lotus users have cooled towards the company's long-awaited Discovery Server because of its high price tag.

Discovery Server is Lotus' most important product release this year. Originally scheduled for January 2000, it was released last month to a muted user reception. And some of Lotus' biggest customers are deferring interest in the product.

Jim Moffat, product marketing manager at Lotus, said the delays arose from honing the product to the satisfaction of beta testers. He said Lotus is expecting massive interest from larger organisations, but not widespread demand.

Michael Chapman Pincher, chairman of the Lotus User Group, said Lotus might need to do more to convince users of the business benefits of Discovery Server.

"When it comes to rolling it out, those who haven't had their hands held during testing don't want to pay £30,000 for something they don't understand," he said.

Insurance company Royal and Sun Alliance does not see any urgency in testing or installing the software. "Systems haven't even researched Discovery Server. It's something on a long list of things to look at and might not reach the top until next year," said a spokeswoman.

That response was echoed by Consignia, formally the Post Office, which is also a committed Lotus product follower.

"We are reviewing our situation in relation to the Lotus products we are using. At the moment we are happy with what we have. There are no plans to take on board any of the new offerings in the future," said a Consignia spokeswoman.