IBM"s Lotus Symphony suite, downloaded for use in English by more than 400,000 individuals since its release in September 2007, is now available in 24 languages. Lotus Symphony is a suite of software tools for creating text, spreadsheet and presentation documents based on OpenOffice code. It supports the OpenDocument format, Microsoft Office and Lotus SmartSuite formats. The top markets for Symphony adoption that now have local language support include: Brazil, France, Germany, India, Italy, Netherlands, Spain, Indonesia, Poland, China, the Russian Federation, Belgium, Finland, Sweden, Korea, Denmark and Taiwan. The leading market for Symphony to date is the United States, with about 25% of downloads.
Since Symphony is developed using the Eclipse-based Lotus Expeditor open framework, IBM has the flexibility to install additional language packs that include spell check dictionaries. Users can install any number of these additional language packs. The newest version of Symphony allows users to download a base package and select additional language packs. Lotus Symphony was developed by a global network of IBM laboratories led by a core team in Beijing, China using agile development techniques that allow work to continue seamlessly and in parallel on components of the product at all times.
"Customers want an open alternative to desktop software that gives them the flexibility to innovate. This is increasingly important as the workforce requires tools to collaborate seamlessly across borders and languages in the globally integrated economy, which represents the future of work," said Steve Mills, senior vice president and group executive, IBM Software Group.