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HCL Sametime

HCL Sametime
Formerly from IBM

Overview

What is HCL Sametime?

HCL Sametime (formerly IBM Lotus Sametime, acquired by HCL Technologies from IBM in 2018) is an enterprise-level unified communications and VoIP platform. It includes features such as instant messaging, web conferencing, voice and video integration, telephony capabilities, and presence information.

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Pricing

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What is HCL Sametime?

HCL Sametime (formerly IBM Lotus Sametime, acquired by HCL Technologies from IBM in 2018) is an enterprise-level unified communications and VoIP platform. It includes features such as instant messaging, web conferencing, voice and video integration, telephony capabilities, and presence information.

Entry-level set up fee?

  • No setup fee

Offerings

  • Free Trial
  • Free/Freemium Version
  • Premium Consulting/Integration Services

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Product Demos

HCL Sametime v12 Demo

YouTube
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Features

Cloud PBX

A cloud PBX system is based on cloud computing technology where data is stored and transferred over the intenet without any need for on-site PBX equipment

8.4
Avg 7.9

Call Management

Customized phone system settings

8
Avg 8.3

VoIP system collaboration

Team collaboration via cloud phone system

8
Avg 7.9

Mobile apps

Apps are compatible with mobile devices.

8
Avg 8.0
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Product Details

What is HCL Sametime?

HCL Sametime (formerly IBM Lotus Sametime, acquired by HCL Technologies from IBM in 2018) is an enterprise-level unified communications and VoIP platform. It includes features such as instant messaging, web conferencing, voice and video integration, telephony capabilities, and presence information.


HCL Sametime is ideal for cross-team chat in countries with strict data privacy and gravity laws, companies in regulated industries, and government entities who need to be able to ensure the security and auditability of their data.  ​ 


HCL Sametime Technical Details

Operating SystemsUnspecified
Mobile ApplicationNo

Frequently Asked Questions

HCL Sametime (formerly IBM Lotus Sametime, acquired by HCL Technologies from IBM in 2018) is an enterprise-level unified communications and VoIP platform. It includes features such as instant messaging, web conferencing, voice and video integration, telephony capabilities, and presence information.

Reviewers rate Directory of employee names and Answering rules and Message alerts highest, with a score of 8.

The most common users of HCL Sametime are from Enterprises (1,001+ employees).
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Comparisons

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Reviews and Ratings

(21)

Community Insights

TrustRadius Insights are summaries of user sentiment data from TrustRadius reviews and, when necessary, 3rd-party data sources. Have feedback on this content? Let us know!

Sametime is widely used for internal communication purposes within organizations, enabling seamless collaboration across different departments and locations. It provides a range of features including instant messaging, persistent chat rooms, meetings, and VOIP to address various business needs. Many IBM customers rely on Sametime as their go-to instant messaging platform due to its integration with email and web-based programs. Additionally, its compatibility with telephony systems and availability of free mobile iOS and Android clients make it a versatile choice for users.

One of the main use cases for Sametime is facilitating quick internal team meetings and project discussions. Users appreciate the convenience of being able to connect with colleagues in different offices across regions without the need for constant emails. The platform's integration with IBM Notes allows for easy booking of web meetings and checking availability for chat. Furthermore, its centralized settings and preferences management reduces the learning curve for users.

Another advantage of Sametime is its flexibility in deployment options. Organizations can choose between on-premises, cloud-based, or hybrid setups based on their specific needs. This adaptability enables teams to communicate efficiently regardless of their location or work environment.

Users have found Sametime invaluable in improving productivity, collaboration, and communication within their organizations. For example, savvy users utilize Sametime as a tool for presentations instead of searching through shared drives for files. Salespeople rely on the mobile app to obtain quick responses to time-sensitive questions while on-site with customers. The ability to record meetings and transfer files faster than email further enhances workflow efficiency.

Sametime is widely used as a standard text-based chat tool across organizations, especially for quick questions. Its REST API allows for easy integration of chat functionality into existing web apps. While Sametime is a preferred messaging app within many organizations, it may not be suitable for all teams, leading to competition from other messaging tools like Slack, Google Hangouts, and Skype. Organizations need to evaluate which solution best fits their specific requirements.

Based on user reviews, users recommend Sametime for its basic instant messaging capabilities and easy setup. They find it convenient for quick chats and collaboration, making it a suitable tool for internal team communication. Reviewers appreciate its features for file transfer and texting.

Users suggest using other apps like Microsoft Workspace, Slack, Google Chat, or Hangouts instead of Sametime. They feel that Sametime requires infrastructure, feels outdated compared to other solutions, and lacks updates. Users prefer these alternatives due to their ease of use, additional features, and better integration with video and audio.

