
The software is based on Eclipse open source technology and will be available as a free download for current Notes users.
IBM said that Lotus Notes on Linux 7.0.1 is due to be released at the same time as the next major update for the software, but that demand had convinced the company to release the application early.
The Linux version will be available on 24 July, while the next major Lotus Notes update will not ship until next year.
The move had been expected for some time as IBM's Domino messaging platform has been available in a Linux format since 1998.
The collaboration software will initially work with Red Hat's Enterprise Linux 4, and IBM expects to release a version that integrates with Novell's SuSE Linux in the next three months.