Posted on Harold Wong’s blog.

Exchange 2007 SP1 finally supported on Hyper-V based servers:

Today Microsoft announced some significant changes to its licensing and support policies for applications in hardware virtualization environments. There are two key parts of the announcement worth highlighting for Exchange customers:

1. Microsoft now supports Exchange Server 2007 SP1 running Hyper-V or hypervisors validated under the Microsoft Server Virtualization Validation Program (SVVP).
2. Microsoft is waiving its 90-day license reassignment policy to enable customers who virtualize Exchange to move their licenses between servers within a data farm as often as necessary.

As part of the updated support policies, we have published an article called Microsoft Support Policies and Recommendations for Exchange Servers in Hardware Virtualization Environments. This article includes Microsoft’s support policy and recommendations for running Exchange Server 2003 in a Microsoft Virtual Server 2005 R2 environment. It replaces Microsoft Knowledge Base article 320220, which previously detailed the policy and recommendations for this environment. In addition, this article includes Microsoft’s support policy and Microsoft’s recommendations for running Exchange Server 2007 SP1 in a hardware virtualization environment.

Microsoft Support Policies and Recommendations for Exchange Servers in Hardware Virtualization Environments is a must-read for anyone considering a virtualized Exchange environment.

To learn more about the Microsoft-wide changes to licensing and support, see:

• Microsoft press release - http://www.microsoft.com/Presspass/press/2008/aug0...R.mspx
• Volume Licensing Brief from WWLP - http://www.microsoft.com/licensing/resources/volbr...f.mspx
• Support policy for Microsoft software running in non-Microsoft hardware virtualization software - http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=3052&kb...897615
• Support partners for non-Microsoft hardware virtualization software - http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=3052&kb...944987
• Microsoft server software and supported virtualization environments - http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=3052&kb...957006

From the MSExchangeTeam blog.

Harold Wong has published a new video in which he interviews Becky Benfield, Principal Program Manager in the Exchange Product Group.

Watch it here.

Here are the details of the September MMMUG meeting.

This event will be held in London at the MSFT offices in Cardinal Place near Victoria.

This month we have a exciting session led by John Stewart-Murray from Dialogic. John will be introducing telephony to us as IT Pros. We will cover useful terms and then look at common scenarios which you may encounter.

We will then also look at how telephony is becoming integrated into the Exchange world by talking about how the telephony world operates with the Exchange UM role.

The meeting will be held on Wednesday 10th September.

To sign up and for more information see the link below:

http://www.mmmug.co.uk/forums/thread/21851.aspx

Now that ISA Server 2006 SP1 we don’t need to worry about ISA Server 2006 not supporting our Exchange 2007 SAN/UC certificates anymore.

Two years too late would some say…

Read more on the ISA Server team blog here and download the actual ISA 2006 SP1 package here.

Even more information around the Microsoft Certified Master (MCM) program/certification directly from the program director Per Farny.

Read it at Trika’s blog.

London, UK, 23 June 2008 – GFI Software, an international developer of network security, content security and messaging software, today announced that GFI MailSecurity, the leading SMB email security product with up to 5 virus scanners, now supports Microsoft Windows Server 2008.

Windows Server 2008 is the most advanced Windows Server operating system, designed to power the next-generation of networks, applications, and Web services. The latest build allows administrators to run the software in software in Windows Server 2008 environments.

“GFI MailSecurity is the leading SMB email security product on the market and over 30,000 customers are using this award-winning product because it helps them to prevent emails viruses and other malicious code before it reaches the user’s mailbox and it allows administrators to check and control the content of outbound email. GFI MailSecurity is also a leader because of its unbeatable pricing and immediate return on investment,” David Vella, Director of Product Management at GFI, said.

“The new build is another step towards meeting the requirements of our clients and offering them the tightest integration between our products and Microsoft’s latest server offering, Server 2008,” he added.

For more information on GFI MailSecurity please visit: http://www.gfi.com/mailsecurity/. For pricing please visit: http://www.gfi.com/pricing/. To order customers may use our online order form or order via one of GFI’s authorized distributors and resellers.

