TweetFollow Us on Twitter

Kool Tools: Kerio Mail Server

Volume Number: 24
Issue Number: 10
Column Tag: Kool Tools

Kool Tools: Kerio Mail Server

by Dennis Sellers


Kerio MailServer, an email groupware solution from Kerio Technologies, now natively supports iPhone functionality to accommodate the small to medium sized business market. Considering the hoopla surrounding - and the high sales of - the iPhone 3G, it's a timely update.

Kerio MailServer was first launched in 2002 on Windows and Linux, with the Mac version following the next year. Two years into the game, Kerio added new features and began work on Microsoft Outlook support. Today what you get with MailServer is a mail server with integrated spam features, dual antivirus controls, the ability to archive back-ups and a long list of supported clients and devices.

With the latest version, owners of the original iPhone and the 3G model can take advantage of the benefits of push email, push contacts and push calendar as well as remote wipe. Kerio MailServer lets you synchronize email, contacts and calendars with the iPhone natively over the air with the Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync protocol. Kerio's messaging server syncs data wirelessly with the iPhone 2.0 software update.

Kerio was able to take advantage of the existing Exchange package support and tweaked it to make ActiveSync work with the iPhone. Dusan Vitek of Kerio Technologies says you'd think this would be a standard protocol, but each developer has integrated it a bit differently. This means Kerio has to test each device independently to make sure MailServer works as seamlessly as the company wants it to.

"Microsoft hasn't made it easy," he adds. "In fact, there are two versions of ActiveSync, and both are called ActiveSync. There's one for desktop syncing and a wireless version. This was so confusing that Microsoft finally started calling the wireless version Exchange ActiveSync. There are different generations of the product, which jumped from version 2.5 to version 12 with the introduction of Exchange 2007."

Though the latest version of Kerio MailServer touts iPhone 3G and iPhone 2.0 support, the first generation iPhone will work with it as well - if you upgrade the firmware. Actually, Kerio has supported the iPhone for about a year, but had previously implemented a less graceful way of syncing data (though it was the only available way at the time). By the way, one of the benefits of ActiveSync is that if your device is lost or stolen, a remote command can be issued that essentially resets the device.

With Kerio MailServer, customers can choose any client, including iCal, Address Book or Microsoft Entourage on Mac OS X or Microsoft Outlook on Windows, to integrate email, calendars and contacts. The iPhone and other smartphones-including Windows Mobile, Palm, Symbian, and Blackberrys-connect wirelessly to Kerio MailServer. Which means, of course, that you can keep everyone in sync (no pun intended) in your company.

Kerio's collaboration server delivers groupware with anti-virus and anti-spam protection, integrated automatic backup and archiving. MailServer is the only Exchange alternative to natively support Microsoft Entourage in Exchange mode. What's more, it offers a migration tool for those considering moving from Microsoft Exchange.

It's also easy to set up. There's a QuickStart wizard that helps you through the process. It asks for your administrative password, mail domain names, etc., then gets to work.

MailServer's Administration Console is a user friendly Mac OS X application. You can control all of MailServer's features through the console, which can be installed on a remote machine. This means that administrators don't have to be on-site to monitor the server and make any necessary changes.

MailServer consists of three main components, with the engine running as a background task, while a service monitor utility and administration console provide a status check and access for configuration. In addition to its own Web Mail client, Kerio supports Microsoft Outlook and Entourage (on Macs) for e-mail and groupware. For Outlook, it requires that the Kerio Outlook Connector be installed on each client. The Outlook support requires online connection to the Kerio server; otherwise another product, Kerio Synchronization plug-in, is necessary to provide local Outlook storage for offline operation.

If you compare MailServer to Microsoft Exchange, they're quite similar to a point-the biggest difference between the two is that MailServer is more flexible. For example, the Exchange server will only run on a Windows Server OS, which may not be your company's operating system of choice. Kerio MailServer will also run on Mac OS X or Linux. In addition to the server versions of these operating systems, it can also run on desktop versions. Kerio says you should use the version of an OS that you're most comfortable with, but the more users you're serving, the more robust server set-up you should implement.

