The BlackBerry Client for IBM Lotus Connections offers enterprise social networking capabilities for people-based collaboration, while the BlackBerry Client for IBM Lotus Quickr is document-based collaboration software.

“These applications, along with the BlackBerry Client for IBM Lotus Sametime for unified communications and collaboration, deliver secure, deeply integrated and intuitive mobile experiences for enterprise customers on the BlackBerry platform,” RIM’s press release says.

For more info about BlackBerry apps for IBM Lotus software, visit www.blackberry.com/go/lotus.

Provider of private virtual worlds for business, government and educational institutions says the solution “allows users to work from remote locations and be as productive as they would be in live settings without the risk of spreading or being exposed to the potentially fatal virus”.

“The wide-spread outbreak of the H1N1 virus poses a real risk to continuing operations for many corporations, government agencies and academic institutions — it’s not just a warning this time,” said Dave Rolston, CEO of Forterra Systems. “The solution we’re offering is a tool that allows your employees to work remotely, stay connected and remain productive. It does not require new equipment or infrastructure. You can start easily and grow, as needed. If you don’t have an effective plan for continuity of operations with the current pandemic you need one — and it should include this solution.”

RemoteOperations allows users to use a PC to log into a secure 3D virtual environment where they are represented as a fully-animated 3D character. Participants in the environment can perform a broad range of communication and collaboration tasks, such as present a variety of media and documents to other participants, and are able to talk to each other naturally through the use of integrated VOIP technology and a headset.

Other features of the solution include a session record-and-replay capability, a telephony feature that enables remote users without PCs or Internet access to call into the virtual environment and communicate with in-world users, and a range of authentication systems for enhanced security.

Forterra Systems’ RemoteOperations is available as a custom installation within an organization’s existing IT infrastructure, as an external hosted offering or via Software-as-a-Service.