About GFI
GFI is a leading software developer that provides a single source for network administrators to address their network security, content security and messaging needs. With award-winning technology, an aggressive pricing strategy and a strong focus on small-to-medium sized businesses, GFI is able to satisfy the need for business continuity and productivity encountered by organizations on a global scale. Founded in 1992, GFI has offices in Malta, London, Raleigh, Hong Kong, and Adelaide which support more than 200,000 installations worldwide. GFI is a channel-focused company with over 10,000 partners throughout the world. GFI is also a Microsoft Gold Certified Partner. More information about GFI can be found at http://www.gfi.com.

All product and company names herein may be trademarks of their respective owners.

St. Michael’s University School Increases OWA Usage with Messageware OWA Suite

June 24, 2008, Toronto, Canada – Like most education officials and young people today, the staff and students at St. Michael’s University School, a private coeducational, independent day and boarding school, needed a convenient and effective method to collaborate. The elite school located on the tip of Canada’s Vancouver Island, needed an easy and low-maintenance way for their 920 K-12 students and faculty to email, coordinate meetings and open and view attachments regardless which of their 600 computers they were using.

The organization uses Microsoft Office Exchange with Outlook Web Access (OWA), but found it lacking certain features that were necessary to make it the communications hub they desired. Specifically, they needed a way for faculty to easily coordinate personal calendars for meetings and events.  Students, who often have to review worksheets, test results, diagrams, and slides from teachers, needed to be able to open and view file attachments whether or not the associated application was on the PC they were using.  Email usage suffered as well from the lack of spell check and publicly-available contact lists.

Searching online, the IT staff found the Messageware OWA Suite for Exchange 2007. The world’s leading provider of enterprise productivity and security solutions for OWA, Messageware (www.messageware.com) enterprise software injects Outlook-like functionality into native OWA. Finding no alternatives that offered the same wealth of features, St. Michael’s quickly selected the Messageware OWA Suite 2007.

Messageware OWA Suite 2007 is a comprehensive package of Outlook Web Access features, installed on the Microsoft Exchange Server that adds both security and productivity functionality to OWA.  Among the products in Messageware OWA Suite 2007 is Messageware CalendarShare, which not only adds side-by-side views of shared and personal calendars but also allows users to delegate rights to others to view and manage personal calendars on their behalf.  Messageware AttachView, another product within the Suite, converts attachments to secure HTML pages so users can view files securely without needing the application.  Over 300 different file types are supported in AttachView, with others added regularly. In addition to these and other features, Messageware OWA Suite for Exchange 2007 includes Plus Pack, an email enhancement package that makes OWA more like desktop Outlook, with an Outlook-like address book, global address list contacts, roaming personal dictionaries and more.

According to Robert Przybylski, Computer Services Manager for the school, installation took only a half-hour and went live immediately. “The main thing I’ve heard from the students and staff is that OWA is ten times faster than our old solution.  I’ve never had one person complain,” Przybylski said. “When you’re working with a server-based platform like Microsoft Exchange, you don’t want to have to be installing software all over campus. The best thing about Messageware OWA Suite 2007 from an IT standpoint is that it is simple to install and works properly.  You’d never know OWA has third-party software in it.”

# # #

About Messageware
Founded in 1993 and headquartered in Toronto, Canada, Messageware develops and markets solutions that enhance and secure Outlook Web Access. A trusted Microsoft Gold Certified Partner and a Global Exchange ISV for 15 years, their applications give companies of all sizes the ability to enhance, secure, and customize OWA. Messageware products give organizations a greater return on their Microsoft Exchange investment, delivering solutions for over 2500 enterprises and four million users worldwide, including Fortune 500 companies and industries such as banking, education, financial services, government, healthcare and legal services. For more
information, visit www.messageware.com.
Messageware Press Contact: Carol Arnold, Arnold Communications, (877) 718-4604 x2, carol@arnoldcomm.com.

Latest version adds voice and webconferencing capabilities; partners broaden solution with unified communications services and hosting automation tools.

