Hosted Exchange 2007 Solutions

[barney]

Does anyone out there use or have any experience of a fully hosted Exchange 2007 service.

We currently have a couple of ex03 servers storing just over a thousand mailboxes to outlook clients and OWA externally. In short we're very keen allow all our users access to their mailboxes using some of the 2007 features (Outlook anywhere for example replacing the horrific RPC over https and Exchange ActivSync). I have of upgrade paths available but can't help thinking that 1000 users + 1000 pc's + 1000 3g phones = support nightmare regardless of what the hardware will cost me.

 

Any thoughts, experiences?

[IanT]

We run a Exchange Server 2003 Hosted service with running Outlook (RPC over HTTPS).

 

We may be going over too Exchange Server 2007 which is gonna be a nightmare maybe lol

[tarquel]

barney... it might be worth you getting a consultant in if you can to explain the options available to you.

 

We'll be likely looking at some of the features that you mention in Exch 2007 so failing consultancy, stall them for a couple of months perhaps ;)

 

Nath

[plexer]

Is the Microsoft live@edu service no good to you then?

 

Ben

[nadeem]

I've looked into this a lot and have gone for a 2 part solution.

 

Completely free (and very good) is Microsoft's Live@edu / Outlook Live service - I use this for student/alumni/temp staff email accounts (this is a great service with loads of extra features as its based on Exchange 2010 rather than 2007)

 

MS also have a paid for version of this BPOS - which basically has a guaranteed SLA (and is amazingly cheap!)

 

On the commercial front for my permanent staff I use Thinkgrid Hosted Desktop, Hosted Virtual Desktop and IT from ThinkGrid - IT services from the cloud - they have absolutely excellent customer service/support

 

I did look at other commerical providers but in the end Thinkgrid won by a mile on pricing/support/technical knowledge.

 

If you want to know any more send me a PM.

[EduTech]

I would also recommend you have a look at the Live@Edu Service! it is fantastic and absolutly free of charge! Plus you get to use Exchange 2010

 

James.