IBM's overall software strategy favors portal development. The company has grouped its software under four key middleware brands: WebSphere, DB2, Tivoli, and Lotus. IBM now intends to integrate the four more closely. The portal model demonstrates the benefits of this approach, tying the WebSphere platform to Tivoli system management tools and a range of Lotus collaboration and knowledge management technologies, including QuickPlace, Sametime, and Lotus Extended Search (formerly Domino Extended Search).
