IBM and DOCU agreement is well under way . Please " note " the
enclosed PR on what steps IBM is taking to implement the JFS software program.
JFS and IBM Partner to Deliver Network Solution to Legal Community
January 27, 1997
NEW YORK, January 27, 1997 - Citing a need for worldwide reach, reliability, and security in handling sensitive legal information, J. Feuerstein Systems (JFS) announced today that it has signed a contract with IBM to make JFS's flagship software package- JFS Litigator's Notebook - and it's entire user network- JFSNet - available over the IBM Global Network.
JFS Litigator's Notebook is a Lotus Notes-based software package that permits teams of lawyers to work together in a shared case "notebook" even though individual lawyers may be located in different cities. Ordinarily, each office using the Notebook must have its own Notes server running the Notebook software. Under the agreement announced by JFS, IBM Global Services will host the JFS Litigator's Notebook server software on the IBM Global Network, and registered users will be able to place databases on that server in much the same way they would if the server were located in-house at the law firm or law department.
"This step is of huge importance, both to JFS and to our community of users," commented JFS Chief Technology Officer, Jim Feuerstein.
"For our existing users, the new Network will make it easy for them to connect to Notebook users - with just a local phone call, to a private, secure network - to the 850 cities and 100 countries in which the IBM Global Network operates. This means that corporations can connect all their outside counsel together. It also means that law firms can draw their clients more tightly into the firm's legal workgroup."
"This agreement is also of great importance to smaller firms," Feuerstein added. "Many such firms have long wanted to use the Notebook, but they were nervous about implementing their own Lotus Notes server in-house. By using the IBM Global Network, we're letting these firms know they won't need a Notes server. Instead, they can communicate and share Notebook databases through one of the largest secure data networks in the world."
"I believe that this offering - providing an outsourced server to small firms - will increase our market by a whole order of magnitude," Feuerstein added. "The legal marketplace is always tentative about investing in technology. Here, we've made it easy. We've reduced the upfront capital expenditure and - thanks to Notes and to the network security of the IBM Global Network - we've made it safe, secure, and reliable."
IBM Global Services Director of Marketing, Bob Boles, believes this offering has a great future. "With JFS Litigator's Notebook, JFS has the premier workgroup application in the marketplace, and just the kind of application we want on our network. Last year, this software package was a finalist for IBM's Lotus Beacon Award as the Most Innovative Product in a Vertical Market. By coupling that excellence with our network computing solution and technological know-how, we can be the one trusted source the legal community needs to succeed in a networked world."
Feuerstein says that many corporate customers want to connect their law departments to a hundred or more outside counsel. "Managing all those connections - even with the power of Notes - can be a big job, and it's a job the law department typically doesn't want. IBM Global Services is the world's largest I/T services provider. By relying on IBM's experience and ability in managing networks for customers, we're telling law departments they only have to manage one connection. All they have to do is connect their server to IBM's network server, and IBM will manage all the connections to those multi-hundred law firms."
With the contract signed, JFS expects to roll out services in three stages:
First, JFS will automatically move all existing JFS customers to the IBM Global Network. These customers will be able to to use the network for mail and for accessing and replicating JFS support databases. The process of moving users to the network will begin as soon as the necessary server equipment is in place, in about thirty to sixty days.
Next, JFS will offer its corporate and law firm customers the use of the IBM Global Network as a "communications server," where those customers can mount Notebook databases for sharing with clients or outside counsel.
As a third step, JFS will offer a "rent-a-server" plan to small firms that don't want to manage their own server in-house. Under this plan, those firms will use a JFSNet server as though it were their own. They will pay a monthly fee for use of the server software, plus a charge for storage of their data. This small firm program will go into limited release immediately and become generally available April 1.
For more information about JFSNet or any of our other products, call JFS Marketing at 210-525-9221.
IBM Global Services, with more than $20 billion in revenues and operations in 160 countries, is the world's leading provider of product, professional and network services. Its managed network services for content, collaboration and electronic commerce, as well as network outsourcing services, are provided over the IBM Global Network, which serves more than 30,000 customer enterprises and 850 cities around the world.
Mark |