LAS VEGAS — June 16, 2008 — Today at NXTcomm08, Microsoft Corp. announced the general availability of Microsoft Solution for Hosted Messaging and Collaboration (HMC) Version 4.5, offering service providers a robust platform to deliver integrated, streamlined communications services to small and midsize businesses (SMBs). The latest version adds new services enabled by Microsoft Office Communications Server 2007, providing enhanced collaboration and presence functionality by integrating contact information with the various ways people communicate. In addition, Microsoft partners, including network equipment providers, independent software vendors and systems integrators, have built solutions extending the HMC 4.5 platform. These range from delivering advanced voice capabilities to empowering end customers with hosting automation tools, as well as developing consulting practices for solution deployments, upgrades and further customization.

With support for Microsoft Office Communications Server 2007 and Microsoft Exchange Server 2007, HMC 4.5 facilitates real-time communications and delivers a unified messaging experience. In addition to the integration of e-mail, fax and telephony into the PC desktop, mobile devices and Web access, HMC 4.5 also enables new voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) capabilities, including PC-to-PC calling and webconferencing. As companies are increasingly relying on mobile and remote workers, these new services offer workers the same voice and data communications they would have if they were in the office.

In addition, HMC 4.5 takes advantage of the recently launched Windows Server 2008 operating system with Internet Information Services 7.0 (IIS7) to provide new virtualization capabilities and security enhancements. With these capabilities, service providers can realize improved resource utilization and have a reliable platform for an optimized datacenter deployment.

“Service providers today need a robust platform that they can reliably scale to deliver new services, support customers and manage costs,” said Steve Zimba, managing director of the Global Telecom Business at Microsoft. “Hosted Messaging and Collaboration Version 4.5 addresses these requirements and allows service providers to differentiate their offerings by creating service bundles, offering private-label solutions for the broader IT channel, and creating targeted, customized solutions.”

Partners Extend Opportunities with HMC 4.5

A number of partners are currently working to build additional applications on the HMC 4.5 platform, including Nortel, BroadSoft Inc. and Sylantro Systems Corp. Nortel has combined HMC 4.5 with its Communications Server 2000 Internet Protocol multimedia softswitch to deliver a new, powerful unified communications solution offering real-time communications, such as PC-to-PSTN calling, with Microsoft’s collaboration services, such as click-to-call, click-to-conference, missed-call e-mail messages, mobility and telephony presence. BroadSoft and Sylantro plan to launch similar offerings in late 2008.

In addition, Microsoft partners ExtendASP, Ensim Corp. and Parallels have extended HMC 4.5 to offer management software designed to empower customers and simplify administration tasks with delegated administration, automated provisioning, and device and client configuration.

“At Ensim, our mission is to create software for service providers that allows them to focus on promoting and selling their hosted services rather than operations and development,” said Francois Depayras, vice president of marketing and alliances at Ensim. “With HMC 4.5 and its support for Microsoft Office Communications Server, we are excited to further support a broad range of applications that will provide end customers an extensive selection to choose from.”

Microsoft has also partnered with consulting companies, such as implement.com Corp. and Planet Technologies, to develop consulting practices to support HMC 4.5. These practices are designed to assist service providers with installation and solution upgrades, and to provide training and documentation services to ensure best practices are followed.

“As a consulting company that specializes in Microsoft technologies, implement.com is ready to work with service providers to roll out HMC 4.5 and help customize it according to their specific functionality requirements,” said Steve Schwartz, chief executive officer of implement.com.

NXTcomm08 attendees can obtain additional information by visiting Microsoft booths SL5916 and SL5923. Further details on HMC 4.5 are available at http://www.microsoft.com/serviceproviders/solution...g.mspx.

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.

Source: http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/press/2008/jun0...leases

Concentric expands its product offerings with Microsoft Hosted Exchange.

LAS VEGAS — June 16, 2008 — Today at NXTcomm08, Microsoft Corp. and Concentric announced new hosted e-mail service offerings for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Concentric, a large-scale e-mail service provider, is deploying Microsoft Hosted Exchange to combine the productivity benefits of Microsoft Exchange Server 2007 and Microsoft Office Outlook with its enterprise-class applications hosting platform.

