Exchange 2000 Replaces MCIS for ISPs

Exchange 2000 is replacing Microsoft Commercial Internet Services (MCIS) for ISPs, signaling an end of life for the product. Microsoft is encouraging ISPs who currently offer e-mail, news, chat, commerce, and personal Web-page hosting services on the MCIS product to migrate to Exchange 2000 Enterprise Server, Internet Information Server, and Commerce Server 2000. Under the new Exchange 2000 Consumer Services program, ISPs may license Exchange 2000 with special per-user pricing optimized for consumers and small businesses, although details have not yet been released.

Microsoft will continue to support MCIS, but will not be developing the product any further. To ease the transition, Microsoft will offer an MCIS 2.5 Migration Kit by the end of 2000, and Compaq, eQuest, Hewlett-Packard, and Microsoft Consulting Services will offer migration services. As with application service providers (ASPs) that host Exchange 2000-based services, ISPs too will need automated billing and provisioning services, implemented by vendors such as Portal and Xevo on top of the Exchange 2000 Hosting Kit.