R
Rienne
- Original Poster
- #5
Thanks for your suggestion. For very good reasons I don't want to use POP for any of the several domains I have on my hosting account. Firstly I travel a lot, secondly we run three businesses, one internationally, and thirdly as there are two of us I want to have shared calendars, shared contacts and probably use sharepoint as well. All of our activities will start to get more people, perhaps in other parts of the country and/or overseas. I also want to use exchange for compatibility issues with other online and offline software. I don't want to run Exchange locally, as I did when I had a much larger company, as the expense and maintenance are prohibitive, and these days it is not necessary.
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Frankly I don't think any business should be using POP in 2008, unless it's a one man band.
I recall someone posting about setting up a Hosted Exchange service a couple of months ago. Can't remember the name but a search might turn it up.
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There are loads of small businesses using POP to download email, some prefer IMAP. Some people like to keep life simple whilst others seek the benefit of advanced features. It comes down to your business need. Yes if you travel a lot and require collaboration then something like hosted Exchange makes sense, athough there are some simpler cheaper alternatives available.
One super cost effective solution for the basic POP/IMAP users, is to use Mail2Web to pick up email, and use a shared calender script on a hosting account for collaboration.
Another simple but very effective solution is to use GoToMyPC.
Another solution is to use an email collaboration software such as Cerberus, which whilst mainly offered as a Helpdesk software, is used by loads of small businesses to manage emails, calender/task collaboration etc.
Just a few other options to hosted Exchange!
One super cost effective solution for the basic POP/IMAP users, is to use Mail2Web to pick up email, and use a shared calender script on a hosting account for collaboration.
Another simple but very effective solution is to use GoToMyPC.
Another solution is to use an email collaboration software such as Cerberus, which whilst mainly offered as a Helpdesk software, is used by loads of small businesses to manage emails, calender/task collaboration etc.
Just a few other options to hosted Exchange!
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T
turner2000
- Original Poster
- #8
I've just signed up with Simply Mail Solutions (Google them) after looking at the offers from others like Hostway and Fasthosts etc. So far so good, account set up very quickly and they've been replying to my queries within a couple hours max. Hope this helps.
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Must agree, though I wasn't going to mention it as the OP seem to have his heart set on Exchange.
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Another alternative is SmarterMail Enterprise
It has shared calenders. contacts, tasks, notes etc and you can sync everything between your PDA/computer using SmarterMail Sync
It has shared calenders. contacts, tasks, notes etc and you can sync everything between your PDA/computer using SmarterMail Sync
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Speaking as someone who used to manage an exchange server...
Exchange is a very poor excuse for a mail server. It's hugely bloated, and full of security holes. Companies like it because it provides an easy, out-of-the-box solution, but there are far better options.
IMAP allows you the same degree of mobility, while at the same time giving you the choice to run your server on a better OS.
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R
Rienne
- Original Poster
- #14
Do you know what really gets me fed up about this place? The arrogance and supercilious attitude of some people on here.
If you have something to suggest then I would welcome suggestions. Some people have made some positive suggestions, and I really appreciate that. I always try to help people who I can help here in a positive way.
Can you tell me why you are being so rude?
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R
Rienne
- Original Poster
- #16
Thanks. I have considered Mail2Web but, as you say, it is only mail and I can't see the point of having a separately administered calendar solution. The days of my employing systems people are long gone and I need as simlpe a solution as possible.
Similarly, I don't want to have anything on my own PC and have to administer it, and rely on it being on etc to log in to. Lastly Cerebrus seems to me to be bending another application into something which it is not.
Appreciate your input anyway many thanks.
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I was going to mention Smartermail Enterprise but Carl-CSNM beat me to it. We have just (yesterday) upgraded to the lastest version v5.0 (In fact we are the official Italian translators for the software) and the new Webmail interface alone has to be seen to be believed, its absolutely fantastic.
Add onto that the Groupware possibilities, shared everything, outlook and PDA syncing etc and you've got one hell of a mail system using standard email protocols (that work) and at an affordable price.
And did I mention is has great anti-spam too?
We're currently selling packs of 10 mailboxes for £10 per year.
Add onto that the Groupware possibilities, shared everything, outlook and PDA syncing etc and you've got one hell of a mail system using standard email protocols (that work) and at an affordable price.
And did I mention is has great anti-spam too?
We're currently selling packs of 10 mailboxes for £10 per year.
