September 18, 2008 – (HOSTSEARCH.COM) – Open-Xchange has announced a comprehensive feature update for its Open-Xchange Hosting Edition, it was reported recently. The solution, designed to be offered online by web hosts, Internet Service Providers (ISPs), and telcos, now offers online software updates and enhanced functionality. According to the company, “leading service providers like 1&1 Internet, Network Solutions, OVH, Hostpoint and others will make the new features available to more than 8 million users at no additional cost” in the coming weeks.
New Open-Xchange features include integration of server-based plug-in architecture using the OSGi framework, enabling ongoing online updates. Support of the OSGi framework “turns Open-Xchange Hosting Edition into an open SaaS platform, which makes possible integration of additional SaaS applications, such as CRM or ERP”. In addition, new security and filter features mean Open-Xchange automatically detects potentially harmful phishing emails and also enables users to select the option to block pictures in HTML emails. Integration of a graphical user interface (GUI) based plug-in architecture also enables service providers to integrate and offer additional 3rd party applications such as Instant Messaging tools or support for text messages and fax to help unify communications and reduce the need for managing multiple address books.
Other features include "themes" and "skins", giving service providers the ability to offer different user interface appearances and allowing enterprise customers to adapt the look and feel of Open-Xchange to different themes and their corporate design. In addition, support of mashup capabilities powered by UWA (Netvibes Universal Widget API) enables easy integration of web applications, such as RSS feeds, podcasts, and video channel.
“The new features were all developed in close cooperation with our service provider partners and reflect the feedback and ideas of their end customers," said Rafael Laguna, CEO of Open-Xchange. "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."
“Since we launched our Open-Xchange based groupware called 1&1 MailXchange in the U.S. in July, we've received very positive feedback and had strong sales numbers,” explained 1&1 Internet Inc, CEO, Oliver Mauss. “As a leader in delivering innovative technology, 1&1 will continue to call upon proven open-source technologies that enable our customers to benefit at greatly reduced licensing costs.”
Open-Xchange Inc. is the innovator of scalable and integrated open source email and collaboration solutions for enterprises, academic institutions, and government authorities. Open-Xchange Hosting Edition enables web hosting companies to provide an easy-to-use and feature-rich application delivered as Software as a Service (SaaS). The Open-Xchange Hosting Edition is architected to integrate into a hosting provider’s existing infrastructure such as authentication, provisioning, billing, and email storage and does not require that these systems be replaced.