Reviewers recommend Sametime for secure communication within companies. They appreciate it as a good software for video conferencing and messaging with most of the required features, such as an AI assistant, backup, video conferences, and multichats. However, some users mention slow service, frustrating attachment loading and transferring, and suggest making Sametime less resource-consuming and more affordable.

Overall, users have mixed opinions about Sametime but commonly recommend it as a basic communication tool while suggesting using other platforms for additional features.

Reviews

(1-10 of 10)
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Sametime a low budget and a reliable client

Rating: 7 out of 10
May 23, 2021
Bã…¤
Vetted Review
Verified User
HCL Sametime
6 years of experience
  • Instant meetings & persistent chat so you can do group chats in the office
  • Multiple screen-share, so users can share multiple screens in the same meeting windows
  • It is available on desktop, mobile and tablet PC so you can connect from anywhere
  • It has live streaming capabilities too, so a person can live stream and do a broadcast message
  • Inbound and outbound calls

Simple Yet Effective Platform

Rating: 9 out of 10
November 06, 2019
MT
Vetted Review
Verified User
HCL Sametime
2 years of experience
  • Easy to track chat history
  • Can share files and screenshots easily
  • Can create user availability alerts to alert when the user is available
  • Facilitate team communications across regions effectively without being very formal and therefore strengthens our team relationships

Sametime review

Rating: 9 out of 10
June 04, 2019
Verified User
Vetted Review
Verified User
HCL Sametime
12 years of experience
  • The license cost is comparatively low so almost all staff have it installed in our company. We can use it to contact all internal staff.
  • It’s light and fast with almost no downtime. It also provides easy to use APIs for the user to build automation process on it. We have an internally built robot running on Sametime to answer frequently asked questions and do some repetitive tasks.
  • Chat history can be saved as per user’s preference and it is easy to be searched.

IBM Sametime is a Basic Chat App that gets the Job Done... and not Much Else

Rating: 6 out of 10
December 09, 2018
Verified User
Vetted Review
Verified User
HCL Sametime
4 years of experience
  • IBM Sametime is incredibly simple to use. It is straightforward and offers an easy to use chat experience.
  • Being able to set up team chats is a great feature. This allows us to keep a chat room focused on a singular topic if required.
  • Sametime is available for our team members on PC as well as on Macs. There is also a mobile app to keep people in touch when they are away from the office.

Sametime? Maybe Some Other Time.

Rating: 1 out of 10
July 24, 2018
Verified User
Vetted Review
Verified User
HCL Sametime
4 years of experience
  • Sametime integrates well into my company's other text based communication software (IBM Notes). As a result, it is easy to begin a chat with another employee right from within Notes.
  • Sametime has been deployed across the organization, which means it's also the lowest common denominator for communication. It is almost always the case that I can get in touch with someone via Sametime.
  • Sametime CAN be (but not by default) configured to save conversations with others for later reference. This is particularly handy during technical conversations.

An Honest Review of IBM Sametime

Rating: 8 out of 10
April 06, 2018
VT
Vetted Review
Verified User
HCL Sametime
15 years of experience
  • Awareness and chat integration with different platforms.
  • Basic meetings and persistent chat rooms are not complicated to set up and support.
  • Runs on many different operating systems (Windows, various Linux distributions, etc.)

IBM Sametime is a solid, reliable solution!

Rating: 9 out of 10
February 26, 2016
  • Sametime can be installed in any number of ways to provide as little or as much functionality and integration as you want.
  • The backend capabilities of the Video components are quite amazing for providing the streaming capabilities.
  • As a telephony client, being able to have it integrated out-of-the box with your primary mail and application platform (IBM Notes) for presence and communications is a great win.
  • IBM allows for this to be run either on-premises or in their IBM Cloud.

Sametime provides real value, a simple interface, and full mobility.

Rating: 8 out of 10
February 12, 2016
Verified User
Vetted Review
Verified User
HCL Sametime
8 years of experience
  • Sametime's web-based interfaces are "zero load", requiring no plug-ins to be installed to join a meeting, launch a meeting, or use chat in a browser. A plugin is required only if you want to share your screen.
  • Integration with IBM Notes is very tight. Sametime's chat status can change according to your Notes calendar. You can easily see if someone who just emailed you is available to chat. Your chat History is right inside Notes as well.
  • IBM's mobile apps are top notch. We automated the apps for our users thanks to IBM's work with third party MDMs. This made it very simple for us to deploy the Sametime mobile apps -- Chat and Meetings -- and get new capabilities such as Audio & Video mobilized quickly.
  • No down time, ever. The rock solid WebSphere back-end of Sametime means the environment is always up. Period.
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