Users can communicate efficiently through instant messaging and Web conferencing using IBM Lotus Sametime. IBM Lotus Connections provides an easy way for users to discover information, leverage expertise, and build a social network. If you have both Sametime and Connections, a user´s presence awareness can appear in his or her profile. But wouldn´t it be great if you could extend Connections´ functionality even further in your Sametime environment?

The solution is the Lotus Connections 2.0 Plug-in for Sametime that allows users to chat with others or even call them instantly, decreasing the time it takes them to receive answers to questions or help on a project. Imagine being able to search for an expert in "video processing," find several matches, view their online statuses, and reach out to those who are available to instantly answer your question, all in real time. This plug-in is compatible with Connections 2.0 and 2.0.1 and Sametime 7.5.1 and later; however, we will focus on the plug-in´s use with Sametime 8.0.2 (and later).

You can download any of IBM´s plug-ins from the IBM Lotus Connections Catalog. To see all the different collaboration capabilities Connections and Sametime have to offer, let´s take a closer look at the Sametime and Connections integration and this plug-in in action.

First we´ll examine the presence awareness feature that appears in a profile and the plug-in´s capabilities. Then we´ll demonstrate how administrators can enable a Web page to reference the Connections business card and enable Sametime presence awareness in the Connections business card. For more information on the different services of Connections, read the sidebar, "Connections’ Services."