BIOS: Technology Means Business

Ipswitch has released a single package that integrates e-mail and instant messaging, as well as shared calendaring capabilities that integrate with Microsoft's Outlook. In addition, Ipswitch Collaboration Suite offers a number of security features, such as built-in spam filtering and anti-virus capabilities. Designed for small and medium-sized businesses, as well as educational institutions, government agencies and Internet service providers, Collaboration Suite is designed to reduce the complexity and cost associated with messaging solutions, and at the same time to offer effective protection against viruses and spam, claims Ipswitch. With the introduction of Collaboration Suite comes news that Ipswitch will immediately cease to offer IMail Server and Instant Messaging as standalone products. The 'legacy' products will also only be supported for one more year.

Pros: Single collaboration suite; spam and virus protection
Cons: Doesn't support Lotus Notes/Domino server; Windows only

Release: Ipswitch Inc., the leading developer of network monitoring, file transfer and messaging solutions, has announced the release of Ipswitch Collaboration Suite. The offering includes an array of collaboration capabilities in an easy to install, use and manage package that is the hallmark of Ipswitch software. Ipswitch Collaboration Suite, like all of the company's solutions, is purposely designed to meet the unique technology requirements of small and mid-sized businesses.

Today, more than 60 million people worldwide use Ipswitch messaging products to communicate over the Internet. By offering the new Ipswitch Collaboration Suite, the company is responding to increasing customer demand for integrated e-mail and instant messaging, as well as shared calendaring capabilities that integrate with Microsoft Outlook clients already in place on many users' desktops. Additionally, Ipswitch Collaboration Suite offers a number of security features that are easy to activate, such as built-in spam filtering and anti-virus capabilities. The suite's capabilities make it ideal for small and medium businesses, as well as educational institutions, government agencies and Internet service providers.

'The Ipswitch Collaboration Suite is designed to reduce the complexity and cost associated with messaging solutions, and at the same time to offer effective protection against viruses and spam, especially for firms that don't have the luxury of unlimited IT resources and administrators,' said Mark Levitt, Vice President for Collaborative Computing at IDC.

'Ipswitch Collaboration Suite empowers customers with the core functionality associated with heavyweight messaging products, minus the complexity,' explained Ipswitch Chief Operating Officer Bill Pollack. 'With Ipswitch Collaboration Suite, customers have the advanced e-mail, instant messaging and collaborative technology they require to do business, plus the anti-spam and anti-virus features that every company must have today to safely work online. Unlike enterprise-level collaboration solutions, Ipswitch Collaboration Suite allows small and medium businesses to obtain critical collaboration systems from a company with over a decade of experience tailoring technology for the SMB segment. We've delivered exactly what our market needs: the perfect balance between functionality, ease of use and management.'

With the introduction of Ipswitch Collaboration Suite, Ipswitch will immediately cease to offer Ipswitch IMail Server and Ipswitch Instant Messaging as standalone products. They will be supported for one year. Their capabilities have been included in Ipswitch Collaboration Suite and all messaging enhancements, such as additional calendaring capabilities, will be made to the suite. Ipswitch Collaboration Suite includes an e-mail server, instant messaging and shared calendaring capabilities, all protected by more than 20 anti-spam filters and industry-leading anti-virus technology.

'The Ipswitch Collaboration Suite is another great example of how Ipswitch is addressing areas that are of the greatest concern to me, my company and our partners. I get a rock-solid, easy-to-manage multi-domain mail and collaboration server. Plus, I have an arsenal of weapons to deploy in a never-ending battle against spam. Overall, Ipswitch is providing a great solution,' said Steven Narro, CIO of professional services company Next Generation Technology, Inc.

The Ipswitch Collaboration Suite is available immediately from Ipswitch for £753 for 25 users, £1451 for 100 users, £2614 for 250 users and £5230 for unlimited users. It is also available through Ipswitch partners, which can be located through the Ipswitch Web site at www.ipswitch.com/partners. All prices include one year of service support.