Dedicated Hosting Collaboration Server Appliance, Developed by Open-Xchange

Tarrytown, New York - (The Hosting News) The Open-Xchange open source groupware offering was developed as a cost-effective Microsoft Exchange alternative, for small and medium size businesses (SMBs) desiring easy-to-use and deploy e-mail and collaboration software, with an initial cost of less than $70 per user annually.

Rafael Laguna, CEO, Open-Xchange remarked, ''Small- and mid-sized business owners are demanding the same capabilities as large corporations. Our new Appliance Edition gives these businesses advanced collaboration tools at affordable costs, while enabling service providers an opportunity to give their clients more features at a lower cost as a virtual dedicated server offering.''

The Open-Xchange Appliance Edition is server software that comes complete with operating system, plus capabilities for e-mail, calendar and document sharing, managing contacts and tasks, as well as backup and recovery, anti-spam and anti-virus protection. It can handle anywhere from 10 to hundreds of users.

Built using a combination of Open-Xchange Hosting Edition (used by more than 8 million users worldwide) and Univention Corporate Server 2.1, the collaboration software provides businesses with all the tools needed to facilitate effective teamwork. Users get access to their relevant data and documents with either the AJAX-based web interface or Microsoft Outlook.

Included is a fully-supported Debian-based Linux, along with Samba file and print services, and software connectors for Microsoft Active Directory to facilitate user and group administration, as well as integration into existing IT infrastructure.

Open-Xchange Appliance Edition supports leading virtualization technologies, VMware and Xen, enabling quick installation and a virtual dedicated server deployment by service providers to multiple customers.

Open-Xchange Appliance Edition will be available November 5 through the Open-Xchange Online Shop (www.open-xchange.com/en/shop-en), as well as Open-Xchange and Univention partners. A maintenance subscription for Open-Xchange Appliance Edition including updates, patches and security fixes for 10 users is $675 for the first year, and $168.75 for each additional year. Additional users cost $67.50 in the first year, and $16.88 for each additional year.

Univention GmbH offers a range of Linux-based products and services. Core competencies are integration of Linux and Windows (on the server and on the client side), directory services, Linux on the desktop, and thin-client technology. Univention Corporate Server enables companies and public organizations to deploy, maintain and administer Linux-based server- and client-solutions within a short time and at low cost.

Open-Xchange Inc. provides scalable and integrated open source email and collaboration solutions for enterprises, academic institutions, and government authorities. Open-Xchange Inc. is a privately-held company headquartered in Tarrytown, N.Y., with research, development, and operations in Olpe and Nuremberg, Germany.

For more information, please visit: www.open-xchange.com.