Yes, You DO Need a Hosted Exchange Server

[Pete Paxton]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://jkontherun.blogs.com/jkontherun/2007/10/yes-you-do-need.html' target='_blank'>http://jkontherun.blogs.com/jkontherun/2007/10/yes-you-do-need.html</a><br /><br /></div><p><em>&quot;A hosted Exchange Server account brings other benefits that shouldn't be overlooked, the most significant of which is that my data is backed up and retrievable no matter what happens to any one of these devices. I have the information existing not only in Outlook, my daily PIM manager, but on each of the devices as well. Taking that even further the host of my Exchange Server backs up all of my data daily too, so even if all seven devices took a dive at once (heaven forbid) I could still get at my important data and bring a new device into specs in just a few minutes. That is powerful stuff indeed. Even if you are more typical than I and just have a mobile PC and a desktop, or maybe a PC and a PDA, you will see the benefits just as I do and they will end up being no less important to you than to me.&quot;</em></p><p>&nbsp;I for one agree with this article. JK On the Run has&nbsp;great blog about why a hosted Exchange server is a good idea and how it can be beneficial. I use it as my main calendar, address book, and tasks manager&nbsp;when I'm on the computer. But the biggest reason I use an Exchange server is because they are now cheap and back up all my PIM info so I don't have to worry about it. One day my phone kept freezing while on the road (some cheap software I downloaded) and I had to do a hard reset. Once I entered my Exchange server information, my Dash updated all my appointments, tasks, and contacts in about 60 seconds. Do you use an Exchange server? Why or why not? I'm anxious to read your replies.</p>

[rzanology]

I’ve been using exchange since the days of my Cingular 8125. I have about 8 really close friends and we all have smart phones, I made sure they all signed up and now everyone are firm believers. The main features for us is the push email. It fuels out daily email topic that often go on for hours. Buts its really cool to have these emails go though instantly and to everyone…almost like a text message for adult. For me….it’s all about the backing up of my pim. I’m an active member over at xda-developers…so I flash my device really often. I’m always hard resetting and testing. If I need to do this on the road with no access to a pc…exchange allows me to do so. I can get all my information back on the device in minutes. I agree….you DO need exchange…especially when its free! (mail2web)<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p>

[Urban Strata]

I've never really understood the Hosted Exchange phenomenon in online forums and blogs. (It's a frequent topic on HowardForums, too.) Don't you guys have access to Exchange, or even RIM BES with BlackBerry Connect, through work? I don't know anyone who used Hosted Exchange because it's redundant with our server access at work.

Or am I the exception that proves the rule?

[Jerry Raia]

I've depended on hosted Exchange for years. I can't imagine not having Exchange.

[nitestrike]

I would have to say I fully agree. Being able to keep several devices sync'd up, along with my laptop and without any hassle. I am able to have up-to-date information wherever and wherever. My wife and I both keep our schedules in sync by sending each other meeting minders for each others calendars. Plus I also have Web access too.

[possmann]

Great idea - does anyone have any recomendations for service providers? Are there any reviews out there for various hosted exchange servers?

[Jason Dunn]

Don't you guys have access to Exchange, or even RIM BES with BlackBerry Connect, through work? I don't know anyone who used Hosted Exchange because it's redundant with our server access at work.

It's pretty simple actually: hosted Exchange is for all the people, myself included, who don't have access to an Exchange Server at work. Either the companies are using something different than Exchange, they're too small to use a server-based solution, or any other number of reasons. And there are also people who don't want their personal information being put on a company Exchange server, so they get a hosted Exchange plan for their personal life.

[Jason Dunn]

My wife and I both keep our schedules in sync by sending each other meeting minders for each others calendars.

Isn't that just great for a marriage? When I got my wife on a hosted Exchange plan, it solved all of our scheduling conflicts...it's just AWESOME. What I wish is that Microsoft would figure out a consumer-level Exchange solution that would give the same benefits without being so damn complicated.

[Jerry Raia]

It would really be nice if we could actually see the shared calendars on our mobile devices as we can on desktop Outlook. The lack of this capability is a glaring omission.

