Microsoft Exchange 2010

Microsoft’s partners are saying that users are not in a hurry to upgrade to Exchange 2010. Market researchers have also concluded that the adoption of Exchange 2010 will get delayed until late 2011.

Microsoft has claimed savings by the use of Exchange 2010 but customers are not likely to buy it. The email system, however, has earned appreciation from its testers still users are not queuing up to buy.

There are many reasons behind this lag. First of all, Microsoft’s claims about savings do not appear as appearing compelling to users. While certainly there is truth in the saving claims of Microsoft, but an organization needs to have the correct environment to take proper advantage claimed by it. It might be a good decision for an organization to buy Exchange 2010 if it wants to move to the cloud some of its mailboxes, or if the organization is in a good condition to change its voicemail system. Microsoft’s claim of storage saving is still debatable! The only non-debatable fact is that not many organizations have yet shown interest in buying the new email system.

Yet another reason is that it is too early a shift after Exchange 2007. Organizations have waited for a long time for Exchange 2007 and many changes have broke the ISV and internal processes (i.e. to remove the Recipient Update Service) and also because it was a difficult install process. Just after shifting to 2007, migrating to 2010 will be a lot of unplanned work for organizations.

Even users are not yet interested, but some feature innovation is extremely good in Exchange 2010. Hybrid cloud innovation makes a good sense and is useful for businesses of any size.

Metalogix has surveyed more that 800 administrators and found that around half of them are still using Exchange 2003, and on top of that only 20% of them planned to upgrade to 2010. The survey was conducted shortly after the release of 2010. Apart from the fact that Exchange 2010 was released before the survey, most of the administrators planned to migrate to 2007, therefore the conclusion by Metalogix that the adoption of Exchange 2010 will not increase for at least two years more.

Despite user skepticism, Microsoft is marketing its new exchange server as a cost cutting choice. According to the cost saving calculator of Microsoft, users can save hundreds of thousands of dollars every year if they switch from 2003 to 2010. Most of the calculation requires use of the new exchange as a unified communication server. Most of the savings are in the form of third-party fees for services like voicemail, archiving and mobility. If those services are found in house, then savings may not be found.

Microsoft is a user friendly company and has always listened to the complaints of the users and this is the main reason why their products are so much in demand. They never hesitate to bring new innovation in their products and have often come out with some thing new. This can be easily seen from the Microsoft Exchange 2007 and now from Microsoft exchange 2010. They have always moved a couple of step ahead than us. This latest software has been recently released and from its first glance it seems to be the real gift for the people. Users will find all the complex task in Exchange 2007 in a simplified manner in exchange 2010.

In Microsoft exchange 2010, all the previous features have been updated and presented to you all in a new style. Most of the problems which administers used to face in its previous versions have been sorted out. Though the basic task of the Microsoft Exchange 2010 is still the same, but certainly there are various new things for you. The first novelty which you will find in this immense software is RBAC or Role based Exchange control. Most of the users demand of performing tasks independently. They do not want to kill their time each time with the interference of the Exchange interface. This demand has been granted in the form of RBAC. So have a good look at it.

Moving a bit forward, another interesting point for you all is Web based exchange control panel.  Microsoft exchange 2010 is a web based interface in which all the tasks can be completed with few clicks here and there. It will release the tension of administers a large extent. Management of messages, or the creation and deleting of distribution list can be easily accomplished in this Web based interface. Every thing will be taught to you like: how to use various features, how to operate them, and stuff like this can be easily understood with the help of the tutorial which they have for you. So just check it out.

But the significant development which took place is in the field of voicemails. In the previous version of Microsoft Exchange, users are only limited to access the mail box and check messages, but you can start a voice realm using exchange 2010. There is a feature named voice mail preview in which you can start the exchange of text and voice conversation with your client. This is extremely beneficial from the business perspective. What do you say about it?

In the previous versions of Microsoft Exchange, you all can access the portable computers and can exchange messages without a virtual private network. But with the advent of Microsoft Exchange 2010, there is a bit augment in that feature. Now you all can not only access the messages but can also send voice mails. No matter where you are, you can respond to every dialed calls or emails, till you have a net connected in your PC or laptop. A senior official of Microsoft have revealed that this version of Microsoft Exchange can save up to 50% of the company’s cost through its mailbox features. So, in this sense, you need to pay a lot less for using Microsoft Exchange 2010. Isn’t it great?

