Comparing Microsoft Exchange Server 2007 to Other Messaging Solutions
Every organization has different messaging needs, and when researching a solution for your organization you may want to compare different features and capabilities of messaging products. The following resources, including customer feedback and reviews, will help you evaluate Microsoft Exchange Server 2007 against other messaging solutions to see how Exchange Server delivers advanced security, true messaging and collaboration functionality, and meets the needs of your workforce.
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Analyst ReportsFind out what independent researchers are saying about the value of Exchange Server.
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Customer Case Studies
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Feature Set and Functionality"Microsoft Exchange’s ability to work smoothly with Microsoft CRM and other Microsoft applications is behind the Ministry of Transport’s decision to move away from Lotus Notes," says Murray Wills, a consultant advising the ministry. "At the same time, the Ministry is seeking a new electronic document management system, for physical and electronic documents, to replace the rather basic Lotus Notes system it is presently using. A new system is likely to be based on Microsoft Exchange, so as to blend smoothly with the Microsoft orientation of most of the Ministry’s applications." Computerworld (September 19, 2006): Transport considers outsourcing all IT to Revera
"Next to roles, one of the most useful new features we found for day-to-day Exchange Server administrators is the new Exchange Management Shell, built on the foundations of Windows PowerShell, previously code-named 'Monad.' The new Management Shell is sexy because it goes a long way toward giving Exchange administrators the same powerful command-line environment about which their Unix counterparts have long been bragging. From our testing, literally anything that can be done through the GUI-based Exchange Management Console—formerly known as System Manager—can now be done at the command prompt." InfoWorld (August 7. 2006): Microsoft Exchange 2007 pushes the envelope
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Migration"We are seeing larger and larger customers moving to Exchange,” says Ron Robbins, product manager for Exchange migration solutions at Quest. “We are seeing 20,000 to 50,000 user accounts moving over and those users want something more project focused." Network World (August 29, 2006): Quest adds project management to Notes to Exchange migration tools
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Mobile Access"But in a couple years, with improved security and other features, Microsoft could overtake RIM as the leader in mobile e-mail", Daley said."We're hearing companies say they'll migrate some day to [the] Microsoft platform," Daley said, "and now it might be sooner rather than later." San Francisco Chronicle (February 14, 2006): Microsoft software takes on BlackBerrys
"To help companies that plan to move away from desktop [applications] and enlist more Web services, Microsoft has improved Outlook Web Access (OWA). With a new interface and a feature set that's nearly identical to Outlook, this version is one of the best Webmail clients we've used." Network Computing (August 31, 2006): RollOut: Microsoft Exchange 2007 Beta 2
"The mobile messaging features in Exchange Server 2007, coupled with the lower cost of ownership, provide DoITT with a welcome alternative. Maiorino says, “The mobility aspect of Exchange Server 2007 is just as good as BlackBerry: as soon as a message comes in for me, I know it’s there, with no interaction on my part. The new mobile devices are also much improved, and our people will be really excited and happy to have them." Case Study: New York City Department of Information Technology and Telecommunications
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Security"But does that really mean it’s time to give up Postfix and go all-Redmond, all the time? Microsoft sure makes a good case for it. For one, it’s done a lot more than just basic SMTP relay functionality. Anti-virus and anti-spam functions are part of the edge transport server role, assuming the Exchange enterprise license has been purchased, and you can get it as either an in-house software purchase or as part of the Exchange Hosted Filtering Service, similar to the type of off-site e-mail filtering provided by MessageLabs." InfoWorld (August 7, 2006): Exchange as a gateway?
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Total Cost of Ownership (TCO)"I believe Microsoft has made Exchange Server 2007 in a way that will directly result in lowering the total cost of ownership of the product (One significant way in which DOITT will reduce its TCO is through the server consolidation that Exchange Server 2007 makes possible)." Case Study: New York City Department of Information Technology and Telecommunications
"In the final analysis, we didn’t see enough value in simply upgrading from Exchange to a Linux e-mail server and leaving the project at that. The dichotomy of skills and software resources is simply too much in the long term."
"Businesses have been clamoring for the leading e-mail providers, like Microsoft, to enhance the capabilities of mail servers," said Forrester Research analyst Erica Rugullies. "[With the new services,] Exchange customers won't have to seek out a third-party product for archiving and e-mail management." NewsFactor (March 30, 2006): Microsoft Revamps Hosted-Messaging Services
Third-party experts and customers are weighing the total cost of ownership of Windows Server and Linux to inform their platform decisions. These studies look beyond the acquisition costs to factor in maintenance, reliability, availability of skills to support, and ease of integration. Microsoft – Get the Facts on Windows and Linux: Total Cost of Ownership | ||||||||||||||||||
