Microsoft announces public preview and pricing for Windows Essential Server Solutions 14 May, 2008 By Erin Bell

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Scheduled to launch later this year, Windows Essential Server Solutions combines Microsoft technologies such as Windows Server 2008, Exchange Server 2007, SQL Server 2008 into an all-in-one IT solution to improve efficiency, cut costs and drive growth for small and mid-size companies.

Small and midsize companies are looking for many of the same IT capabilities and benefits as those sought by large enterprises, said Ray Boggs, Vice President of Small/Medium Business Research at IDC. But the technology has to be delivered as part of simpler, integrated and more affordable solutions for organizations with minimal IT staffs and resources. And of course it helps if solutions are also tailored to meet the needs of technology consultants that often work with those small and midsize firms.

According to Microsoft, initial feedback from customers and partners who have been testing WESS as part of a private beta program has been positive.

With Essential Business Server 2008, our administrative workload is one-tenth of what it was before. This is the largest step forward we have ever seen in terms of our ability to focus technology on real business needs," said Sumeeth Evans, director of IT for Collegiate Housing Services, a company that coordinates student housing for colleges.

Erik Thorsell, president of Success Computer Consulting in Minneapolis, said, Small Business Server 2008 and Essential Business Server 2008 are both designed with me and my clients in mind. They make it easy for me to give my customers the freedom to work effectively from home or on the road.

Small Business Server 2008 is advanced software that eliminates a lot of wasted time and allows us to focus on our business goals and to sell globally," said Dave Benson, founder and chief financial officer of Epicurean Cutting Surfaces, which creates popular kitchen cutting boards and utensils using sustainable materials.

Windows Essential Server Solutions also offers flexible pricing and licensing improvements over the current Windows Small Business Server 2003 R2. For example, customers will be able pay only for the exact number of employees using the product by purchasing single client access licenses (CALs) and can purchase a mix of Standard or Premium CALs as appropriate; and CALs now apply to other copies of Windows Server, SQL Server or Exchange Server on the network.

Estimated pricing for Windows Essential Server Solutions: