New hardware is a first for Lotus

IBM Corp.'s Lotus software unit in Cambridge is introducing its first hardware product--an e-mail and office software server for small businesses.

The IBM Lotus Foundations Start server runs the Linux operating system and contains e-mail and calendaring programs, as well as the Lotus Symphony suite of office productiving software, like word processing and spreadsheet programs.

The server will also contain VMware virtualization software, which is made by a subsidiary of EMC Corp. of Hopkinton, so that it can run programs written for Microsoft Corp.'s Windows operating systems. The new server will go on sale next month at a starting price of $3,348 for five users.
(By Hiawatha Bray, Globe staff)