Microsoft's Exchange Isn't the Only Way to Get the Message Out (
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Many
people in the business world think there is only one answer to the question, "What
is your e-mail and collaboration system?" Microsoft Exchange Server.
However, despite
its dominance, there are plenty of options out there for companies looking for
a robust and dynamic messaging platform that isn't Exchange. These options
range from massive enterprise-class systems to inexpensive and simple solutions
for smaller companies.
Some of
these competitors also have seen more recent and more significant upgrades than
Exchange has, and do a much better job taking advantage of Web 2.0 and some of
the other newer technologies that have changed collaboration in recent years.
While
growing and new businesses have no choice but to look into a new messaging
platform, many other businesses may decide that in today's economic situation,
it doesn't make sense to invest in upgrades, never mind moving to another
system.
However, in
a world where collaboration and interconnectedness is increasingly important,
what is the cost of staying on an older and less capable messaging platform?
Also, many of the new wave of "Exchange replacement" systems can run
on comparatively modest server hardware, letting businesses get new life out of
servers that can't run the latest versions of Exchange.
For this
eWEEK Special Report, I look at two messaging and collaboration platforms that
offer a compelling alternative to Microsoft Exchange.
One, IBM's Lotus Notes and Domino, is probably
the classic enterprise-class competitor to Exchange and is still popular in
large companies. The other, Gordano Messaging Suite, is representative of the
newer wave of messaging solutions that are typically more nimble and cost-effective
than their older competitors and often more capable of quickly leveraging and
integrating with newer technologies, such as Web 2.0.
In a
related article, I
look at the increasing attractiveness of cloud-based messaging and collaboration
solutions, of which Google Gmail and Apps is probably the best known. These new
cloud-based options offer a simple and inexpensive option for new businesses.
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