Netline To Release Outlook Connector, SyncML Tech Preview
This software will let customers keep using the familiar Outlook client against Netline's Open-Xchange 5.0 Linux-based mail server. The connectors run on Windows 2000 or XP clients and support Outlook 2000 (Service Pack 3), Outlook XP and Outlook 2003 mail clients. For more information, see this Web site.
VAR Gregg Rosenberg, CTO of RICIS, a Tinley, Park, Ill. e-mail solution provider, said he's seen an uptick in his Netline business since the release of 5.0 and that the availability of Outlook client support is key.
He noted that Novell is working on an Outlook connector for its next-generation Sequoia release of GroupWise. Novell is selling and supporting both its own GroupWise and Suse Linux Open Exchange SLOX, which derives from Netline's code base. That dual offering has confused Novell VARs and customers alike.
Rosenberg did caution, however, that VARs installing Open-Xchange on the new 64-bit servers hitting the market must be careful. "You need to know OX has to be installed on a 32-bit operating system running on the 64-bit machine or some Java functions won't work properly. It's not Netline's fault and as long as you do this, it's fine," he said.
The "OXlook" Connectors are included in the $299 price of OX Small Business Server for five named users, as well as the OX Advanced Server Edition, which is $850 for 25 named users.
The company next week will also preview new support for SyncML, a commonly used standard for data synchronization and replication between PCs and mobile devices. The download will be available at this http://www.open-xchange.org/oxwiki/SyncML Netline Web site.
Netline is based in Olpe, Germany.