Another differentiator between MailServer and its competitors is that Kerio provides an iCal server. Since Apple started pushing iCal as a protocol, Kerio wanted to "play nice" with the set-ups of those people who manage their calendars using iCal, says Vitek. MailServer does just that, even with those who using a PC with, say, Outlook. Of course, Mac OS X has no support for Outlook, so Kerio MailServer serves as a bridge between these worlds, translating different formats of calendar invitations and pushing them to individual mobile devices. MailServer also syncs, in Exchange mode, with Apple's Address Book.

"Smaller companies typically don't settle on a unified platform or client device," Vitek says. "On the other hand, large companies often enforce some type of policy. We know support for a variety of smart phones, different clients and different operating systems are important to our market and our customers."

MailServer is sold with a "perpetual license." Pricing - which starts at $499 - includes 12 months of tech support via email and phone and 12 months of software maintenance. Customers with active subscriptions can get the latest update for free. More info at:

http://www.kerio.com/kms_iphone_sync.html


Dennis Sellers is a long time journalist. He started in the newspaper business, but has been in the online journalism business for the past 15 years. He's the editor/publisher of Macsimum News (http://www.macsimumnews.com)

 

Community Search:
MacTech Search:

Software Updates via MacUpdate

Latest Forum Discussions

See All

Whitethorn Games combines two completely...
If you have ever gone fishing then you know that it is a lesson in patience, sitting around waiting for a bite that may never come. Well, that's because you have been doing it wrong, since as Whitehorn Games now demonstrates in new release Skate... | Read more »
Call of Duty Warzone is a Waiting Simula...
It's always fun when a splashy multiplayer game comes to mobile because they are few and far between, so I was excited to see the notification about Call of Duty: Warzone Mobile (finally) launching last week and wanted to try it out. As someone who... | Read more »
Albion Online introduces some massive ne...
Sandbox Interactive has announced an upcoming update to its flagship MMORPG Albion Online, containing massive updates to its existing guild Vs guild systems. Someone clearly rewatched the Helms Deep battle in Lord of the Rings and spent the next... | Read more »
Chucklefish announces launch date of the...
Chucklefish, the indie London-based team we probably all know from developing Terraria or their stint publishing Stardew Valley, has revealed the mobile release date for roguelike deck-builder Wildfrost. Developed by Gaziter and Deadpan Games, the... | Read more »
Netmarble opens pre-registration for act...
It has been close to three years since Netmarble announced they would be adapting the smash series Solo Leveling into a video game, and at last, they have announced the opening of pre-orders for Solo Leveling: Arise. [Read more] | Read more »
PUBG Mobile celebrates sixth anniversary...
For the past six years, PUBG Mobile has been one of the most popular shooters you can play in the palm of your hand, and Krafton is celebrating this milestone and many years of ups by teaming up with hit music man JVKE to create a special song for... | Read more »
ASTRA: Knights of Veda refuse to pump th...
In perhaps the most recent example of being incredibly eager, ASTRA: Knights of Veda has dropped its second collaboration with South Korean boyband Seventeen, named so as it consists of exactly thirteen members and a video collaboration with Lee... | Read more »
Collect all your cats and caterpillars a...
If you are growing tired of trying to build a town with your phone by using it as a tiny, ineffectual shover then fear no longer, as Independent Arts Software has announced the upcoming release of Construction Simulator 4, from the critically... | Read more »
Backbone complete its lineup of 2nd Gene...
With all the ports of big AAA games that have been coming to mobile, it is becoming more convenient than ever to own a good controller, and to help with this Backbone has announced the completion of their 2nd generation product lineup with their... | Read more »
Zenless Zone Zero opens entries for its...
miHoYo, aka HoYoverse, has become such a big name in mobile gaming that it's hard to believe that arguably their flagship title, Genshin Impact, is only three and a half years old. Now, they continue the road to the next title in their world, with... | Read more »

