Gecad Technologies is shipping Axigen Mail Server, which it claims has the same features as Microsoft Corp.’s Outlook and Exchange, but costs less.
Axigen Mail server can be accessed through a browser by users and by administrators. The Enterprise Edition starts at US$504 for 25 users, while a company with 150 mailboxes would pay US$1340.
“It would be just like accessing any public mail service through the Web browser,” said Ionut Nistor, product manager for Bucharest, Romania-based Gecad. He added the software works on the “popular lines” of Linux, including Red Hat and SuSE, plus NetBSD and Sun Solaris.
It is compatible with 15 different anti-virus products, including McAfee and Kapersky Lab. Other security features include an access control technology which acts “similar to a firewall,” Nistor said.
The Enterprise Edition includes groupware, personal organizer software and public folders. It lets workers share contacts, delegate tasks and check to see whether colleagues are available. It also lets administrators set up different classes of accounts, so they can allow access to different services, different message sizes and different filters.
The Business Edition, which costs US$400 for 25 mailboxes, includes a personal organizer.
Axigen Mail Server lets users access their e-mail from the Internet. Users can choose from one of three “skins,” which let them control the look and feel of their browser.
“That is something the user can customize out of the box,” said Ionut Nistor, product manager for Gecad. It has three pre-defined skins, so users can get different colours and layouts.
The user interface includes a preview plane and rules wizard. They can also set up automated responses when they are on vacation or out of the office.
With the Enterprise Edition of Axigen Mail server, users can create their own blacklists and personalized signatures. They can also delay the sending of selected e-mails. They can also add recipients to newly composed messages directly from their personal contacts or from the domain’s public address book, and they can access the same personal information manager via web mail or Outlook.
Gecad Technologies Axigen Mail Server includes a console for administrators, which can be accessed either from the local-area network directly from the server or from the Internet remotely.
Because it supports connection level security, “It can be used over public network without concern for privacy,” according to Nistor.
“They can delete accounts, configure server parameters, and monitor what is happening to the server.” It includes a Web-based graphic console and administrators can also automate operations through a command line interface. It can also be used to create more than 100 personalized reports.