Concentric will market the new services to its existing customers as an additional e-mail option as well as to new customers as a stand-alone or packaged Exchange solution. Concentric’s business customers will be able to add Hosted Exchange mailboxes to their Concentric account and easily manage all Hosted Exchange services and add-ons via a single convenient online control panel and have access to Concentric Customer Support and Professional Services.

Many SMEs have not yet been able to benefit from the productivity gains offered through Microsoft Exchange and Outlook because of high startup costs for purchasing hardware and software, as well as the need to hire technical staff to manage and operate e-mail servers. Concentric’s Hosted Exchange service enables productivity gains, platform reliability and security features, and support at affordable prices with no startup costs. With Outlook Web Access also available, the solution fits closely with Concentric’s target market of online, mobile businesses. In addition, access to e-mail via Windows Mobile-based devices using built-in Microsoft ActiveSync makes this service a rich enhancement to Concentric’s product suite.

“Our long history of providing security-enhanced and reliable e-mail solutions enables us to deliver Microsoft’s industry-leading messaging and collaboration software on one of the most secure and reliable applications hosting platforms available today,” said Barbara Branaman, president at Concentric. “SMEs can now enjoy the same level of functionality that large enterprises have, with the added productivity gains from the robust collaboration tools in Hosted Exchange. And if an SME needs additional assistance, our Professional Services team serves as a ‘pay-as-you-go’ IT department.”

“There are more than 30 million SMEs in the U.S., according to the U.S. Small Business Administration and Internal Revenue Service,” said Martha Béjar, corporate vice president for the Communications Sector at Microsoft. “The SME market is moving toward hosted IT solutions to decrease costs and increase security, reliability and employee productivity. With more than 10 years as a reliable provider of e-mail and Web hosting services, the addition of Microsoft Hosted Exchange is a natural fit for Concentric as it helps round out the company’s offerings for SMEs.”

Concentric is offering four Hosted Exchange mailbox types, and customers can mix and match mailbox types depending on their specific requirements.

• Web Exchange. Web Exchange is an affordable offering that provides Microsoft Exchange features via the browser-based Outlook Web Access for $7.95 per user, per month. Other features include global address list, group calendars, tasks and task delegation, public folders, junk e-mail and virus filtering, and e-mail aliases.

• Exchange Value. Exchange Value includes all the features listed above plus a full Messaging Application Programming Interface (MAPI) Exchange mailbox with Microsoft Outlook integration and offline address book for $9.95 per user, per month.

• Exchange Professional. Exchange Professional includes all the features in Exchange Value with 1 GB of mail storage space per user for $13.95 per user, per month.

• Exchange Executive. Exchange Executive includes all the features in Exchange Professional plus free premium junk e-mail filter and Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync and Outlook Mobile Access, and 2 GB of mail storage space per user for $19.95 per user, per month (a savings of $2.95 per month).

The Concentric Hosted Exchange e-mail packages will be available starting July 15, 2008. More information can be found at http://www.concentric.com/hosted_exchange.php.

About Concentric

Concentric, founded in 1997, is a business unit of XO Communications. Concentric provides enterprise-class hosted applications, including Web site hosting, business email, corporate domain management and perimeter email protection. Concentric delivers superior performance, reliability, and security and is the only Web hosting service to hold a patent for its Clustered Hosting architecture. Concentric accounts are backed by a three month Satisfaction Guarantee, 24×7 customer support, and a 99.9% SLA. For more information, visit www.concentric.com or call (866) 500-9696.

About XO Communications

XO Communications, a subsidiary of XO Holdings, Inc. (OTC BB: XOHO), is a leading provider of 21st century communications services for businesses and communications services providers, including 50 percent of the Fortune 500 and leading cable companies, carriers, content providers, and mobile operators. Utilizing its unique and powerful nationwide IP network and extensive local metro networks and broadband wireless facilities, XO offers customers a broad range of managed voice, data and IP services in 75 metropolitan markets across the United States. For more information, visit www.xo.com.

About Microsoft

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.

Source: http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/press/2008/jun0...leases