Lotus betting the farm on Webtop and network computing

Lotus Development Corporation is joining Oracle, IBM, and Sun Microsystemsin a bid to develop a consistent network computing architecture that willinclude Lotus' vision of a "Webtop" graphical interface. The four companieswill develop APIs, specifications, and a set of standards for the hardwareand software needed to get the NC off the ground.

Lotus, in particular, is betting heavily on the initiative. The company recently announced a Java-based suite of applications called eSuite that will be made available in the Spring.

The only major player missing from the Webtop project is, of course, Microsoft, which would like to see its Windows CE operating system form thebasis of networked computers Microsoft called Windows terminals. The WebtopNC systems will compete directly with Microsoft's plans.