LOTUS ANNOUNCES LOTUS COMPONENTS

FIRST MAJOR VENDOR TO OFFER END-USER COMPONENT SOFTWARE; LOTUS COMPONENTS
TO EXTEND NOTES BUSINESS SOLUTIONS

ORLANDO, Fla., Jan. 22, 1996 -- Lotus Development Corp. today announced
Lotus Components, a new line of small, task-focused software modules that
extend the capabilities of Lotus Notes Release 4, the world's leading
messaging and groupware product. Responding to a growing need for fast and
easy-to-build applications, Lotus will be the first major vendor to
deliver a component technology and product offering that supports open
standards and provides Business Partners and developers with new business
opportunities.

Widely available in the second quarter of 1996, Lotus Components will allow
end-users of Notes Release 4 to select and use components within their
familiar Notes environment. Developers can use Lotus Components to deliver
more quickly customized software solutions for Notes. Additionally,
developers who have access to the Lotus Component Developer Toolkit can
create additional Lotus Components.

"For Lotus Business Partners and corporate developers, Lotus Components
offer a set of tools to leverage Notes Release 4 as the premier container
for deploying a wider class of business applications. This represents an
exciting opportunity for our partners," said Jeffrey Beir, senior vice
president, Lotus Desktop Business Group. "We've combined standards-based
object technology with our working knowledge of Lotus Notes to take a
leading position in the emerging components market."

Lotus expects to ship the following components for Notes Release 4: chart,
data query, draw and diagram, file viewer, comment tool, project scheduler
and spreadsheet. Lotus Components will be available later for use with
Lotus SmartSuite and other containers.

Customers will be able to purchase Lotus Components through traditional
reseller channels. As a means of offering additional support to customers,
channel partners, Business Partners and corporate developers, Lotus will
offer the Lotus Components Website (http://components.lotus.com.). This
site will provide immediate access to updates, trials, demonstrations,
sample applications and support, and a forum for feedback and product
suggestions.

LOTUS COMPONENTS TO PROVIDE SOLUTIONS FOR NOTES END-USERS, NOTES
APPLICATION DEVELOPERS AND BUSINESS PARTNERS, AND COMPONENT DEVELOPERS

Lotus Components offer significant opportunities and benefits for three key
audiences: Notes end-users, Notes application developers and Business
Partners, and component developers. For the end-user, Lotus Components
make it easier and faster to complete everyday business tasks while
remaining in the familiar Notes environment.

Lotus Components can be used on an "as needed basis" by visually selecting
the component from within the Notes desktop using the Lotus Component
Palette. Users can create richer Notes documents by embedding different
types of components within one document. While working with the Lotus
Component, the user can access known user interface features leveraging
their existing Notes expertise and reducing their training needs.

For example, a sales manager working on the monthly sales report within
Notes can choose to use a spreadsheet component in the document, add the
monthly figures to the spreadsheet and then choose a chart component to
graphically present the data inserted in the spreadsheet component. This
process of "choosing" and "dropping" specific Lotus Components allows the
user to achieve fast and focused results, eliminating the need to launch
or use an Object Linking and Embedding (OLE) application. The result is a
much faster work process and better performance due to low memory or
storage overhead requirements.

For Notes application developers and Business Partners, Lotus Components
provide a set of reusable, customizable and programmable software modules
that allow them to create and deliver a wider variety of Notes business
solutions while significantly reducing their development cycles. A Lotus
Component can be embedded within a Notes business form and can also be
customized as a template, letting corporations standardize common business
practices.

Lotus Components have a consistent look and feel with the conventional
Lotus user interface, including menu integration and support for
SmartIcons, Properties Box and Status Bar. Lotus Components also take
advantage of specific Notes Release 4 features such as LotusScript,
Notes/FX 2.0, and security, and will work with any Windows 95 or Windows
NT Notes client (Notes Mail, Notes Desktop, Notes). Lotus Components have
a wide range of pre-defined properties and methods, allowing the Notes
application developer to define how a Lotus Component looks and responds
within a Notes application.

For component developers, Lotus Components represent a new business
opportunity that addresses the needs of the growing Notes installed base.
By using the Lotus Components Developer Toolkit, component developers can
enhance a standard OLE Custom Control (OCX) to become a Lotus Component.
For OCX developers this represents a significant opportunity as during the
past six months, the Notes installed base has doubled and is now 4.5
million seats.

