IBM's Lotus Domino Web Access software, also known as IBM Lotus iNotes, will bring your Lotus e-mail, calendar and contact details to the Apple iPhone 3G.

IBM says the Lotus functionality is planned for delivery to the iPhone sometime in 2008, although no official announcement has yet been made and the company is stating that Lotus iNotes on the iPhone represents "current IBM plans and directions, which are subject to change".

The Web page touting Lotus functionality on the iPhone states that Lotus Notes data "will combine with the flexibility and connectivity of the Apple iPhone. To be built on the time tested IBM Lotus Domino Web Access infrastructure, users will be able to quickly access e-mail, calendars, and contacts through the rich Apple iPhone user experience".

The new iPhone 3G has earned praise as an enterprise mobile device and platform that holds its own against the likes of the Nokia E-Series, RIM BlackBerry, and Windows Mobile 6 devices.

(See Deploying the iPhone 3G for business, part 1).

But not everyone is convinced, with the new iPhone 2.0 software drawing criticism for being less competent and less tested than its BlackBerry and Windows Mobile counterparts.

Global analyst firm Gartner, after three weeks of testing and reviewing Apple's new iPhone 2.0 firmware and the iPhone 3G for use in large businesses, said the device can be supported by IT shops -- but only for a narrow set of uses such as voice, e-mail, Web browsing and the storage of personal information, citing security concerns as the reason for its restriction to limited use cases.

Nevertheless vendors including Oracle, NetSuite and others have or are releasing enterprise business intelligence applications for the iPhone 3G.

Computerworld is currently awaiting further detail from IBM Australia.

According to IBM's Web site, access to Lotus iNotes e-mail, calendars and contacts on the new iPhone will include the following features:

• Easy viewing of Lotus inbox
• Read e-mail with details either hidden or shown
• The ability to quickly compose or reply to e-mail
• The ability to attach and send files
• View day-at-a-glance calendar
• View details on meetings, all day events, reminders, and anniversaries
• View an organized view of your contacts
• View information on contacts and groups, and
• Quickly create new contact entries