Press Coverage on the IBM Connections 5.0 Release

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If you've been out for a while, it's time to catch up.

First, take a look at our new Social page at IBM.com:  http://ibm.com/social . It got a makeover last week to find the right solution based on your needs

Additionally, I've been collecting news clippings about the stories and coverage so far on the IBM Connections 5.0 release.  I haven't captured everything but here's some highlights for you to check out. Maybe there's some that you haven't seen so you can use these to share within your organization as well.

In the press:

• CMSWire: IBM Social Software Update Features File Sync On Premises - http://bit.ly/1pJNtjY
• CIOReview: IBM's New Cloud and on Premises Social Software - http://bit.ly/1qO3MMb
• CloudPro: IBM's Connections enterprise social software bags hybrid cloud upgrade - http://bit.ly/VzfAVt
• Communication As A Service (TMCNet): IBM's Cloud, On-Premises Social Software - http://bit.ly/TNIkbB
• CruxialCIO: IBM Boosts Enterprise Collaboration With Connections 5 - http://bit.ly/1kia5jk
• FierceEnterpriseCommunications: IBM's move toward 'Connections' with hybrid - http://bit.ly/1jgyR91
• InfoTechLead: IBM Connections 5 features social, analytics and content tools - http://bit.ly/1mKu5uW
• iStreetWire: IBM Rises on Unusual Volume - http://bit.ly/1jKF9Z7
• IT Business Edge: IBM Takes Social Networking to Higher Enterprise Level - http://bit.ly/1pX2PNz
• ITProPortal: IBM releases Connections 5 to revolutionize social collaboration - http://bit.ly/1vAXWvg
• KMWorld: Collaboration broadens with IBM Connections 5 - http://bit.ly/TNHMCr
• MegaSuperb: IBM upgrades Connections to incorporate hybrid deployments - http://bit.ly/1vBjCrf
• Motley Fool: IBM Keeps Rising - http://bit.ly/1iY4Ha1
• TechRadar.Computing: IBM upgrades Connections for hybrid environment - http://bit.ly/1kibuXf
• TechTimes: IBM pushes out cloud, social software to boost collaboration, http://bit.ly/1rYq3En
• ToolBox.com: Is IBM Connections 5 the Cat's Meow or a Microsoft Copycat? - http://bit.ly/1mUwhVu
• Software Magazine: Organizations look to IBM for next-generation business capabilities - http://bit.ly/1r7uQTd 
• Top Tech News: IBM Launches Cloud-Based Big Data Service - http://bit.ly/1z8lWus
• V3: IBM unveils Connections 5 collaboration tool for the cloud - http://bit.ly/1iZNMV3
• ZDNet: IBM releases Connections 5 social software - http://zd.net/1pWQAk7
• Silicon.de: IBMs Enterprise Collaboration Connections 5 ab sofort verfügbar - http://bit.ly/1mANF2K
• Forbes: Build Bridges Beyond Your Corporate Collaboration Island - http://www.forbes.com/sites/rawnshah/2014/07/08/build-bridges-beyond-your-corporate-collaboration-island/
• CrazyJoys: Active Stocks: IBM, Yahoo - http://www.crazyjoys.com/active-stocks-international-business-machines-nyseibm-rediff-com-india-nasdaqredf-berkshire-hathaway-nysebrk-national-bank-greecenysenbg-yahoo-nasdaqyhoo,201414788
• OnlySoftware: IBM Connections Gets Business Social Makeover - http://onlysoftwareblog.com/2014/07/ibm-connections-gets-business-social-makeover/

Finally, last week Suzanne Livingston posted a new video showcasing the new external collaboration features of IBM Connections 5.0. Check it out:

IBM Connections is Now Available in the IBM Cloud marketplace

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As just communicated in the press release a few minutes ago, IBM Connections is now available in the IBM Cloud marketplace.  Here's the direct link in case you want to check it out.

The press release sums up the latest release of IBM Connections which is now available for download (in case you want to run it on premises) or in the cloud.

One of the highlights that we want to call out is the continued growth that we see in our ecosystem. For example, using our latest APIs and SDK, ISVs (independent software vendors) such as HootSuite, Bunchball, TemboSocial, ISW, among many, many others have created social apps on the IBM Connections Platform.

