IBM introduced a beta release of Lotus Notes and Domino 8.5.1, allowing iPhone users to enjoy the software’s automatic syncing capabilities for e-mail and calendaring. The new beta will extend existing Lotus Domino capabilities that have previously been offered for the iPhone.

The software release, which also includes plans to support Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync of Lotus Notes Traveler, is an extension of IBM’s earlier offering of Notes e-mail via IBM Lotus iNotes ultralight mode. The new support of Exchange ActiveSync support will enable push-access capability, including the ability to view Notes mail, calendar, and contacts data when users are not connected on their iPhones.

The beta release also includes the new 1.3 version of IBM’s Lotus Symphony document, spreadsheet, and presentation software.

[via Information Week]