Siemens and IBM are teaming up to offer Internet phone calls launched directly from email or instant messaging applications, Siemens said on Monday. The two companies plan to embed Siemens HiPath softswitches for voice over Internet protocol (VoIP) into IBM's Lotus Notes and Domino business software.

The result will be that customers will be able to launch phone calls and conferences with one click from their email, Web conferencing or instant messaging sessions, Siemens said.

Siemens added in a statement that the integrated features were expected to be available to customers by this summer.

IBM's head of software product management Ken Bisconti said in the statement: "By working together with industry leaders such as Siemens we are opening up a new realm of possibilities for our customers, without having to replace their existing IT infrastructures."