Microsoft will use its integration abilities as a way to
strengthen its hold on smaller accounts when it formally rolls out
two versions of its Windows Small Business Server 2003 at its
annual partner conference in New Orleans next week.
With the upcoming Standard and Premium Editions of the product, the
company has technically stitched together a collection of its core
server applications and its server operating system, Windows Server
2003, in a way that helps smaller users get core pieces of its IT
infrastructure up more quickly.
Company officials believe this tighter integration can serve as
a foundation for smaller companies to build customised solutions
more easily .
"We have taken core technologies and built simplicity
integration code that ties all of them together so users can build
out a variety of small business scenarios they can get better value
from. It is more than just offering Windows and applications
bundled together," said Katy Hunter, group product manager with
Microsoft's Windows Server Division.
Analysts agree that the smooth integration of the components is
the key ingredient for attracting smaller shops, particularly those
buying their first server, which typically do not have the
technical expertise or inclination to do technical tweaking and
fine tuning.
"A smooth job of integration is what smaller companies are going
to need in large measure with a product like this, where they do
not have IT staffs to do all the fine tunings and tweaks to get up
and running," said Ray Boggs, vice president in charge of Small and
Medium Size Business Research at IDC.
While Microsoft has made strides in simplifying the installation
and configuring of the product, small users will still need the
help of value-added resellers (VARs).
The Standard Edition of the product includes Windows Server
2003, Microsoft Exchange Server 2003, Windows Sharepoint Services
and the Microsoft Shared Fax Service. The Premium Edition includes
everything that is in the Standard Edition and adds the company's
Internet Security and Acceleration Server 2000, SQL Server 2000 and
OfficeFront Page 2003.
Pricing for the Standard Edition is $599 while the Premium
Edition costs $1,499. Both include a licence for five clients.
Ed Scannell writes for InfoWorld