Top Linux ISVs Crash Microsoft's Outlook 2003, Exchange 2003 Party
SuSE Linux, a leading Linux distributor, said that it will begin shipping in mid-November a version of its Openexchange server that offers enhanced support for Outlook 2003 users.
Openexchange 4.1's new WebDAV (Web-based Distributed Authoring and Versioning) interface, for instance, speeds up data exchange between client and server, allowing Outlook users to access calendar, contact data, tasks and documents in realtime, according to SuSE, Oakland, Calif.
In addition, Openexchange Server 4.1 alerts Outlook users to appointment conflicts in realtime, the Linux company maintains. Openexchange 4, which was introduced last January, currently supports Outlook 98, Outlook 2000 and Outlook XP, e-mail clients that are embedded in the Microsoft Office suite.
The SuSE software, which is priced at $1,240 and incorporates the SuSE Linux distribution, features public folders for supporting team communications, faxing and instant messaging via its bundling of DyCE Instant Messenger from go4teams.
The software gives Office and Outlook users an alternative Linux-based back end to Microsoft Exchange 2003.
Ximian, another Linux ISV now owned by Novell, offers the opposite, an add-on that allows a Linux desktop user to access Microsoft's new Exchange Server 2003. Novell, Provo, Utah, bought Boston-based Ximian last August.
Ximian Connector for Microsoft Exchange version 1.4.5, which is available for $69 per user, enables Ximian Evolution clients running on Linux and Solaris to be supported as full Exchange 2000 and Exchange 2003 clients, the company said.
With the connector, and Evolution client, Linux desktop users can manage their e-mails, calendars, schedules, address books, public folders and tasks in Exchange.
Both Outlook 2003 and Exchange Server 2003 were launched on Tuesday as part of Microsoft's Office System 2003 launch.
One Linux solution provider said he sees more use of Linux e-mail on the server than on the client, but he predicts that will change over time as the open-source operating system makes headway on the desktop.
"There are a fair number of companies, particularly midsize companies, switching to Linux-based e-mail," said Chris Maresca, president of Olliance Group, Palo Alto, Calif. "But I have not seen much uptake [on the desktop]. It's mostly useful for companies that migrated their Unix workstations to Linux and want to integrate them into their Windows network. However, I think Evolution has a very bright future as Linux on the desktop is likely to explode in the next 12 months."