Lotusphere Europe cancelled

Lotus has confirmed it will not hold the European leg of its Lotusphere user conference this year.

Lotus has confirmed it will not hold the European leg of its Lotusphere user conference this year.

A Lotus representative claimed the decision to call off the conference, which is usually held in Berlin in October, was down to a venue and timing rethink.

The move follows the cancellation by Computer Associates of its European CA World user conference in Barcelona this year.

Privately, many industry watchers claim the decision to axe the Lotus event was because the company would have "precious little to announce". Unlike its US counterpart held in Orlando which, it is claimed, pays for itself, Lotusphere Europe does have an impact on the budget, according to a source close to the company.

Ian White, vice-president international of European Lotus business partner IT Factory, told CRN the decision to can the event was "disappointing, but not surprising". He added, however, that it was a strange decision to make considering the EMEA region contributes 40 per cent to Lotus worldwide revenue and is the biggest market outside of the US.

White also stressed the need for a European forum for Lotus business partners outside of the US who will probably be unhappy about the decision.