Microsoft released details of Windows Small Business
Server 2003 R2 at its Microsoft Worldwide Partner Conference in
Boston today.
The suite is designed for small-business owners and includes
several new features such as the “Green Check” of software health,
to help the user protect their business data; keep networks, PCs
and servers up to date; and stay connected to the business
remotely.
This is the second version of the software, which will be
available in August. The Standard Edition will retail at $599
(£325), and the Premium Edition $1,299. This marks a small drop in
price of around 13%.
“Server technology is not a luxury that is available only for
large companies with equally large budgets and specialised IT
staff,” said Steven VanRoekel, director of the Windows Server
Solutions Group at Microsoft.
“IDC estimates that over the next five years worldwide, more
than a million small businesses will be looking to buy their first
server,” said Janet Waxman, vice-president of Hardware Channels and
Alliances at IDC.
The suite uses technology from Exchange Server 2003 SP2, and
integrates with Windows Mobile-based devices.
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