Microsoft Issues 'Jupiter,' Exchange 2003 Betas

Microsoft at TechEd delivered the first beta of BizTalk Server 2004, the initial phase of Redmond's next-generation e-business platform, code-named "Jupiter." Built on the .NET Framework, BizTalk integrates with Office System and Visual Studio .NET to provide the foundation for designing business solutions.

BizTalk Server 2004 provides single sign-on functionality and process management with a graphical interface for creating business rules and policies. The release also includes support for Web Services and the Business Process Execution Language for communicating across back-end systems.

"Microsoft's vision for the connected business is becoming a reality for customers today with the introduction of the BizTalk Server 2004 beta," said David Kiker, Microsoft's general manager for E-Business Servers. "BizTalk Server 2004 provides the strong foundation for 'Jupiter' to empower companies to build tailored e-business solutions that span corporate boundaries and improve business agility to capitalize on new opportunities."

BizTalk Server 2004 Beta 1 can be ordered from Microsoft for $9.65 USD, or accessed via MSDN Subscriber Downloads. The beta release may be used until March 31, 2004.

Also announced at TechEd was the availability of Exchange 2003 Release Candidate 1, the new edition of Microsoft's communication server to be released this summer.

Exchange Server 2003, formerly code-named Titanium, aims to improve productivity as well as security. A new cached mode will automatically synchronize data in the background, ensuring that users are always working from an up-to-date local copy of their mailbox. Microsoft has enhanced MAPI, the protocol used for communication between Exchange and Outlook mail clients, along with adding junk mail filtering and support for third party virus scanners.

By making RC1 upgradeable to the final release of Exchange 2003, Microsoft hopes to push early adoption among companies running Windows Server 2003.

"RC1 marks a major milestone in the development of Exchange 2003, the most rigorously tested version of Exchange ever," said Mohsen al-Ghosein, Microsoft's vice president of Exchange Server. "RC1 is a call to action for customers to start testing and planning their deployment of Exchange 2003."

Exchange 2003 will ship in Standard and Enterprise editions. Standard Edition is designed for small businesses, while Enterprise Edition is targeted at larger organizations needing support for more storage groups and databases. Release Candidate 1 may be downloaded free of charge via FileForum or from Microsoft.

Comments are closed.

© 1998-2024 BetaNews, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy - Cookie Policy.