Yahoo's Zimbra software can now work hand-in-hand with other server software for email, calendar, and contacts, including Microsoft's widely used Exchange platform.
Zimbra Collaboration Suite, an open source software package, now has an "open extension framework," and the first extension works with Exchange 2003, Yahoo said Tuesday in the US. The company is leaving it to others to develop extensions for other software, such as IBM's Lotus or Novell's GroupWise.
Integration with Microsoft's dominant Exchange is a major requirement for many companies. Yahoo got it working by using existing Microsoft Exchange APIs (application programming interfaces), said John Robb, Zimbra's vice president of product marketing.
"We are using WebDAV, standard Exchange settings, and a Zimbra module that runs alongside the Exchange server," he said in a statement.
The University of Pennsylvania is one organisation using Zimbra's Exchange connection software, according to Sumatra Development, a company that specializes in email migration.