In practical life as well, the features of Microsoft exchange 2010 have been found really effective. Let’s understand this fact with the help of an example. In commercial life, a salesperson is required to revert to the dealer very quickly. So this problem can be efficiently tackled with the help of the text voice conversation over Microsoft exchange 2010. A message will be displayed on the salesperson’s mobile or PC, informing him about the dealer’s concern. And this all will be done within few seconds. People found this feature really awesome from the business prospective. One can access his mails and voice mails several times in a day. There is no limitations in using the Microsoft Exchange 2010, which was not so in its previous versions. The new interface on which Microsoft exchange 2010 works is a lot better than its previous versions since all the things are well organized and you will find accessing it very easy.

Now we should look at some technological benefits which Microsoft Exchange 2010 provides. In the field of Information Technology, PST files have been found quite hard to manage. You can ask about it from any IT expert and he will tell you that PST files are real nightmare to deal. But Microsoft exchange 2010 has made this task a lot easier with its extensive features. There is instant support available to you, when ever you find any difficulty in dealing with any of the files.

The users of the Microsoft Exchange 2010 have given awesome feedback relating to it. Microsoft Exchange 2010 has been found useful in all the spheres. There are various testimonials which will tell you the point of view of the people. The protection feature of Microsoft Exchange 2010 has also been found quite useful. In short, Microsoft Exchange 2010 is a reliable, cost effective and efficient tool for you all to have a proper communication. So, just check it out and have fun with its various vibrant features.

Microsoft  yesterday launched, in Tanzania,  a new suite of software products including  Windows 7 which is the company’s popular windows desktop operating system.

The introduction of Windows 7 and other products will enable any user to be able to use any language of his or her  own choice.

Microsoft Education and Citizenship Programme Manager Mark Matunga,  stated that the application of such local languages will be implemented in 18 to 24 months time when all the translation and localization work is completed.

“Today, we are launching our company’s new suite of software products Windows 7, Windows Server 2008 R2 and Microsoft Exchange Server 2010. It is an opportunity for Microsoft customers and partners to gain first hand experience of the new products and connect with people already using the new technology,” Matunga said

Matunga added that Microsoft has developed language interface packs that translates English-language into local languages.

According to him, the process of translation is done in collaboration with National Swahili Council  (Bakita), University of Dar es Salaam and other Swahili professionals from Kenya and Uganda.

Concerning the Windows Server 2008 R2 and Microsoft Exchange Server 2010, Microsoft East and Southern Africa General Manager Louis Otieno, said: “the biggest challenge that many businesses in Tanzania have is the ability to get the most out of their new and existing technology investments and getting as much performance as possible without having to spend huge amounts of money to do so,”

Otieno also said that Windows 7 represents years of in-depth listening to customers and partners around the globe and is the most well-researched, planned windows released.

Microsoft Monday shipped the final release of Exchange 2010, ushering in not so much the latest version of its messaging server as the first updated piece of its unified communications and collaboration platform.

The release was no surprise, given the fact that last month Microsoft released the software to manufacturing — the so-called RTM — and said it would ship Monday as part of the agenda at its annual TechEd Europe conference.

Review: Best and worst of Exchange 2010

Next year, Microsoft will update SharePoint Server and Office Communications Server (OCS) to the 2010 moniker. The server duo along with Exchange forms a foundation for Microsoft’s unified communication platform. SharePoint 2010 and OCS 2010 are expected to ship in May or June of next year, although Microsoft has not released an official ship date.

“We are very much a Microsoft shop, and it is because of that integration,” says George Hamin, director of e-business and information systems for Subaru Canada. The company is fully deployed on Exchange 2010 and it also runs OCS, SharePoint, Microsoft’s System Center Operations Manager and a laundry list of other Microsoft software. “I have tried in the past using third-party products and tried to integrate it all. Our previous phone system had it but their concept of unified messaging was unified to the Outlook client and not to the Exchange server. So voice mail did not come through to your cell phone, voice mail was not available on the Outlook Web Access portal. So it was not true unified messaging. There was no concept of presence.”

In the long run, Hamin like others sees e-mail not so much as a separate entity but part of a larger platform. Monday, Microsoft focused on e-mail, but three weeks ago the focus was on SharePoint 2010 during the annual conference around that server software. And next week, as part of its annual Professional Developer’s Conference, developers will be brought into the equation.

The Exchange, OCS, SharePoint trio of servers also forms the core of Microsoft’s Business Productivity Online Suite, a set of hosted services, including LiveMeeting, that can be used separately or together.

