Microsoft Announces BackOffice 2000 Server

On April 3, Microsoft announced that it will release BackOffice Server 2000 later this year and that it will provide pricing information as the release date approaches. Microsoft is targeting BackOffice Server 2000, the next version of the server suite, at companies that want to simplify deployment and management of Windows 2000 (Win2K)-based solutions for branch offices, departments, and medium-sized businesses. BackOffice Server 2000 will include Windows 2000 Server (Win2K Server) and the latest versions of the Win2K-based Microsoft server applications: Exchange 2000 Server (with Outlook 2000 Service Release 1SR1), SQL Server 2000, Host Integration Server 2000, Systems Management Server (SMS) 2.0 Service Pack 2 (SP2), and the next release of Proxy Server.According to Microsoft, BackOffice Server 2000 will let you take advantage of Win2K features such as Active Directory (AD) and provide improved ease of use, security, and application integration for users, data, applications, and other resources. Microsoft also announced that BackOffice Server 2000 will exhibit continued development of the BackOffice Server suite’s value-added features, offering enhancements to branch-office administration and monitoring, setup and deployment, and server-suite management, including updated sample intranet applications.With the announcements, Microsoft introduced a special pricing promotion for Upgrade Advantage (UA) for BackOffice Server and the BackOffice Client Access License (CAL) that lets BackOffice Select and Open License customers upgrade to Win2K Server immediately and receive BackOffice Server component upgrade releasesas well as the server suite itselffor 2 years after the purchase date. UA is a program that upgrades BackOffice Server suite components as they become available so that organizations can keep their server OS and enterprise applications current. Microsoft estimates that UA will help customers save from 13 to 24 percent when purchasing components. For example, UA for BackOffice Server under Open Licensing is $916 (US)18 percent less than the $1118 (US) estimated retail price. UA for the BackOffice CAL under Open Licensing is $95 (U.S.)19.5 percent less than the $118 (US) estimated retail price.UA applies to all BackOffice Server component upgrades, including Win2K Server; applications such as Exchange Server, SQL Server, Host Integration Server, Proxy Server, SMS; and any server suite upgrades for 2 years after the time of licensing. Microsoft is offering the UA pricing promotion to Open and Select customers through June 30, 2000. After June 30, the usual BackOffice Server 2000 pricing options apply. For more information about the UA promotion, see the Microsoft BackOffice Server Web site.On April 3, Microsoft announced that it will release BackOffice Server 2000 later this year and that it will provide pricing information as the release date approaches. Microsoft is targeting BackOffice Server 2000, the next version of the server suite, at companies that want to simplify deployment and management of Windows 2000 (Win2K)-based solutions for branch offices, departments, and medium-sized businesses. BackOffice Server 2000 will include Windows 2000 Server (Win2K Server) and the latest versions of the Win2K-based Microsoft server applications: Exchange 2000 Server (with Outlook 2000 Service Release 1--SR1), SQL Server 2000, Host Integration Server 2000, Systems Management Server (SMS) 2.0 Service Pack 2 (SP2), and the next release of Proxy Server.According to Microsoft, BackOffice Server 2000 will let you take advantage of Win2K features such as Active Directory (AD) and provide improved ease of use, security, and application integration for users, data, applications, and other resources. Microsoft also announced that BackOffice Server 2000 will exhibit continued development of the BackOffice Server suite’s value-added features, offering enhancements to branch-office administration and monitoring, setup and deployment, and server-suite management, including updated sample intranet applications.With the announcements, Microsoft introduced a special pricing promotion for Upgrade Advantage (UA) for BackOffice Server and the BackOffice Client Access License (CAL) that lets BackOffice Select and Open License customers upgrade to Win2K Server immediately and receive BackOffice Server component upgrade releases--as well as the server suite itself--for 2 years after the purchase date. UA is a program that upgrades BackOffice Server suite components as they become available so that organizations can keep their server OS and enterprise applications current. Microsoft estimates that UA will help customers save from 13 to 24 percent when purchasing components. For example, UA for BackOffice Server under Open Licensing is $916 (US)--18 percent less than the $1118 (US) estimated retail price. UA for the BackOffice CAL under Open Licensing is $95 (U.S.)--19.5 percent less than the $118 (US) estimated retail price.UA applies to all BackOffice Server component upgrades, including Win2K Server; applications such as Exchange Server, SQL Server, Host Integration Server, Proxy Server, SMS; and any server suite upgrades for 2 years after the time of licensing. Microsoft is offering the UA pricing promotion to Open and Select customers through June 30, 2000. After June 30, the usual BackOffice Server 2000 pricing options apply. For more information about the UA promotion, see the Microsoft BackOffice Server Web site.