Instead of the usual one-size-fits-all approach, its Web-based SmartSuite product allows employees to customize their health care plans.

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On 17 July 1995, IBM announced that Smartsuite would be the primary desktop offering from IBM in the United States.

BBC: IBM chief: Microsoft killed OS/2

Mr Norris revealed that Mr Kempin had said: "We would agree to settle the audit if you don't ship SmartSuite for six months".

BBC: IBM chief: Microsoft killed OS/2

Microsoft was very concerned that Notes and SmartSuite would erode Microsoft's market share of Exchange and Office, and cause pressure on Microsoft's pricing.

BBC: IBM chief: Microsoft killed OS/2

The stakes on this tour were high, raised by the surprising success of SmartSuite from rival Lotus and by cutthroat pricing throughout the software industry.

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With SmartSuite, Humana was able to keep health care cost inflation for its own Louisville employees to a low 4.9% increase versus an expected 19.2% hike.

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The threat posed by Lotus SmartSuite, a rival to Microsoft Office, infuriated Microsoft, and three days after the Lotus deal, Microsoft became non-responsive to efforts to finalise a licence for Windows 95.

BBC: IBM chief: Microsoft killed OS/2

As a consequence, IBM continued to ship SmartSuite.

BBC: IBM chief: Microsoft killed OS/2