Microsoft Releases Exchange 2007 To Manufacturing

Microsoft late Thursday sent Exchange 2007 to manufacturing, wrapping development of the next-generation mail server software the company introduced late last month and has promised to ship before the end of the year.

The move of Exchange 2007 to RTM (Release to Manufacturing) status was announced on the Exchange team's blog. "This morning, we signed off Exchange 2007," the blog stated.

Among the changes to Exchange are enhancements designed for mobile users, integration with Microsoft's own Antigen for Exchange antivirus software, and new policy compliance tools.

Although research firm Gartner has predicted a slow migration to Exchange 2007 -- most companies won't begin until 2008, it has said -- Microsoft claims that companies can save substantial money by moving to the new software on 64-bit platforms.

"[Our] cost savings will exceed $5 million per year, enabling Microsoft IT to reach the breakeven point fewer than 12 months after migration," wrote Nino Bilic, one of the Exchange 2007 developers, on Microsoft's blog.

More information about Exchange 2007 can be found on Microsoft's TechNet Web site.