SmarterMail, which SmarterTools calls a "cost-effective alternative to Microsoft Exchange for businesses, ISP’s and hosting environments" in its press release, is available for the Microsoft Windows Server operating systems, including Windows Server 2008.

The hosted mail solution offers synchronization capabilities of calendar, contacts and tasks from Outlook, Windows Mobile devices, PocketPCs, and Smartphones. Users can also access all the email and collaboration tools from a Web interface that supports all major Internet browsers.

"SmarterMail 5.x delivers upon the SmarterTools promise to provide innovation, reliability, and value to our business and hosting customers," says Tim Uzzanti, CEO of SmarterTools. "This latest release takes SmarterMail even further--creating new efficiencies for business users and helping ISP and hosting companies compete as they deliver the services and features their customers demand."

Additional features and enhancements for SmarterMail 5.x include the new event-driven architecture, enabling all users to receive alerts and automate actions on a wide range of events and criteria. Notifications can be sent via in-application reminders, SMS, or email. Additionally, real-time mail server statistics, historical summary reporting and detailed trend analysis are available at every level.

Security features are enhanced with 99 percent anti-spam protection 'out-of-the-box' along with standard antivirus, intrusion detection and attack prevention. SmarterTools has integrated the Yahoo! DomainKeys authentication standard and SmarterMail 5.x's email archiving is fully compliant with regulatory requirements.

Earlier this month, Web hosting and software as a service provider ViUX Systems announced it is offering monthly leased licenses for all SmarterTools products.