A key aspect of this release is secure external collaboration, where you can bring in external users (your customers, partners, suppliers, etc) into your IBM Connections deployment behind the firewall and still keep the right security boundaries to keep information safe. Jeff Schick, our VP for Social Software at IBM, calls out the importance of this:

When a workforce is out of synch or out of touch, the whole organization suffers from lost productivity, efficiency and innovation. With the open nature of today's business environment, organizations are looking to build new systems of people-centric engagement. The ability to bring key internal and external stakeholders into the conversation can facilitate a more collaborative, responsive and authentic way to work and deepen engagement.

Additionally, Superior Group's CIO, Tom DeClerck shares how IBM Connections has made the organization more agile by putting people back at the center of their business.  Speaking of Superior Group, here's a quick video that talks about the Superior Group's success on becoming a social business and the ROI they are achieving by using IBM Connections:



For more information, check out the entire press release.

IBM Ranked as Leader in the 2014 Aragon Research Globe for Enterprise Social Software

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And the great news keep piling up on the heels of the IBM Connections 5.0 rollout.

The latest to hit the wire is that IBM Connections has been ranked as a Leader in the Aragon Research Globe for Enterprise Social Software.  This is in addition to the Forrester Wave report where IBM came out as a leader in the Enterprise Social Software Wave a couple of weeks back and the news that IBM Connections continues to be the market leader in enterprise social software !

According to their announcement, the report evaluates 20 social collaboration vendors against 3 dimensions: Strategy, Performance, and Reach. Based on the evaluation of each vendor, each vendor is placed in 1 of 4 spheres: Leader, Innovator, Specialist or Contender. Again, IBM was ranked as a Leader.

Aragon called out the purposeful use of social as one of the differentiators of the IBM Connections platform:

IBM is leveraging Connections across its software portfolio, including its social HCM (Kenexa) product line

Aragon delivers high impact research and advisory services to provide enterprises the insight they need to help them make better technology and strategy decisions.

A great example of a customer reaping the benefits of becoming a social business with IBM Connections is CEMEX who has actually measured the ROI of their Social Business journey with IBM Connections.  They shared an update of their recent success stories a few weeks back:



If you want to read the report, you can get it from Aragon here.

IBM Connections 5.0 Is Ready for Download

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I just got confirmation that IBM Connections 5.0 is now ready for download ! This has been quite an exciting quarter as we've been building up to this day ever since I published the trailer back in April.

When I initially joined the product management team we were just launching IBM Connections 3.0.1.   I was then managing another component of the platform.

As time went by, I started to influence more of the platform and with this release, it was the first time that I was completely involved all the way from the first planning session to the release of the software. Of course, it's been quite an experience and it's what I've wanted to do for a long time.  I'm grateful for the opportunity that I've been given to bring this new product to market and for everything that I've learned in terms of what it takes to plan, build, and launch a product.

Here are some links you'll probably need:

• The IBM Connections 5.0 Reviewer's Guide is available here
• IBM Connections 5.0 and why it matters
• Mobile apps have been posted to the Apple App Store and Google Play. Check out what's new here
• The desktop plugin is available here
• Replay of the IBM Connections 5.0 Launch Webcast
• Want to migrate from Jive or SharePoint to IBM Connections 5.0? Webcast with solution
• Storyboards to drive the social business transformation are here
• The IBM Connections 5.0 InfoCenter is here
• The IBM Connections 5.0 API Documentation is here
• The IBM Connections 5.0 System Requirements are here
• IDC's take on IBM Connections' market leadership is here
• Forrester's view of IBM Connections' leadership is here
• How our customers are using IBM Connections 

I'll be updating those links as necessary.

I've also started collecting videos about IBM Connections 5.0 and will continue to update this playlist as they become available:

Now that you have the code, I'm anxious to know when you upgrade!! 

Download the New IBM Connections 5.0 Desktop Plugins

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The new IBM Connections Desktop plug-ins for Microsoft Windows have just been released to our app catalog.

There's a couple of things that I would like to call out here. First, IBM Connections 5.0 will be available for download next week. This is the first time that we have released the desktop plugins before the actual new server code is available. This is because the new desktop plugin also adds new features even if you are not using 5.0.

Second, this is yet another simultaneous release for cloud and on-prem. Cloud customers can download the update directly from the "Apps - Downloads" page within Connections.

Third, as I mentioned earlier in the week, this is the plug-in that adds File Sync capabilities for those that are using IBM Connections 5.0 or later.

Fourth, this release also adds access libraries from IBM Connections Content Manager. Of course, this was already possible before but required installing a separate plugin. In this release, you now install only one plugin simplifying the deployment and adoption process.

Lastly, but not least, this release also adds the ability to browse and access community folders.

Here's a demo that walks through the File Sync capabilities:


So go get it and download today!