Qwest Communications International Inc broadened its portfolio of hosted applications yesterday with the announcement of its Qwest Managed Exchange Services, which enable companies to deliver Microsoft Exchange e-mail and advanced messaging applications throughout their organization.
The services will be offered by Qwest through its network of 2,000 business partners and resellers as well as its ASP joint venture with KPMG, Qwest Cyber.Solutions Inc, and the software will be hosted and managed in Qwest’s 14 data centers.
The suite of messaging services is based on the Windows NT Server operating system and Microsoft Exchange Server and will be connected to Qwest’s high-speed, internet backbone to offer 24×7 management and administration of the Exchange environment by Qwest’s staff of Microsoft Certified Systems Engineers (MCSEs).
Qwest said customers will be able to select from three Exchange Services packages, including Exchange Basic and Exchange Complete, both of which include hardware, software, installation, configuration, management and administration as well as backup, restore and additional optional services to meet specific needs. In addition, Qwest offers an Exchange Outsource package that provides custom outsourcing for customers with existing Microsoft Exchange installations.
Pricing starts at $15 per month per mailbox with a $10 one-time set up fee per user. Additionally, Qwest Cyber.Solutions will integrate the managed Exchange offering with its own ERP and CRM offerings from SAP AG and Siebel Systems Inc, as well as other mission critical applications, and offer the combined package on a hosted basis. In addition, Qwest said it will also offer Microsoft’s Office 2000 product by the first quarter 2000, as well as introducing a Windows 2000 VPN (virtual private network) management-only service when the operating system becomes available next year.
