Novell Inc has released the next version of its Internet Messaging System (NIMS) that is compatible with the latest version of its NDS eDirectory, launched at Comdex last month. Acutely aware of its need to be recognized as a web-centric company, Novell stressed that with NIMS on NDS eDirectory, ISPs get an internet-based email system that can host and centrally managing over one billion user accounts. With NIMS version 2.1, integrated with NDS eDirectory, users gain a messaging infrastructure that can scale to billions of users and remains easy to manage, Novell said.

Some of the new features include unsolicited bulk email protection so that users can block unwanted spam email, and a mail proxy to retrieve email from other accounts such as Novell GroupWise, Eudora Mail Server 2.0 and Microsoft Exchange Internet Mail Service. Leif Petersen, director of product management for NDS said that anti-virus software can now be controlled from inside NIMS while being managed by NDS. He added that version 2.1 has a three tiered address book that enables users to search for an email across the enterprise, across personal addresses and also 411 directory systems, as required.

NIMS is available on NetWare, with support for NT, Solaris and Linux planned for release in the next 30 days. It supports internet protocols including post office protocol 3 (POP), internet mail access protocol 4 (IMAP), lightweight directory access protocol (LDAP) and secure sockets layer (SSL). Novell Instant Messaging System 2.1 is available to enterprise customers for $20 per user. á