[Jason Dunn]

It would really be nice if we could actually see the shared calendars on our mobile devices as we can on desktop Outlook. The lack of this capability is a glaring omission.

Indeed, it's a major limitation. As it now being able to have two separate calendars...

[hotdram]

I couldn't get the mail2web cab to install on my ATT Blackjack :(
Has anyone else had that issue? Are there other hosted exchange servers to try?

Thanks,
~Rob

[HalM]

. . .Either they're too small to use a server-based solution, or any other number of reasons.
Not too sure about this excuse anymore. Dell, for example, has a server pre-loaded with Small Business Server -hence Exchange too- for $681. Yes, it is pure entry level stuff, but for $200 more it can be made very nice. For a business that wants to control its info, this makes a solid starting point.

[SteveHoward999]

Not too sure about this excuse anymore. Dell, for example, has a server pre-loaded with Small Business Server -hence Exchange too- for $681. Yes, it is pure entry level stuff, but for $200 more it can be made very nice. For a business that wants to control its info, this makes a solid starting point.

You are still thinking pure business. It's not all about business solutions. What if you just value your personal mail, contacts and calendar enough to justify a hosted exchange service?

Back to the small business solution. My wife and I run our own business from home. I would be quite happy to set up a home SBS with Exchange, but the costs vs the perceived benefits are simply not justifiable. If we were on the road a lot it would be different, but we work in the house 99% of the time. If I want it bad enough I can get several years of hosted exchange service for the cost of buying a server, appropriate web access etc ...

[Jason Dunn]

Not too sure about this excuse anymore. Dell, for example, has a server pre-loaded with Small Business Server -hence Exchange too- for $681.

Hardware is cheap - having an IT person with the skills necessary to run it is not. Compare the costs of buying the hardware plus hiring or traing an IT person to run the Exchange server to the cost of a hosted Exchange account, and hosted Exchange makes a lot of sense. A company has to be of a certain size before they'll even HAVE an IT person.

Myself, I could buy the hardware for an Exchange server, but taking the time to learn to run it, keep it patched, secure, etc? I have more important things to do - and the cost of hosted Exhange is so low...why not do it?

I don't really understand why you're so opposed to hosted Exchange. :confused:

[Mike Temporale]

I think I'm the only one on the SPT team that isn't using Exchange (hosted or not). :o

Maybe someday I will change. It's something I've been thinking about for a while, just never pulled the trigger. And with the recent price issues with 4Smartphone, I'm kind of happy I didn't switch yet.

[Kirkaiya]

For what it's worth, I use something that is functionally about the equivalent of Exchange (which I do have at work) for my personal email, which is hosted Zimbra (recently acquired by Yahoo! for a heap-o-money).

I have a laptop and a smartphone (WM5), and since I have an unlimited data plan, I generally don't bother to even sync my phone to the laptop - I have it set to use push-mail (using EDGE) from 9 am - 6 pm, and on weekends I just sync it when I feel the urge. ActiveSync over-the-air rocks! I use the Zimbra Outlook Connector for my notebook, which does the full sync of email, calendar, contacts, and tasks. I basically use zimbra because I own the server, and have it co-located doing other things, and wanted to play with linux a bit ;-)

Zimbra is pretty close to being an exchange clone, really, and I share my calendar out with my wife, so she can view it on her desktop (she doesn't have a smartphone, so we haven't run into the problem of not being able to share calendars on our phones yet).

Side-note - I just installed a (dual-boot) linux, Ubuntu 7.10 "Gutsy Gibbon" on my laptop, which is now a Vista Business (32-bit) and Ubuntu Linux (64 bit), and it came with "Evolution", which can connect to Exchange (using OWA) "out of the box"; I tested it with our work email (Exchange 2003) and it works great!

[DavidKlein192]

Great idea - does anyone have any recomendations for service providers? Are there any reviews out there for various hosted exchange servers?

My office has been using Intermedia as our service provider for a couple of years now. So far the service has been reliable. There are a lot of providers to choose from so choose wisely!