HCL Sametime 12.0.2 FP1 – More Than Just Fixes, New Features and Enhancements!

HCL Sametime and HCL Sametime Premium 12.0.2 FP1 are now available, delivering more than just fixes! This release significantly enhances the user experience for our Web and Progressive Web Application (PWA) clients and introduces a new Sametime Connect client option: "Enable Web Chat/Progressive Web Application (PWA)." This is the first step towards integrating Web and PWA clients with future HCL Notes versions.

With this feature enabled, Sametime Connect users can seamlessly transition to the latest Web and PWA clients, accessing an enriched chat, contacts, and meeting experience. Key Web and PWA features include support for chat reactions, message deletions, and new file transfer capabilities, all while maintaining the Sametime Connect contact list.

Sametime Connect: Enable Web Chat or Progressive Web Application (PWA)

This client feature requires a Sametime version 12.0.2 FP1 server. To enable the Web or PWA Chat for Sametime Connect users, an end user or administrator has two options:

1 - Edit the local plugin_customization.in file, add isWebClientPrefEnabled parameter and restart the client.The plugin_customization.ini file is located in the Sametime Connect “rcp” directory.
com.ibm.collaboration.realtime.ui/isWebClientPrefEnabled=true

2 - Create or edit a managed-settings.xml file and assign an update site policy to user(s). For more information on using an update site policy and set values, see here.
<ManagedSettings>
<settingGroup name="com.ibm.collaboration.realtime.ui">
<setting name="isWebClientPrefEnabled" value="true"/>
</settingGroup>

Once enabled, users will see the following options from Preferences > Server Communities:

Select “Enable Web Chat/Progressive Web Application (PWA)” and recommended “Enable SSO between Notes/Embedded client and chat window” to allow the authentication token to be shared, avoiding the need to re-authenticate. Restart the client to apply and utilize the new Web or PWA chat clients when receiving or starting a chat. When messages are received while a user is offline, the client will identify unread chats and launch the chat window on startup.

For the best experience, we strongly recommend installing the PWA client, which is quick, easy, and allows users to pin the client application to the taskbar or desktop. Simply select the install prompt or option from the browser and the PWA client will be installed and enabled within seconds.

For additional information on this new feature, see here. Feedback is encouraged and welcomed on user and administrator experiences inour community forum or support cases. For needed features, submit and vote in the Sametime Ideas Portal.

Improved Contacts List

For users new to the Web or PWA client, we identified an opportunity to improve the contacts list experience. New with Sametime 12.0.2 FP1, a navigation pane was added to quickly access recent chat conversations and contacts while maintaining access to chat. In addition, the contact list was enhanced to provide a modern but familiar experience with online user counts for both private and public groups.

The ongoing development focus is on providing more features and view options in future versions such as an expanded view with photos, status descriptions, showing online contacts only, and sorting options.

New Way to Start a Group Chat

Starting a new group chat needs to be easy and accessible. Now when selecting the quick find field, a “New Group Chat” option will be presented. When starting a new group chat, an optional notification message has been added to alert invitees of their inclusion in a new group chat.

Mobile Enhancements and Stability Improvements

New features or design changes need to be available in our Mobile clients as well. New versions of both Android 12.0.13 and iOS 12.0.16 are available now to reflect these changes. Stability and performance have been a major focus for our mobile clients, and there are improvements in upcoming versions of Android 12.0.14 and iOS 12.0.17. Feedback in this area is incredibly important and HCL encourages customers to work with support teams to address any issues. If you are new or an existing mobile user, install the latest release today and watch for these soon-to-be released versions.

Notification when a Meeting starts

Ensuring users are aware of exactly when a meeting is active is very important. When joining a meeting that hasn’t started, version 12.0.2 FP1 provides an option to notify attendees when the meeting begins.

Support for Authenticated Business Card photos for Rich Clients

In previous versions of HCL Sametime Connect and HCL Notes embedded, Business Cards supported photos without requiring authentication. With a continued focus on security, these clients have been enabled to support authentication. Future versions of Notes clients will enable this support.

Chat and Meetings Persistent Storage Enabled by Default

Chat and meeting statistics need to be persistent, without additional actions by an administrator. In version 12.0.2 FP1, deployments by default enable persistent storage, maintaining statics on server restarts.

Ability to Set Maximum Chat History Displayed in Chat History

Sametime allows you to set the chat history time-to-live (TTL) on the server and control the maximum days or hours chat conversations are displayed. New in version 12.0.2 FP1, administrators can now control the chat history within a conversation from the user’s chat client. This enables administrators to keep required chat history time-to-live on the server and control the chat history presented to users. For more information on enabling this feature, see here.

Browser Tab Notification

Progressive Web Application (PWA) is the recommended client for managing badge notifications, but for those users that prefer a browser experience v12.0.2 FP1 provides a notification badge on the browser tab. If a user missed a banner notification or had it disabled, now a badge is provided to easily identify unread chats.

General Web | PWA Client Enhancements

Additional improvements and enhancements with version 12.0.2 FP1 include:

• New layout and styling of meeting home page to address spacing concerns​
• New UI to handle use-case of trying to delete an active meeting
• Announcements and New group chat confirmation support of banner style

Fixes

See the HCL Sametime and HCL Sametime Premium 12.0.2 FP1 Fix List article for a list of fixes included in this release.

Prerequisites and Requirements

See HCL Sametime and HCL Sametime Premium 12.0.2 FP1 System Requirements.

Download and Installation Instructions

Effective July 29, 2024, all current and future HCL Domino portfolio product releases, including HCL Sametime and components such as HCL Nomad, HCL Verse, HCL Domino Leap, and HCL Notes will be available on My HCLSoftware (MHS) portal only.

For more information:

• Blog: HCL Domino Portfolio Download Packages Now Available Exclusively on My HCLSoftware
• Important Announcement: HCL Domino Portfolio Download Packages Available Exclusively on My HCLSoftware (MHS) Starting July 29, 2024

Get Started on Your Upgrade Today

HCLSoftware remains committed to investing in the future of Sametime and encourages all customers to upgrade to the latest release, v12.0.2 FP1, to take advantage of the latest innovations and security updates.

Upgrading your Sametime software is a straightforward process that won't disrupt your business users. You can also introduce new features such as advanced meeting privacy settings and an improved user experience with a combined meeting and chat app. Don't wait – start planning your upgrade today.

For more information on HCL Sametime planning, installation and upgrading instructions, refer to the HCL Sametime Administration Guide 12.0.2> Installing topics.

Other Useful Links

To understand the full value and ease of upgrading, please read and watch:

• Whitepaper: Deploying Sametime 12.0.2 on Kubernetes Single Server
• Webinar Replay: HCL Sametime 12.0.2 - Why Upgrade to Sametime Meetings and Chat
• Webinar Replay: A Closer Look at Deploying Using Docker