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and what about the integration with lcm, rights management server, office, sharepoint, .net and vista....exchange is not just a messaging facility...in combination with the above mentioned toolsets it can be a very powerful tool for collaboration, records management, security and identity management
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None intended on my part. My first post in this thread was to suggest a member here who might be able to help you. This is what I was referring to. Might be worth your while contacting Subbynet, as suppliers often offer discounts when launching a service.
The more general question "Is Exchange a good idea?", is really a separate discussion which doesn't answer your original question.
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G
GemmaWhitfield
- Original Poster
- #21
Hi Jeff
I work for a Hosted Exchange Provider called messagehub. We are a Micorsoft Gold Certified Partner who offer Hosted Exchange to a whole range of customers, from single users to Blue Chip companies with multi sites.
I really would recommend Hosted Exchange for your enviroment there, even though you do only have the two users. You can benefit from all the benefits of Exchange on a per user per month basis, rather than having to invest money in a server. You also have the benefit of adding more users on in the future should you grow the organisation.
For further information please visit our website messagehub.co.uk
I hope this helps, however any further questions you have please just give me a shout.
Many Thanks
Gemma
I work for a Hosted Exchange Provider called messagehub. We are a Micorsoft Gold Certified Partner who offer Hosted Exchange to a whole range of customers, from single users to Blue Chip companies with multi sites.
I really would recommend Hosted Exchange for your enviroment there, even though you do only have the two users. You can benefit from all the benefits of Exchange on a per user per month basis, rather than having to invest money in a server. You also have the benefit of adding more users on in the future should you grow the organisation.
For further information please visit our website messagehub.co.uk
I hope this helps, however any further questions you have please just give me a shout.
Many Thanks
Gemma
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Hi Jeff,
Been there, done that!
I have used 3 hosted exchange providers in the past few months. I first started with Servelogic and had a really bad experience. Awful customer service and reliability. The CEO kept on going back on his promises.
Then I was recommended to Kingston communications by my crm provider. Their service was up and down all the time. My account manager does not answer his emails. Totally rubbish!
At last, from who you would expect least. Fast hosts have been brilliant. Really quick and they do a 2 user package at 19.99 a month. There is an offer on for 3 months at half price if you sign up for a year, but they give you 30 days free on their 19.99 offer so it works out about the same price but no year contract. (You may have to ring for that one!)
Hope this helps!
Guy Levine
Been there, done that!
I have used 3 hosted exchange providers in the past few months. I first started with Servelogic and had a really bad experience. Awful customer service and reliability. The CEO kept on going back on his promises.
Then I was recommended to Kingston communications by my crm provider. Their service was up and down all the time. My account manager does not answer his emails. Totally rubbish!
At last, from who you would expect least. Fast hosts have been brilliant. Really quick and they do a 2 user package at 19.99 a month. There is an offer on for 3 months at half price if you sign up for a year, but they give you 30 days free on their 19.99 offer so it works out about the same price but no year contract. (You may have to ring for that one!)
Hope this helps!
Guy Levine
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R
Rienne
- Original Poster
- #26
Thanks, but apart from the fact that I find Google apps pretty unfriendly to use, they don't have all the collaborative stuff which others do - the tasks in particular I find pretty crude. Zimbras is very good indeed, has lots which exchange doesn't e.g. intranet.
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You could always try microsofts new hosting of office 365, here is the link.
http://www.microsoft.com/en-gb/office365/plans/small-business/email-calendar.aspx
This gives you everything you need and cost £4 a month per user. If you need any further info contact me any time.
http://www.microsoft.com/en-gb/office365/plans/small-business/email-calendar.aspx
This gives you everything you need and cost £4 a month per user. If you need any further info contact me any time.
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Microsoft = pain in the backside, undercutting their own clients (ie us) with their licensing costs
But is that not the idea of business? A better rate for the customer.
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If MS undercut their own customers (ie provide a service for less than they sell it to their resellers), we'll stop providing MS stuff so it's probably not the wisest idea. But rather than them charging too little they probably charge us too much so maybe I should get on the phone to them...
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Microsoft = pain in the backside, undercutting their own clients (ie us) with their licensing costs
Can't add on BES either with their offering. So if you are thinking Blackberry in the future then you will be migrating again!
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I think you will find that RIM and Microsoft are offering this for free, were as before you use to pay for it. So if you want to use blackberry then you can.
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