e-smith launches latest version of Linux-based communications server for small and mid-sized businesses
Jul 10th, 23:36 UTC
e-smith, inc., an innovative provider of easy-to-use, world-class communications software for small and mid-sized enterprises, today introduced the e-smith server and gateway 4.0, the newest version of its popular, Linux-based communications server. e-smith currently has an installed base of over 10,000 servers worldwide.
BOSTON, MA-July 10, 2000-e-smith, inc., an innovative provider of
easy-to-use, world-class communications software for small and
mid-sized enterprises, today introduced the e-smith server and
gateway 4.0, the newest version of its popular, Linux-based
communications server. e-smith currently has an installed base of
over 10,000 servers worldwide.
Based on proven open-source technology, version 4.0 of the e-smith[tm] server
and gateway offers new and expanded features to meet the needs of
small and growing businesses. In addition to email, Internet
access, top-notch security, web hosting and file- and
print-sharing, the e-smith server and gateway
now delivers even greater flexibility,
simplicity and functionality-putting the power of the
Internet to work for smaller enterprises.
"Thus far, Linux has been considered powerful yet complex, and
applicable primarily to environments endowed with large IT staffs
such as service providers and large enterprises"," said
Joseph Morrison, CEO of e-smith. "With e-smith's
latest release, smaller enterprises with little or no technical
expertise can now install and configure their office networks
using our Linux server for email, web site hosting and access, and
file and print services in 10 minutes or less on a Pentium-class
PC. With the power of Linux, these businesses are now assured of
affordable, reliable and easy-to-use network services."
Linux Tailored to the Unique Needs of Small and Mid-sized Businesses
e-smith's server and gateway offers small and growing businesses a full
range of network services at a fraction of the cost of older, more
established alternatives. Based on the latest version of Red Hat
Linux, the e-smith server and gateway automates installation and
integrates reliable open-source technology such as Apache Web
Server, Qmail Mail Transport Agent, ProFTPd FTP Server and Squid
Internet Object Cache. The result is an easy-to-use,
cost-effective communications server that provides seamless
support for networks comprised of any combination of Windows®,
Mac®, and UNIX machines. Once installed, the system can be
administered from any desktop using a standard web browser. No
specialized technical knowledge is required for day-to-day use.
For advanced users, the full underlying Linux functionality of
e-smith is accessible in the event they wish to further customize
their server.
e-smith customer The Connecticut Hospice upgraded to version 4.0 of the
e-smith server and gateway in May when the beta version became
available. "The additional functionality in version 4.0 made
it simple for us to provide email and other network services to
our remote offices," says Marcel Blanchet, CIO of The
Connecticut Hospice. "We have hundreds of staff members and
volunteers who are now able to share critical information quickly
and reliably over the Internet, thanks to e-smith. e-smith has
been a rock-solid, simple-to-use solution for us."
"Version 4.0 is a very accessible product for the modern small office,"
says Bill Claybrook, Research Director of Linux and Open Source at
Aberdeen Group, Inc. "e-smith has taken the best from the
open-source offerings to deliver an easy-to-use, affordable, and
reliable communications server."
The developers who collaborated on version 4.0 had two key objectives: to take
e-smith's technology to an even more sophisticated level while
keeping the experience simple for users. In addition, the new
server and gateway was designed to offer increased modularity,
making it even easier for third parties to build extensions to
e-smith's technology.
Unique to e-smith: i-bays
Small and mid-sized businesses have diverse communications needs, not
simply for reliable e-mail and Internet access, but for more
sophisticated information sharing and collaboration over the
Internet. Working closely with independent developers
and existing customers, e-smith devised a unique solution:
information bays (i-bays[tm]). An i-bay is an
easy-to-create, easy-to-manage
information sharing site that can be accessed either locally
or publicly. Organizations can create i-bays for such
things as a customer download site, or a file-sharing
site for the entire company or for a specific customer.
i-bays can even be used to establish different public or
password-protected web sites running on a single server-instant
intranets and extranets. In keeping with e-smith's commitment
to simplicity, creating each i-bay is a straightforward,
fill-in-the-blanks process.
Pricing and Availability
The recommended retail price of the e-smith server and gateway is $595
a year, which includes the installation kit (CDROM, floppy and
manual), unlimited technical support via phone, fax and email, and
access to all upgrades. Systems integrators who sign up as
e-smith Authorized Partners pay a $1,500 annual membership fee
plus a per-server charge. This includes software and a manual for
each release, escalation technical support, upgrade training, lead
generation and marketing assistance. Version 4.0 of the e-smith
server and gateway can also be freely downloaded from
www.e-smith.com (this requires technical expertise), although the warranty and
support are only available with the commercial package.
About e-smith, inc.
Founded in 1999, e-smith, inc. is headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts,
with operations located in Ottawa, Canada. The company's flagship
product, the e-smith server and gateway, is a powerful, stable,
highly secure and fully featured network server that offers
businesses all of the advantages of the Internet without the high
cost and technical complexity. Since its release, the e-smith
server and gateway has been installed on more than 10,000 servers
in dozens of countries worldwide. e-smith's funders include
Greylock, a premier Boston-based venture capital firm, and Red Hat
Inc., a leading developer and provider of open source software and
services.
# # #
Copyright 2000 e-smith, inc. All rights reserved. e-smith, i-bay and the
e-smith logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of e-smith, inc.
in the United States and/or other countries. Linux is a registered
trademark of Linus Torvalds. All other trademarks are the
property of their respective holders.
CONTACT: Collaborative Communications, Inc.
Meghan Oates
617/520-9136
oates@collaborative.com
or
Dina Amento
617/520-9118
amento@collaborative.com
(Submitted by Ross Laver of e-smith, inc.)
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