Microsoft Exchange Server 2003
Microsoft previously had a separate application called Mobile Information Server 2002, which plugged into Exchange Server 5.5 or 2000 and allowed mobile users to connect to their e-mail, calendar and other Exchange data (see www.microsoft.com/miserver). This functionality has now been incorporated into Microsoft Exchange Server 2003, which was at Beta 2 stage of development at time of writing. Microsoft submitted Beta versions of Exchange Server 2003 and the Windows Server 2003 operating system, so keep in mind that there may be some changes when the final version is released.
Configuration and administration of users is very straightforward as this package, like most of the others in this review, makes use of the Active Directory services--it uses the standard Domain users.
The application allows PDAs and phones running Microsoft Pocket PC to connect and synchronise directly to the Exchange Server, rather than via a desktop PC. This leaves Palm OS users slightly out in the dark, so if your organisation has a cross-platform PDA base it may be worthwhile considering an alternative application that supports both PDA OSes if you require this form of synchronisation.
All is not lost for users of non-Microsoft devices, however. You can configure Exchange Server 2003 to run Outlook Web Access so devices running Palm or other OSes can access information via a Web or WAP browser.
The mobile client interface is very refined and also mimics the standard front end found on recent desktop releases of MS Outlook. Companies looking for an easier staff migration to a mobile solution may find that this familiarity saves some time in training and perhaps help desk calls.
If you are planning to add mobile worker e-mail facilities to your company's IT infrastructure and you are currently running Exchange 5.5 or 2000, then it may be worthwhile considering the migration to MS Exchange 2003 with the in-built mobile support.
Before you do this, it's worthwhile undertaking an audit first to determine how many mobile devices in your organisation use Windows for Pocket PC, Palm, or other operating systems. The results may change your decision about which application is best suited to your company's needs today.
Bear in mind too that this software has jusr been released and even though Microsoft spends big dollars, resources, and a lot of time testing its software before release, there may still be some issues that have not surfaced as yet.
| Product: | Microsoft Exchange Server 2003 |
| Price: | 25 users $5208, 50 users $8883, 100 users $16,233, 500 users $69,942 (RRP; volume licenses available). |
| Vendor: | Microsoft |
| Phone: | 13 20 58 |
| Web: | www.microsoft.com.au |
| Interoperability: |
Limited support for non-Microsoft operating systems, but Web-based access available. |
| Futureproofing: |
½
Future support is ensured, good scalability. |
| ROI: |
½Å- Good ROI for shops already running Exchange server because it should reduce admin hassles. |
| Service: |
Wide range of support options avaiable. |
| Rating: |
½ |
6%
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