The suite also has a set of companion security tools as part of the Forefront lineup. On Monday, Microsoft released Forefront Protection 2010 for Exchange Server, an online messaging security service. SharePoint and OCS will get similar tools.

One of the points Microsoft emphasizes with Exchange is that its architecture supports both online and on-premises deployments, and company officials say that Exchange 2010 is available as the foundation of its Exchange Online service with some limitations.

“We won’t have flexibility to run custom code for a single tenant,” says Rajesh Jha, senior vice president for Exchange. “We have a flavor or Exchange Online services called Exchange Dedicated service and it is a single tenant model and you can have custom code. “The Exchange 2010 server released Monday is a 64-bit only server that includes new storage and deployment options, enhanced in-box management capabilities, built-in e-mail archiving, new database clustering, additional hardware options and a revamped Outlook Web Access client.

Microsoft launches Online Services to provide on-demand e-mail and collaboration solutions for customers in India Microsoft Online Services Subscription is available upwards of $2 per user per month.

The Microsoft Online Services product family offers Exchange Online (for e-mail) and Office SharePoint Online (portals and collaboration) available separately or as a suite together with Office Live Meeting (for conferencing), Microsoft Exchange Hosted Services and Microsoft Office Communications Online (for instant messaging and presence). The services will be available in India from November 7, 2009 onwards.

HCL, Infosys, Wipro among leading partners to provide value added Services Over 1800 Indian businesses on board in the 100 day trial period . As a part of its continued emphasis to enable easy access to its cost effective business productivity software, Microsoft has announced commercial availability of Microsoft Online Services in India.

Customers can access the suite directly from www.microsoft.com/india/onlineservices

Users have to pay a use-based monthly subscription fee, and thus manage their IT needs efficiently and more cost effectively .

Windows 7 delivers on a simple premise: Microsoft Online Services Ready Reckoner

Microsoft Online Services delivers:

E-mail, collaborate, conference, IM facility online on a pay as you go basis
Website from where you can access:
http://www.microsoft.com/india/onlineservices

Costs: (excluding applicable taxes)

The standard suite costs $10 /user/month
Individual offerings are available at:

• $5 per user/month for Exchange Online Sstd
• $5.25 user/month for SharePoint Online
• $2.00 user/month for Office Communications Online Std
• $4.50 user/month for Office Live Meeting
• $2 per user/month for Exchange Online Deskless Worker
• $2 per user/month for SharePoint Online Deskless Worker

Microsoft Online Services:6 easy cost saving steps

• Step 1 – Go to www.microsoft.com/india/onlineservices
• Step 2 – Choose country and log in with Live id
• Step 3 – Add chosen services to shopping cart
• Step 4 – Choose the partner of choice
• Step 5 – Start using the service (after you receive service setup notification)
• Step 6 – A usage based monthly bill will be make it easier for customers to do the things they want on a PC through a streamlined user interface and several new features that make everyday tasks faster. This launch marks a significant milestone for Microsoft and is a result of extensive feedback from millions of customers and partners around the world.

The City of Los Angeles has decided that its 30,000 employees will “Go Google,” as the city has selected Gmail as its new email system. This decision might spell a troubling trend for Microsoft in the Enterprise Software market.

Councilman Tony Cardenas made the motion to usher in the Gmail era in the City of Angels, calling it, “a state-of-the art e-mail system.” The $7.25 million contract was awarded by a vote of 12-0 to Google.

The decision ended a year-long battle between email vendors to win the contract to support Los Angeles City workers. The City Council considered a number of other software vendors including Microsoft.

Not everyone in the Los Angeles City Council is completely sold on the idea of going to the cloud. Prior to the vote a number of the Council members had voiced concerns about turning over the city’s data to the cloud.

Councilman Paul Koretz said, “It’s unclear if this is cutting edge, or the edge of a cliff and we’re about to step off.” Critics say they aren’t convinced of the cost-savings or Gmail’s unproven ability to handle the security measures necessary for law enforcement usage.

However if the City of Los Angeles can successfully implement Gmail as the second largest city in the nation, it could serve as an example to smaller cities looking to re-evaluate their mail system. At least that’s what Google hopes.

Microsoft lobbied hard to keep Los Angeles from choosing Google, sending executives and outside advocates to talk to council members. The maker of the ubiquitous Outlook/Exchange email software combination stands to lose a lot of money from companies that decide to go Google.

This will be a grand experiment to see how thousands of city employees take to Gmail’s threaded conversations and relatively-awkward meeting scheduling. How do you think this large-scale Gmail experiment will play out?

