Microsoft Releases New Exchange Betas

Microsoft released second betas of both its Exchange Server 2007 and Forefront Security for Exchange Server products on Monday, including several new enhancements and better stability. Some of the new features include better e-mail reliability, messaging management tools, new mobility features, and unified messaging capabilities.

Exchange's companion product Forefront Security is the next version of Microsoft Antigen, which was released for Exchange last month. The program is intended to help maintain a secure messaging environment, Microsoft says.

"Today we enter the home stretch of delivering an unparalleled messaging solution, providing our customers with a cost-effective way to meet their most challenging messaging needs including compliance management and protection against constantly evolving security threats," Exchange Business Unit corporate vice president Dave Thompson said.

As usage of Exchange broadens, Microsoft has introduced Brazilian Portuguese and Russian to the languages supported by the application, as well as increasing the number of languages supported in Microsoft Outlook Web Access. In total, 11 languages will be supported in the former, and 47 in the latter.

Microsoft plans to release the final versions of each product in late 2006 or early 2007, roughly the same time as when both Vista and Microsoft Office 2007 are expected to be released. The betas will be available for download from Microsoft's Web sites for Exchange 2007 and Forefront Security.