Exchange 2007 Gets a Premium License

Exchange getting fleshed out. Seems that Microsoft is making some changes to what we've come to expect from Exchange 2007. So instead of just Exchange 2007 Standard and Exchange 2007 Enterprise, there will now be a souped up Enterprise version that will add new features, mostly security stuff like anti-virus and anti-spam. These will be available either in an on-site form or as hosted services via Microsoft's FrontBridge platform.

While I like the new features, especially the hosted options, I'm not so happy that we've got to get yet another higher-priced license for them. That's a higher-priced license plus the ongoing service charge. The story and Microsoft's press info isn't clear on that point. Have a call in to them now to ask whether the CAL gets you access to the AV/AS stuff for the life of the CAL or whether you're still paying a per/mo--per/CAL charge. Also want to know how this affects the new 'compliance' features, which seems to be another way of describing FrontBridge's archiving service. No word on how this is being priced next to the CAL question.

If it's the latter, then I'm cranky. I know they're maximizing profits, but for the SMB set, it would have made more sense to keep the basic license scheme the same and charge for the hosted services as standalone options. Forcing me to get another CAL simply to access them seems like insult on injury.

Posted by Oliver Rist on June 2, 2006 06:15 PM