One of the most surprising aspects of Exchange Server 2010 is the lack of backward compatibility offered. While those of us in the Information Technology market can’t afford to look back, or stay stuck in the past, it is unrealistic to expect organizations to upgrade their whole infrastructure for one application, however important it might be.

Historically, just about everything Microsoft made was backward compatible to one degree or another. On average their software was at least useable with the two previous versions of the release. While the newer features and benefits weren’t realized until we were up to date, at least the platform and its inherent improvements were able to be utilized.

After saying all that, there is a little bit of backward compatibility built in, since the latest beta release there is now the ability to co-exist with Server 2003 and Exchange 2007 with Service Pack 2. When the first beta came out it was Server 2008 only, which annoyed a lot of the IT community and threatened to marginalize the product. That’s a lot to ask at any time, let alone during a recession where budgets are tight and taking risks in unheard of.

However, the Exchange 207 Service Pack 2 was released yesterday so will be able to be further tested with the final beta of Exchange 2010 for those who have the patience.

The in-place upgrade that is now available is either a blessing or a curse. While it’s much more convenient for small businesses or home users to upgrade software, for the larger organization this isn’t the case. Upgrading means downtime and the risk of incompatibility with existing applications. Often it is much safer, and easier to upgrade a machine anew and integrate it into the network all shiny and fresh. A well planned refresh of the infrastructure would allow an organization to take down part of its system and do fresh installs while the existing nodes chugged away as normal. Once the new servers were ready they would be connected together in isolation before being introduced back into the wild. Doing it this way would enable rigorous testing before go live and prevent any system errors or incompatibilities affecting live service.

Now Microsoft have enabled Exchange 2010 to play nicely with Server 2003 it should become more acceptable. Rather than having to upgrade the entire server farm, only those servers hosting Exchange 2010 will need to be upgraded. This will save thousands of dollars when it comes to deployment time, and a much quicker turnaround when it comes to installation. Upgrading twenty servers instead of two hundred is a much better prospect for even the most ardent Microsoft haters.

From what we have seen so far, and with the changes announced in the final beta, the positives of upgrading to Exchange 2010 outweigh the negatives. I don’t see anyone rushing out to deploy it as soon as it’s released, but it’s a lot more likely it will be deployed than it was a month ago.

Microsoft announced that the new Exchange Server 2010 will ship by the end of the year. It released the final beta recently along with Forefront for Exchange Server 2010 which is a security add-on for the server software.

The design philosophy of the new Exchange is that of a hybrid. It is designed to work equally well as a hosted email service as it is a corporate one. The flexibility and scalability touted in previous press releases certainly hint at a much more robust and flexible approach to the software.

Microsoft has tested the application thoroughly using its own infrastructure, and the Live@Edu programme. This programme was a free offering to students which offered a co-hosted Exchange setup free of charge with ten gigabytes of storage per user and an online storage facility called SkyDrive which enables students to add files to cloud based network folders.

The software giant also used its own corporate network to host the new Exchange 2010 infrastructure. In a statement they said that it was the perfect way to iron out any last minute issues while serving thousands of mailboxes concurrently.

Michael Atalla, the Exchange Group Product Manager announced the release on the team blog this week. He also highlighted some new features such as the interoperability with Exchange 2007 with Service Pack 2, and the ability to co-exist with Server 2003 servers. Initially Exchange 2010 was only going to work on Server 2008 machines, but it may be the case now that is can work with the older OS. There was also added support for 64-bit Server 2008, upgrades from the Exchange 2010 Release Candidate to the Release To Manufacturing version, which is also good news for early adopters. It means now that the RC version can be updated to the RTM rather than being uninstalled and installed anew.

This release is another example of the sea change at Microsoft over the past couple of years. They seem to be listening to users, interacting and consulting with them and even taking some of the feedback on board. We now seem to be getting software that we want, rather than what they want us to have. Windows 7 is another example of a product that has gone though lengthy feedback testing and beta’s before being released to manufacturing.

Microsoft is also attempting to improve the email discovery and compliance aspect of its email platform. Feedback from tester so far indicates that this isn’t ready yet, and probably won’t be at the time of release. It will probably be along in a year in the first Service Pack for Exchange 2010.

While the compliance aspect isn’t fully finished, the improved interface and administrative tools are. They have been received positively so far from Exchange experts around the world as it makes it much easier to maintain the infrastructure and individual users, all from one interface. This cuts down significantly the amount of administration it will take to keep the nodes functioning.

Exchange 2010 is expected to ship at the end of this year.