Microsoft Corp formally announced its BackOffice Small Business Server at a conference in San Jose yesterday, lining up the usual avalanche of support, this time from 80 applications vendors, internet service providers and PC manufacturers. Small Business Server, designed for businesses with up to 25 PCs, bundles together those elements of BackOffice deemed essential for small businesses – such as Exchange, SQL Server, Proxy Services and Internet Services, along with NT 4.0 file, print and application services, all fitting onto a single machine. It also includes new fax server and modem pooling applications, a single screen management console, and an Internet Wizard for easy set-up of internet email and browsing. Small Business Server joins the Standard and Enterprise editions of BackOffice. Applications vendors such as GoldMine Software Corp and PeachTree Software Inc are planning to integrate their applications within Small Business Server bundles, while service providers see it as a lead-generation tool. Eleven hardware manufacturers, including Acer America Corp. Compaq Computer Corp, IBM Corp and Hewlett- Packard Co said they would offer systems with the bundle. Prices start at $1,500 for five users and $2,460 for 25 users. Extra five user clients are $309.
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