Microsoft released Microsoft Exchange “12” Beta 1 on Wednesday, a test version of its upcoming email server software, with expanded options for administrator deployment and end user access to messages.
released Microsoft Exchange “12” Beta 1 on Wednesday, a test version of its upcoming email server software, with expanded options for administrator deployment and end user access to messages.
The Redmond software giant said the new system will give IT administrators the ability to control which components of Exchange get deployed on which servers so they can make the system more scalable in their enterprises. The system will also run on 64-bit servers.
Exchange “12”—the official “code name” for the system, according to Microsoft—also includes new filtering capabilities, a completely rewritten graphical management console, a scriptable command line shell for automating repetitive tasks, and automatic client detection and configuration.
Improved Outlook
On the end user side, the system includes a unified messaging platform that allows access to email, faxes, and voice mail through the same inbox.
Microsoft is also including a speech-enabled interface that allows users to access their messages by telephone through Outlook Voice Access (see Microsoft Learns to Speak).
Microsoft Learns to SpeakUsers will also be able to access their Exchange email over the web via Outlook Web Access.
“Today, end users are demanding 24x7 global access to their inboxes from a broader range of devices,” said David Thompson, corporate vice president of Exchange Server for Microsoft.
Shares of Microsoft were down $0.08 to $27.05 in recent trading.
Unified messaging is likely to be the key feature in the latest version of Exchange, according to one analyst.
“As more people are out on the road traveling and needing to access email and other messages, having improved web access for Exchange is critical,” said Mr. Spira.
He also believes Outlook web access will be useful.
“The ability to look in one place to find the various information you need to do your work, including email, voice mail, and fax, makes it much easier for the knowledge worker to manage the onslaught of incoming missives,” said Jonathan Spira, chief analyst at Basex, an IT research firm specializing in knowledge sharing and collaboration.
The system also includes a scheduling assistant that streamlines meeting schedules by visually presenting options for the best times and allowing users to book attendees, rooms, and resources.
Microsoft is also trying to live up to its commitments for improving security by including improved anti-spam filters, antivirus capability, attachment filtering, and automatic updates for block lists, anti-spam filters, and reputation services.
For developers, Microsoft is introducing a new application development interface called Exchange Web Services that is intended to improve programmability and data access.