MS and Sun enter email server fray

The race to integrate email server applications into the Internet is beginning to hot up. Microsoft and Sun Microsystems are both planning to roll out products this summer which will rival Lotus' development of its own Web-based Notes servers.

Microsoft is due to start beta testing version 4.1 of its Exchange server which will include native integration of http, HTML, NNTP and SMTP/ Pop 3 protocols.

Originally it was intended that an add-on Web connector, due out this summer, would have provided the http and HTML services for Exchange. The package will be updated again around autumn. Support for Internet Message Access Protocol Version 4 (Imap 4) is also expected.

At the same time, Sun is increasing the scope of Sunmail, its own email software. The updated Sunmail will run on Sun servers and Solaris, it will also support IMAP4.

These developments are seen as a direct response to Lotus' release of Domino I and Domino II Web email servers.