Exchange 2010 Release Candidate Available

A release candidate of Exchange Server 2010 is now available and the final release is expected by the end of 2009. Exchange 2010, the first major release since Exchange 2007 shipped three years ago, offers enhanced archiving, reduced disk activity, improved high-availability capabilities, and streamlined management tools. The improvements could help organizations cut deployment and maintenance costs by using less expensive hardware, such as direct attached storage, and reducing dependency on third-party solutions to supplement Exchange deployments. Exchange 2010 also supports new client features, such as conversation thread tools and voice-mail text preview, which could save time for end users.

Archiving Enhanced

Exchange 2010 will be the seventh major release of Microsoft’s messaging server since it debuted 13 years ago. Microsoft says Exchange’s annual revenues are approaching US$2 billion, while accounting for 70% of the corporate e-mail market. New features and improvements in Exchange 2010 aim to address decreasing IT budgets, stricter regulations, and a workforce that depends as much on e-mail as the telephone.