Microsoft testing next version of Exchange
Published: 14 Jan 2009 10:12 GMT
Microsoft has started testing the next version of its Exchange email and calendar software, a product Microsoft said is designed to run from the ground up as a hosted service that can work simultaneously with more than one business.
The new version, code-named E14, is in limited private beta testing as a traditional server product with "a select number" of businesses.
But Microsoft also recognised that traditional beta testing wouldn't help it much in getting a sense of the multi-tenant support. So starting in October 2007, the company started seeking out universities and schools willing to test E14 as part of Exchange Labs.
The move is important. Although Microsoft has continued to take share in recent years from longtime rival Lotus Notes, the company faces the prospect of growing competition from web-based alternatives from Google and others.
Read this
Q&A: How Microsoft plans to make its mark in CRM
The company is well placed to take the lead in the CRM arena, says Microsoft's Brad Wilson...
Microsoft said on Tuesday that there are now more than 3.5 million people, including students, faculty, staff and alumni, who are testing the next Exchange at more than 1,500 educational institutions.
Among the features is an updated web client, Outlook Live. Among the changes from today's Outlook Web Access is support for managing distribution groups, setting up rules and viewing other email accounts, things that typically have required the desktop version of Outlook.
The company did not say when to expect a public beta or the final version of E14.
Although Microsoft has taken steps to make Exchange better suited to hosting with E14, the software maker and some of its partners already provide hosted Exchange using the current version, Exchange 2007. Microsoft officially started offering the Exchange Online service late 2008, after testing it for some time.
Credit: Microsoft testing next Exchange from CNET News
Did you find this article useful?
3 out of 3 people found this useful
Digg
Slashdot
Del.ici.ous
Stumble
Reddit
