14 DAY TRIAL // After it introduced the Hosting Mode configuration in Service Pack 1 (SP1) for Exchange Server 2010, Microsoft is gearing up to expand support for hosting Exchange even further. This will happen with the advent of the second major upgrade for Exchange Server 2010 which is scheduled for release by the end of 2011.
The software giant is only saying that Exchange Server 2010 SP2 will be launched earlier this year, but has already confirmed a new feature, dubbed Address Book Policies.
The introduction of Address Book Policies in Exchange Server 2010 SP2 means that hosting companies will be able to deploy the standard on-premises configuration of Exchange, instead of being restricted to using Hosting Mode.
“Our view on whether to host Exchange using Hosting Mode or the standard on-premises configuration is changing in response to feedback we’ve had from both hosters and customers,” revealed Kevin Allison, general manager of Exchange Customer Experience.
“We recognize that the Hosting Mode configuration of Exchange we released as part of SP1 provides a more robust multi-tenant solution, but lacks some of the features available in the standard on-premises configuration. Many of these are key features which customers are asking for, like Exchange Unified Messaging.
“We want to enable our hosting partners to offer the same rich feature set that our on-premises customers are used to. As such, with the release of SP2 for Exchange Server 2010, we intend to broaden our support stance to include hosting the on-premises configuration of Exchange in a multi-tenant environment.”
Microsoft is also planning to publish a new framework concomitantly with the release of Exchange Server 2010 SP2, in direct relation to the upcoming Address Book Policies feature.
More specifically, the new framework will be mandatory for hosters to be considered eligible for support in scenarios involving deployments of the standard on-premises configuration of Exchange with ABP.
Exchange Server 2010 SP1 RTM VHD is available for download here. Exchange Server 2010 Service Pack 1 (SP1) RTM is available for download here.