Introduction

Exchange Server 2010 adds new high-availability, archiving, and retention features, as well as client-side capabilities that reduce inbox clutter, improve voice-mail usability, and deliver other benefits. Customers can exploit the latest Exchange capabilities four ways: upgrade an on-premises system to Exchange Server 2010; use Microsoft-hosted services to augment existing on-premises e-mail systems with message filtering, archiving, and encryption; outsource the organization’s e-mail system in its entirety to run in data centers operated by Microsoft or third-party hosters; or adopt a hybrid approach with some users serviced by on-premises mailboxes and others by hosted systems. Customers with older systems, especially Exchange Server 2003 (which exited Mainstream support in 2009), will want to consider the licensing implications of each approach.

Licensing of Exchange Server 2010 for on-premises use remains generally consistent with its predecessor, Exchange Server 2007. The feature sets of the product’s two server editions, Standard and Enterprise, are less distinct than in previous versions, and their usage rules, licensing models, and prices for most licenses remain identical. While architectural improvements may allow organizations to implement an Exchange Server 2010 infrastructure using fewer servers, several new factors may increase overall licensing costs: upgrading to Exchange 2010 requires a potentially expensive upgrade of Windows Server (and possibly Outlook 2010), and the per-client cost of premium features has gone up. (For more detail, see the chart “Pricing for Exchange-Related Licenses“.)