IBM won a bid over Microsoft, after a comprehensive total cost of ownership study evaluated by Singapore Airlines. The airline company chose IBM Lotus software for a more effective collaboration and communication among its geographically diffused man power despite mobility.

“Enterprise collaboration and communications is critical for a company whose employees are as dispersed as Singapore Airlines,” said Kevin Cavanaugh, vice president, messaging and collaboration, IBM Lotus Software. “The use of social software and collaboration solutions can significantly impact the productivity and knowledge sharing across an organization.”

Singapore Airlines is expected to upgrade to IBM’s latest Lotus Notes Domino 8.5 by the end of 2010 as part of this dealing.

The increasing number of thin clients, laptops, desktops and other mobile and web-connected devices for corporate application and business processes access is the broad market targeted by IBM Lotus Notes collaboration software which is also available in a cloud-based version.

It’s another nod to IBM, as the company continues to expand its reach in a number of different directions.  IBM has made a number of key acquisitions this year, including Netezza as one of the more recent additions to its family.  The large corporation must still ward off competitors, including Oracle, which has set its sights for IBM territory during Oracle OpenWorld this week.