Lotus moves Smartsuite team to develop different Approach

IBM subsidiary Lotus is shaking up the development team responsible for its Smartsuite Approach database, but claims it will not dump the product.

The software company plans to move development of Approach from Mountain View, California to Cambridge, Massachusetts. A representative for the company said it was consolidating development efforts and 'moving headcount around', but refused to say how many engineers would be affected.

US sources believe about 21 engineers have already lost their jobs, with more to be told their fate in March. It has been speculated that this is the first step in a defocusing of the product, which has minor market share compared with rival products.

But Lotus assured users it will continue to develop the entire Smartsuite office range, including the database.

A Lotus representative said that of the 300 developers in California and Massachusetts, 'only a small percentage' have been affected by the reshuffle.