Microsoft recently announced new tools that will help IBM Lotus Notes/Domino customers take advantage of the new unified communication and collaboration innovations that are being delivered as part of the recently released Microsoft Exchange Server 2007, the 2007 Microsoft Office system and Microsoft Office SharePoint Server 2007 technologies.

These resources include a new suite of tools for managing transitions of IBM's directory, messaging and application solutions, as well as new templates for SharePoint products and technologies.

Microsoft claims that these tools will make it easier for IBM customers to manage transitions and start experiencing the benefits of Microsoft's platform, which claims to increase organizational productivity, streamline business processes, and reduce IT cost and complexity.

The tools and templates focus on providing a simpler user experience and increased automation for IT administrators. These tools and templates include the Microsoft Transporter Suite for Lotus Notes, Role-Based Templates for SharePoint My Sites, and Windows SharePoint Services 3.0 Application Templates.

To provide organizations with a starting point for creating their own custom applications, Microsoft has developed a set of 40 templates for Windows SharePoint Services 3.0.

The templates include scenarios for sales and marketing tasks, HR and finance processes, business and IT operations, project management needs, and vertical applications for education, healthcare, professional services, retail and financial organizations. In addition, organizations can use the Microsoft Transporter Suite to migrate data from template-based Notes applications to these Windows SharePoint Services application templates.

In the next 30 days, customers will be able to download these tools and templates at no charge.