Lotus Development will offer discounts on software to competitors' customers
Article Abstract:
Lotus Development Corp moves to halt market share erosion, cutting prices on its Lotus 1-2-3 spreadsheets in an offer to users of competitors' products. Lotus will sell 1-2-3 to users of Microsoft Corp's Excel or Borland International's Quattro Pro for $150, or as little as $99 via distributors. Lotus 1-2-3 usually sells for $595. This same tactic has been used by Microsoft and Borland, which have offered discounts to Lotus 1-2-3 users. Lotus's market share dropped, from 73 percent in 1989, to about 48 percent in 1991. Michele Preston, an analyst with Cowen & Co, foresees intense competition. Lotus, says Preston, will 'fight for every inch of this market.' At issue, in particular, is the market for software products that are compatible with Microsoft's Windows. Lotus 1-2-3 for Windows has received mixed reviews. Lotus' stock was down $1.50 on Wednesday, Sep 4, 1991, closing at $37.25.
Publication Name: The Wall Street Journal Western Edition
Subject: Business, general
ISSN: 0193-2241
Year: 1991
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Lotus Development relies on 'Notes' to write success: firm stresses not-so-new groupware product that is finally catching on
Article Abstract:
Lotus Development Corp sees its Lotus Notes office automation software as its product of the future. Less than $25 million of the groupware software sold in 1991, while more than $500 million of the Lotus 1-2-3 spreadsheet software were sold. Despite the disparity in sales figures, Notes is considered the strategic weapon for Lotus, which was late to the market with a Microsoft Windows version of 1-2-3. The company's sales increased 20 percent in 1991, and the company intends to enter new markets and expand its work group computing product line, although its Ami Pro word processing software and cc:Mail electronic mail system are selling well. Notes, which was introduced in 1989, has little competition and is becoming more popular as networked computing becomes commonplace.
Publication Name: The Wall Street Journal Western Edition
Subject: Business, general
ISSN: 0193-2241
Year: 1992
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Lotus will unveil spreadsheet package, dubbed 1-2-3/G, as soon as next week
Article Abstract:
Lotus Development Corp will introduce Lotus 1-2-3/G, a powerful new version of 1-2-3, possibly as soon as Mar 30, 1990. This latest spreadsheet product is praised by software experts who have seen it. Lotus 1-2-3/G runs on microcomputers that use the OS/2 operating system, which has been slow to catch on because of its cost and its memory requirements. PC World, in its review, says: 'If 1-2-3/G doesn't draw users to OS/2, nothing will.' According to Richard G. Sherlund, an analyst with Goldman, Sachs and Co, 1-2-3/G could account for as much as 3 percent to 5 percent of Lotus Development's 1990 revenue, estimated at $700 million. Lotus executives have not yet decided on a price for 1-2-3/G.
Publication Name: The Wall Street Journal Western Edition
Subject: Business, general
ISSN: 0193-2241
Year: 1990
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