Mail & messaging Toolkit

Microsoft launches Exchange Server 2010

Tom Espiner ZDNet UK

Published: 09 Nov 2009 17:11 GMT

Microsoft has released Exchange Server 2010, the latest update to its email and calendaring server software, at the start of its TechEd Conference in Berlin.

The update was introduced on Monday, keeping to the delivery date Microsoft announced when it finalised code for the product in October.

The new features in the software include database availability groups, which automate database-level disaster recovery; online mailbox moves, which give users access when mailboxes are moved; and new management tools, including role-based access control.

"Customers are... seeing productivity gains of more than 20 percent with a universal inbox that delivers email, voicemail, instant messaging and text messaging consistently across virtually any device," said Microsoft business division president Stephen Elop in a statement.

Exchange has a 70 percent market share in business email and communications, and took almost £1.2bn in revenue last year, according to Rajesh Jha, who leads the Exchange effort at Microsoft.

Microsoft also announced on Monday that Forefront Protection 2010 for Exchange Server is now available. The business security product uses anti-malware engines for antivirus and anti-spam. New features include a dashboard view of spam and antivirus statistics; support for Exchange Server 2010, Windows Powershell and Hyper-V; and standardised installation using MSI installer.