COMPONENT PRODUCT LINE

Lotus Components are based on OCX technology, the custom control
architecture defined within the OLE specification. The Lotus Component
product line comprises Starter Pack, Developer Toolkit, Template Builder,
and the Product Warehouse.

* LOTUS COMPONENT STARTER PACK includes seven components: chart, data
query, draw and diagram, file viewer, comment tool, project scheduler and
spreadsheet, plus a collection of application development controls
including button, picture, radio, check box, combo box, list box, slider,
spinner, progress gauge, label, text box and outline.

* LOTUS COMPONENT DEVELOPER TOOLKIT provides Notes and OCX developers with
the tools and specifications for creating Lotus Components. The toolkit
includes a set of C++ header files, classes, DLLs, documentation and a
tutorial with sample components. By using the toolkit's functionality, an
OCX is "Notes-enabled", making it tightly integrated and easy to use
within Notes Release 4.

* LOTUS COMPONENT TEMPLATE BUILDER allows application developers to create
"customized" versions of components by adding their own data and styles to
a standard Lotus Component.

* LOTUS COMPONENTS PRODUCT WAREHOUSE is a Notes Release 4 database for
corporate internal distribution of Lotus Components.

Additionally, Lotus is announcing availability of the Lotus Components
Website, a powerful electronic medium to bring Lotus closer to its
customers. Through the Website, Lotus will offer immediate access to
product information and will address product issues through on- line
support. The Website will serve as a forum for users and vendors seeking
to share the latest component technology information. Users and developers
will be able to pilot and test components though regular trial offerings.

AVAILABILITY AND PRICING

Lotus Components will be widely available in the second quarter of 1996.
Pricing will be as follows:

LOTUS COMPONENT STARTER PACK

For 1996, the Lotus Components Starter Pack will be available at an
introductory estimated retail price (ERP) of $19 per seat for volume
customers who purchase Notes through the Lotus Passport Program. The
single user license ERP is $49 per seat. For Lotus Passport Maintenance
customers owning SmartSuite and Notes in volume, the Lotus Component
Starter Pack will be available at no charge in 1996.

A modified licensing model will be available to Business Partners who are
embedding Lotus Components in "near shrinkwrap" Notes applications.

LOTUS COMPONENT DEVELOPER TOOLKIT

For customers purchasing the Lotus Components Developer Toolkit through the
Lotus Passport Program, the ERP is $495. The Lotus Components Developer
Toolkit will be delivered upon availability to Business Partners enrolled
in the Lotus Business Partner program.

As part of Lotus' Global Product Strategy, Lotus Components will be
available in additional languages. Information on availability of
international versions will follow shortly after the initial shipment of
beta in the U.S. For the latest information on the Lotus Component product
line please refer to the Lotus Website (http://components.lotus.com.).
Customers can call 1-800-555-5921 in the U.S., or in Canada at
1-800-GO-LOTUS.

Lotus Notes is the leading client-server platform for developing and
deploying strategic groupware applications that help organizations
communicate, collaborate and coordinate strategic business processes
within and beyond their organizational boundaries to achieve improved
business results. More than 8,000 companies and 4.5 million people use
Notes to improve key business processes such as customer service, sales
and account management, and product development. Lotus Notes supports all
major operating systems including IBM OS/2 Warp, Apple Mac OS, UNIX
platforms including IBM AIX, Sun Solaris, HP-UX, and SCO OpenServer, and
Microsoft Windows and Windows NT. Notes is also available as a NetWare
loadable module for the Novell environment.

Lotus Development Corp., a subsidiary of IBM Corp., offers high quality
software products and support services that reflect the company's unique
understanding of the new ways in which individuals and businesses must
work together to achieve success. Lotus' innovative approach is evident in
a new class of applications that allows information to be accessed and
communicated in ways never before possible, both within and beyond
organizational boundaries. The company also provides numerous support
services, both from its consulting division and its award-winning 24-hour
support center.

All prices and terms are for the USA only.

EDITOR'S NOTE: All Lotus news releases and other collateral are available
on the Internet, via the Lotus Development Corp. Home Page at
http://www.Lotus.com. The Lotus Home Page is an easy way to find
information about Lotus and its business partners' products and services.
 
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