Price Scanner via MacPrices.net

B&H has Apple’s 13-inch M2 MacBook Airs o...
B&H Photo has 13″ MacBook Airs with M2 CPUs and 256GB of storage in stock and on sale for up to $150 off Apple’s new MSRP, starting at only $849. Free 1-2 day delivery is available to most US... Read more
M2 Mac minis on sale for $100-$200 off MSRP,...
B&H Photo has Apple’s M2-powered Mac minis back in stock and on sale today for $100-$200 off MSRP. Free 1-2 day shipping is available for most US addresses: – Mac mini M2/256GB SSD: $499, save $... Read more
Mac Studios with M2 Max and M2 Ultra CPUs on...
B&H Photo has standard-configuration Mac Studios with Apple’s M2 Max & Ultra CPUs in stock today and on Easter sale for $200 off MSRP. Their prices are the lowest available for these models... Read more
Deal Alert! B&H Photo has Apple’s 14-inch...
B&H Photo has new Gray and Black 14″ M3, M3 Pro, and M3 Max MacBook Pros on sale for $200-$300 off MSRP, starting at only $1399. B&H offers free 1-2 day delivery to most US addresses: – 14″ 8... Read more
Department Of Justice Sets Sights On Apple In...
NEWS – The ball has finally dropped on the big Apple. The ball (metaphorically speaking) — an antitrust lawsuit filed in the U.S. on March 21 by the Department of Justice (DOJ) — came down following... Read more
New 13-inch M3 MacBook Air on sale for $999,...
Amazon has Apple’s new 13″ M3 MacBook Air on sale for $100 off MSRP for the first time, now just $999 shipped. Shipping is free: – 13″ MacBook Air (8GB RAM/256GB SSD/Space Gray): $999 $100 off MSRP... Read more
Amazon has Apple’s 9th-generation WiFi iPads...
Amazon has Apple’s 9th generation 10.2″ WiFi iPads on sale for $80-$100 off MSRP, starting only $249. Their prices are the lowest available for new iPads anywhere: – 10″ 64GB WiFi iPad (Space Gray or... Read more
Discounted 14-inch M3 MacBook Pros with 16GB...
Apple retailer Expercom has 14″ MacBook Pros with M3 CPUs and 16GB of standard memory discounted by up to $120 off Apple’s MSRP: – 14″ M3 MacBook Pro (16GB RAM/256GB SSD): $1691.06 $108 off MSRP – 14... Read more
Clearance 15-inch M2 MacBook Airs on sale for...
B&H Photo has Apple’s 15″ MacBook Airs with M2 CPUs (8GB RAM/256GB SSD) in stock today and on clearance sale for $999 in all four colors. Free 1-2 delivery is available to most US addresses.... Read more
Clearance 13-inch M1 MacBook Airs drop to onl...
B&H has Apple’s base 13″ M1 MacBook Air (Space Gray, Silver, & Gold) in stock and on clearance sale today for $300 off MSRP, only $699. Free 1-2 day shipping is available to most addresses in... Read more

Jobs Board

Medical Assistant - Surgical Oncology- *Apple...
Medical Assistant - Surgical Oncology- Apple Hill Location: WellSpan Medical Group, York, PA Schedule: Full Time Sign-On Bonus Eligible Remote/Hybrid Regular Apply Read more
Omnichannel Associate - *Apple* Blossom Mal...
Omnichannel Associate - Apple Blossom Mall Location:Winchester, VA, United States (https://jobs.jcp.com/jobs/location/191170/winchester-va-united-states) - Apple Read more
Cashier - *Apple* Blossom Mall - JCPenney (...
Cashier - Apple Blossom Mall Location:Winchester, VA, United States (https://jobs.jcp.com/jobs/location/191170/winchester-va-united-states) - Apple Blossom Mall Read more
Operations Associate - *Apple* Blossom Mall...
Operations Associate - Apple Blossom Mall Location:Winchester, VA, United States (https://jobs.jcp.com/jobs/location/191170/winchester-va-united-states) - Apple Read more
Business Analyst | *Apple* Pay - Banco Popu...
Business Analyst | Apple PayApply now " Apply now + Apply Now + Start applying with LinkedIn Start + Please wait Date:Mar 19, 2024 Location: San Juan-Cupey, PR Read more
All contents are Copyright 1984-2011 by Xplain Corporation. All rights reserved. Theme designed by Icreon.