By David Hamilton, theWHIR.com
September 16, 2008 -- (WEB HOST INDUSTRY REVIEW) -- Open source email and collaboration solutions provider Open-Xchange has announced major updates to its email and personal information management software, Open-Xchange Hosting Edition, including OSGi framework integration, added email security features, graphical user interface modification and better mashup abilities.
According to Open-Xchange's announcement Monday, internet service providers, telcos and web hosting companies including 1&1 Internet, Network Solutions, OVH, Hostpoint will make the new features available to their customers, numbering more than 8 million users. Open-Xchange promises users no additional cost and no service disruption over the coming weeks.
"The new features were all developed in close cooperation with our service provider partners and reflect the feedback and ideas of their end customers," Open-Xchange chief executive officer Rafael Laguna said in a statement. "Using hosted software delivered as SaaS provides users with an affordable alternative that is equivalent to on-premise enterprise collaboration software and helps to streamline communications and improve their productivity."
The software now integrates server-based plug-in architecture using the OSGi framework, effectively turning Open-Xchange Hosting Edition into an open SaaS platform making integration of additional SaaS applications possible like CRM or ERP. It also enables 24/7 online software updates.
Open-Xchange has opened the door for mashup capabilities, by integrating UWA, Netvibes' universal widget API framework that enables easy integration of web applications including RSS feeds, podcasts and video channels.
The new Hosting Edition integrates GUI-based plug-in architecture letting service providers integrate and offer additional thrid-party applications like instant messaging tools or fax to help unify communications and reducing the need for multiple address books. Also, customization of the GUI supports "themes" and "skins" for different interface appearances and branding.
It also includes new email security and filter features with automatic phishing detection.
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May 2009 - The Blueprint for a Small Web Host
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