Microsoft Announces Exchange “12” Beta 1Next version of Exchange Server to deliver more control, expanded access and better protection.REDMOND, Wash. — Dec. 14, 2005 — Microsoft Corp. today announced the release of Microsoft® Exchange “12” Beta 1 — the code name for the next version of its leading server for e-mail, calendaring and unified messaging, to a select group of testers. Exchange “12” will reduce the cost and complexity of the messaging system by providing more control for IT administrators, more value and expanded inbox access for end users, and increased security and compliance for organizations. With the release of Beta 1 — a major development milestone that gives customers, original equipment manufacturers, independent software vendors and systems integrators worldwide the opportunity to preview and provide feedback on Exchange “12” — Microsoft is on track to make the final release generally available in late 2006 or early 2007. “Today, end users are demanding 24x7 global access to their inboxes from a broader range of devices. At the same time, organizations are faced with spam and virus threats, and the demands of maintaining compliance with emerging regulatory requirements,” said David Thompson, corporate vice president of Exchange Server at Microsoft. “Exchange ‘12’ is a highly available messaging solution that allows IT administrators to address these challenges.” More Control for IT Administrators As a mission-critical application, e-mail often places heavy demands on IT administrators. They need to ensure that their messaging system achieves the highest level of availability and can be easily scaled to add users with limited cost impact. To support this, Exchange “12” will run on 64-bit server systems that can deliver extended functionality, greater scalability and increase the return on existing storage investments. In addition, having the tools to ensure they are being as efficient and productive as possible is critical for IT administrators as their workloads increase. Key new features in Exchange “12” Beta 1 to help IT administrators meet these needs include the following:
More Inbox Value With Expanded Access for End Users Information workers want the freedom to access their inbox regardless of where they may be. They also want their various forms of communication to be stored in a single location. Exchange “12” revolutionizes access by offering a speech-enabled unified messaging platform that integrates e-mail, fax and voice mail in the user’s inbox with support for a variety of clients, including traditional and mobile phones. In addition, Exchange “12” includes updates to Outlook Web Access, the client that allows users to access their inboxes with a Web browser from virtually anywhere, with no need for a special network connection. Key Exchange “12” Beta 1 additions and enhancements in this area include the following:
Active Messaging Protection for the Entire Organization Security remains a top priority for all companies. IT administrators must deal with increasing virus and spam threats. “Spam represents 39 percent of total e-mail sent on an average day in North America in 2005, up from 24 percent three years ago," said Mark Levitt, vice president of Collaborative Computing at IDC. IT administrators need an integrated solution that can automatically inspect and clean both inbound and outbound messages and that stays up to date as threats evolve. Exchange “12” Beta 1 delivers the first wave of functionality to help protect and secure the messaging environment. Key Exchange “12” Beta 1 improvements in this area include the following:
“Exchange ‘12’ will offer a number of improvements over Exchange 2003,” notes Erica Rugullies, principal analyst at Forrester Research Inc., in her December 2005 report titled “Plan Now for Microsoft Exchange ’12.’” “Exchange ‘12’ promises unified messaging, improved security and manageability through a set of server roles, easier integration with applications through Web services, and improved performance and scalability through 64-bit support.” Support for Developers Exchange “12” improves programmability and data access for corporate and professional developers. Exchange Web Services is a new, standards-based application programming interface to inbox data that simplifies development and helps organizations develop rich line-of-business and service-oriented applications that integrate with Exchange. More information about Exchange “12” can be found at http://www.microsoft.com/exchange/preview. Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq “MSFT”) is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential. Note to editors: If you are interested in viewing additional information on Microsoft, please visit the Microsoft Web page at http://www.microsoft.com/presspass on Microsoft’s corporate information pages. Web links, telephone numbers and titles were correct at time of publication, but may since have changed. For additional assistance, journalists and analysts may contact Microsoft’s Rapid Response Team or other appropriate contacts listed at http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/contactpr.mspx. |