Why Choose Hosted Messaging and Collaboration

Microsoft Solution for Hosted Messaging and Collaboration version 4.5, which includes Microsoft Exchange Server 2007 Service Pack 1 (SP1), Office Communications Server 2007 Services, and Microsoft Windows SharePoint Services version 3.0 SP1, focuses on providing tools and guidelines with which your business can:

  • Provide a compelling new mobile experience - The Microsoft Solution for Hosted Messaging and Collaboration with Exchange Server 2007 SP1 extends the reach of service providers beyond the desktop by providing a compelling new mobile experience:

    • For administrators - Simplified device discovery, configuration, and management.

    • For their customers - An end-user mobile experience more like Microsoft Outlook.

  • Increase reliability of service - For example, by using the new cluster and storage features of Exchange Server 2007 SP1, service providers could provide recovery or journaling services, or both. Service providers can work with application developers, building applications to access the Web services interfaces, enabling expanded customization and integration with the other information assets at the service provider.

  • Improve availability and reliability of data - Service providers no longer manage just customer messaging data. By extending the service offering to include rich e-mail, service providers manage calendaring and scheduling data, and Microsoft Windows SharePoint Services data - all of which is virus-scanned. With updated operations and the monitoring and reporting features in Hosted Messaging and Collaboration version 4.5, solution providers can implement processes that improve reliability and availability.

  • Scale your service from a single offering - The solution delivers a single offering which will scale from a minimum server footprint to very large environments. This single, scalable offering allows the solution to be deployed to meet the current and future planned subscriber base and not merely the organization size of the service provider.

  • Easily migrate to updated products - By providing the same comprehensive automation and delegation that service providers have come to expect from Microsoft, service providers will be able to migrate to a fully tested, service-enabled solution that includes Exchange Server 2007 SP1 and Windows SharePoint Services version 3.0 SP1. The solution provides the updated management, provisioning, and reporting services to support these updates.

Where to Find More Solution Information

  • Microsoft Solution for Hosted Messaging and Collaboration version 4.5 - In this documentation consultants, systems integrators, and systems engineers can learn what is required to deploy a hosted messaging and collaboration solution using Microsoft technologies. Service provider decision-makers involved in business development can find out how the solution features can lower the total cost of ownership (TCO) for messaging services, create revenue-generating opportunities, and satisfy customer demand for rich e-mail capabilities.

  • Deployment Walkthrough - The Hosted Messaging and Collaboration documentation on TechNet also includes information for how to deploy a lab environment for the Hosted Messaging and Collaboration version 4.5.

  • The Microsoft Service Providers Web site - Microsoft operates a Web site dedicated to service providers. The Microsoft Service Providers Web site provides information about Hosted Messaging and Collaboration and other Windows-based hosting solutions, including partnership programs and information about licensing.