10-12-2004, 12:00 AM
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Editor Emeritus
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 15,171
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jkOnTheRun: "Hosted Exchange Server and the Mobile Professional"
"Big companies have an advantage over the small company or individual when it comes to email handling and information utilization. Mobile professionals that don't happen to work for big companies with big resources have the same basic needs as those who do. Wouldn't it be nice to have the same setup to handle your email, PIM functions, and information distribution even though you are a little guy? There's a simple way to accomplish exactly that which I will discuss in this article. If this situation describes you then read on and see if this is a good solution for your needs."
Microsoft's vision is using Exchange Server everywhere for collaboration and communication tasks, and it also integrates nicely with Pocket PCs. For those of you who don't have Exchange Server available at work, check out this article, which discusses using 3rd-party solutions for SOHO environments.
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10-12-2004, 12:32 AM
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Philosopher
Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 533
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Actually, over a year ago, within a discussion in a front page post by Jason Dunn (where he was asking how to get all his email on all his devices) was someone's suggestion to use a Hosted Exchange solution. Although I, myself, manage a couple Exchange servers for my clients, I had no idea there was such a service available. The more I thought about it, the more I fell in love with the idea, so I signed up.
Wow.....it was truly a life changing event (similar to how Tivo changes someone�s life :wink: ). So many benefits:
-All PIM data no matter which device (desktop, laptop, public terminal via OWA, PDA via OMA, PDA via Exchange Activesync).
-Connection independent SMTP server
-PIM data offsite and backed up, etc. etc.
Recently, though, there's been trouble in paradise. A trend has occurred in the hosted Exchange world: *most* hosted exchange providers are forcing all users to maintain a minimum of three mailboxes. For small business, that's not an issue, but for individuals (like me), it threatened to force me to stop using a hosted Exchange solution (GASP  ).
Since I started, I had referred (at least) two other individuals to the same service, individuals who were going to be forced out as well. I therefore devised a plan that the three of us would merge into one account, thereby meeting the three mailbox minimum, but what a pain. And why? The only difference (that I can tell) as for as the hosted exchange provider was concerned is they were charging one credit card instead of three. It seems like any administrative benefit they would achieve via the three mailbox minimum would be far eclipsed by the number of people unwilling to pay for two extra mailboxes they wouldn't use and therefore cancel service. Can anyone explain what they may be thinking? When asked via email, they do not explain their reasoning other than "everyone else is doing it." :roll:
Anyway, I don't believe this unfortunate trend was mentioned in the article, and it really should be. HOWEVER, thanks to the article, the hosted Exchange provider he employs (and links to within the article) A) knows about the "three mailbox trend" and B) is not implementing such a trend for at least the next year or two (if ever). So, thanks to the article, it looks as though I have a new Hosted Exchange Provider!!!! All is well with the universe again 8)
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10-12-2004, 01:35 AM
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Theorist
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 291
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Are you using eOutlook brianchris?
I know they have changed their pricing strategy recently 
I found a UK hosting company who offer exchange hosting for their domain holders its �5.99 and offers Desktop/Web Outlook and ActiveSync and you only pay for the accounts you use. It however doesn't offer MS's IMF technology or the OMA for WAP phones. http://www.1and1.co.uk
I'm gonna stick with eOutlook for the time being despite the 300% charge increase. The benefits are still out weighing the price
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10-12-2004, 02:05 AM
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Mystic
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 1,725
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I've thought about getting Exchange Hosting several times. I know it's available for $6.99/month at 1&1.
The thing that worries me with Exchange hosting is the size limite. 1&1's is 500 MB. I don't think my Outlook personal files folder is 652MB right now. Is it easy to archive old items to your hard drive?
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10-12-2004, 02:16 AM
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Theorist
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 291
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by OSUKid7
I've thought about getting Exchange Hosting several times. I know it's available for $6.99/month at 1&1.
The thing that worries me with Exchange hosting is the size limite. 1&1's is 500 MB. I don't think my Outlook personal files folder is 652MB right now. Is it easy to archive old items to your hard drive? |
Outlook provides archiving based on time so you could archive items over 12months old. Obviously once this is down the archived files are stored on the local PC.
If there are emails with large attachments which you want to keep the email (e.g. Sent items) then the attachment can be removed leaving the email intact.
You can always pay for some more space! :lol:
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10-12-2004, 03:05 AM
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Sage
Join Date: Mar 2004
Posts: 717
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I never could and still don't understand why people insist on thinking that email is the best way to store attachments. Save the attachment if you need it and whack the email. This way you only have to open one application to view the attachment - seems simple enough concept to me. I have seen people acquire 1.5 gigs of "necessary" mail in less than 6 months, its crazy, crazy I say. I bet most of the attachments are some lame PPT �cool� things or pictures in like a bmp or tif format. Get rid and you will be happy.
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10-12-2004, 03:07 AM
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Philosopher
Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 533
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Yup....I am (was) an eOutlook customer.
Beware of 1&1's hosted Exchange. A friend of mine (who I refereed to eOutllok), tried to set his brother up with 1&1. It was difficult as there weren't a lot of instructions, and when they called for support, 1&1 hardly even knew they offered the service (let alone support it). That was about two weeks ago.
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10-12-2004, 03:13 AM
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Thinker
Join Date: Oct 2003
Posts: 434
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I was trying to keep the article from becoming a testimonial to Mail Street. I will tell you I have seldom worked with any service provider with customer support so exemplary as theirs. I had a problem on a weeklong trip this summer and their solution just blew me away. I detailed it here at that time if you are interested.
http://jkontherun.blogs.com/jkonther...reet_host.html
__________________
James Kendrick* ...using mobile devices since they weighed 30 lbs
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10-12-2004, 04:20 AM
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Intellectual
Join Date: May 2004
Posts: 164
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This may be a dumb question but I'll ask it anyway. I know nothing about Exchange Server but it sounds like it may be the answer to my calendar sharing problem I've had ever since Microsoft took it out of Outlook. In any event, my question is does this do IMAP? I've been considering switching to IMAP just because I hear how great it is so if I were to switch, I'd like to just switch one time.
Thanks!
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10-12-2004, 05:17 AM
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Executive Editor
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 29,160
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I kept meaning to post about this, but never did: I'm with www.mailstreet.com and am quite happy with them. I wish they offered more than 100 MB of storage space for the $12.95 a month that they charge but I archive most of my stuff so it's not a big deal. Their service is quite good, and they have excellent tech support.
If you happen to sign up, 11674 is my affiliate ID. :mrgreen:
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