INTERCEPTS

Messaging wars. Microsoft has targeted the federal messaging market and plans to push its Exchange software heavily this year in an attempt to wrest IBM's Lotus Development Corp. from its 65 percent share of the market. Bruce Weber, Microsoft Federal's Exchange marketing manager, said the company plans a two-way thrust for Exchange, selling the shrink-wrapped commercial version as well as a version developed for the Defense Message System in partnership with Lockheed Martin.

Ed Yoon, the Microsoft Federal Exchange chief widgeteer, said that in DMS, Exchange has a "huge architectural advantage over Lotus Notes" due to the way the two products handle groupware.

Yoon, who used to work for Lotus, said, "Notes is a nonstarter for DMS." That's what the Interceptor loves about Microsoft: It really knows how to soft-pedal its opinions.

Mike Danny, the development manager on the Lotus Notes DMS team, responded in kind. "Exchange is a fairly new technology for Microsoft. I'm seeing evidence of technical difficulties, and I wonder if customers want to bet the farm with their mission-critical applications on Exchange."

Byron Williams, Lotus' government sales pooh-bah, said Lotus has not seen any impact from Microsoft's sales efforts.

The Interceptor can hardly wait for Round 2.

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The Edmonds PACOM tour. DISA director Lt. Gen. Al Edmonds takes off this week on an extended tour of the Pacific Command, including, I understand, stops in Alaska and Hawaii as well as a number of WESPAC sites. I can't give you the exact itinerary because DISA tells me it's classified. (What isn't these days?) The Interceptor would appreciate receiving e-mails of any Edmonds PACOM sightings. Send them to brewin@access.digex. net.