Microsoft Solution for Hosted Messaging and Collaboration version 4.5 gives service providers the opportunity to offer the widest range of messaging services. Those services start with a basic, e-mail–only Microsoft Office Outlook Web Access client experience and then add incremental functionality in multiple Office Outlook Web Access feature bundles up to a full Microsoft Office Outlook 2007 client experience that will run over the Internet through existing firewalls and routing infrastructure. This range of services provides a flexible services path to drive incremental up-sell value for every business-class mailbox provisioned on the Hosted Messaging and Collaboration environment.
In addition to traditional e-mail, Hosted Messaging and Collaboration 4.5 makes it possible for service providers to offer SMBs additional value-added services such as mobile e-mail that incorporates a richer Outlook experience on mobile devices, hosted Windows SharePoint Services, and more. Products such as Microsoft System Center Operations Manager 2007 and Microsoft Office Communications Server 2007 have been incorporated into Hosted Messaging and Collaboration 4.5, so service providers can offer an even broader set of services to their customers.
Hosted Messaging and Collaboration 4.5 offers service providers three key features:
- Messaging: Hosted Exchange is a rich messaging service that service providers host using Microsoft Exchange Server 2007 Service Pack 1 (SP1). The target market for Hosted Exchange includes SMBs, small office/home office (SOHO) businesses, and individual consumers. With tools for flexible business modeling, service providers can offer a broad range of services that go from basic e-mail up to higher-value services such as providing additional storage and hosting personal domains and shared calendars and contacts
- Enhanced communications: Office Communications Server 2007 manages all real-time (synchronous) communications, including instant messaging (IM) and audio and video conferencing. Office Communications Server 2007 also powers presence, a key benefit of Microsoft unified communications that unites all the contact information stored in the Active Directory service with the ways people communicate. With presence, users can see at a glance if someone is available and contact that person with a click using instant messaging, a voice call, or a video conference.
- Collaboration: Collaboration services enable users in customer organizations to work together more efficiently. Version 4.5 of the solution includes Hosted Windows SharePoint Services 3.0 Service Pack 1, which allows service providers to host team Web sites that customers can use to share documents and other information. By using Windows SharePoint Services 3.0 SP1 as a hosted solution, SMBs have the opportunity to take advantage of business application templates delivered to them as a service. The addition of these customizable application templates can be a significant differentiator for service providers who want to add value and create new revenue streams.
Hosted Messaging and Collaboration 4.5 Benefits for Service Providers
Version 4.5 of Microsoft Solution for Hosted Messaging and Collaboration focuses on providing tools and guidelines with which a business can:
- Provide anywhere access: Hosted Messaging and Collaboration 4.5 with Exchange Server 2007 SP1 and Office Outlook 2007 extends the reach of service providers beyond the desktop by providing a compelling mobile experience:
- Simplified device discovery, configuration, and management
- Built-in safeguards against spam and viruses
- Significantly enhanced Outlook user experience on mobile devices?
- Package and deliver applications as services: Using Windows SharePoint Services 3.0 SP1, service providers can deliver applications as a service to their SMB customers. Service providers can package templates with content and other value-added services that are tailored to specific vertical markets, including professional services, healthcare, financial services, the public sector, and others.
- Offer new communications services: Service providers can use the functionality in Office Communications Server 2007 to provide end users with additional options for collaboration and communication, such as instant messaging and PC-based audio, video, and Web conferencing.
- Drive operational efficiency: Hosted Messaging and Collaboration 4.5 is scalable and easy to deploy and manage. With Windows SharePoint Services 3.0 SP1 and Exchange Server 2007 SP1, service providers have a “fast-to-market” and cost-effective solution that can translate to higher profitability.
- Automate provisioning: Hosted Messaging and Collaboration 4.5 relieves service providers of the onus of having to engineer an automated provisioning system. Adopting Hosted Messaging and Collaboration 4.5 means that service providers can use the Microsoft Provisioning System (MPS) to automate many provisioning tasks. Properly implemented, MPS also can help service providers deliver a more compelling experience for end users because it supports end-user self-management. Ultimately, MPS lowers operational costs for service providers while improving customer satisfaction.
- Increase reliability of service: By using the cluster and storage features of Exchange Server 2007 SP1, service providers can provide recovery or journaling services or both. Service providers can work with application developers to build applications to access the Web services interfaces, delivering expanded customization and integration with the service provider’s other information assets.
- Improve data availability and reliability: With updated operations and the monitoring and reporting features in Hosted Messaging and Collaboration 4.5, service providers can implement processes that improve reliability and availability.
- Enjoy all the benefits of migrating to the latest products: By providing the same comprehensive automation and delegation that service providers have come to expect from Microsoft, service providers will be able to migrate to a fully tested, service-enabled solution that includes Exchange Server 2007 SP1 and Windows SharePoint Services 3.0 SP1. The solution provides enhanced update management, provisioning, and reporting services to support these updates.
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