Sharing Business Contact Manager Data using Exchange Server Hostin

[Guest]

I have just started a business with two partners and we are interested in
sharing calendar and contact data, and I am exploring exchange server hosting
providers. I just got a new pc with Outlook 2003 with BCM, and I would like
the three of us to be able to share business contact data and updates via
BCM. From the postings I have read it is difficult to tell whether it is
possible to share BCM data. I see that the only way to use BCM with an
Exchange server is to create a separate profile -- this sounds cumbersome if
I would have to continually switch profiles, and it does not tell me whether
the BCM database can be shared. I have also seen mention of a new version of
BCM (v.3?) due out this spring. Can someone tell me what the exact state of
play is on this issue?

 

[mrtimpeterson via OfficeKB.com]

Kurvenal,

BCM is only designed to support peer to peer network sharing. In contrast to
the previous BCM version 1, the current BCM version 2 can "co-exist" in an
exchange environment but it does not use exchange in any way for sharing of
the separate BCM MSDE database. It is unclear when the full public release
(non-beta) of BCM v.3 will occur. This will likely coincide with the release
of Office 2007 which will be this fall at the earliest.

If you want to explore a very robust exchange-friendly alternative to BCM I
would recommend checking out this link:

www.mxcontact.com

-THP

 

[Guest]

Tim,

Thanks for the tip. It seems like MXcontact would certainly fit my
requirements. How can I go about finding Exchange Server hosting providers
that provide it as part of their offering? Any tips on how to go about
selecting an ASP?

Regards,

Kurvenal

 

[mrtimpeterson via OfficeKB.com]

I have seen links from the exchangewise website homepage. They also have a
published white paper explaining the ease of use for MXContact with a hosted
Exchange Server. Dig around a bit on their site and you will find what you
need. You could also just do a google search for something like "Hosted
Exchange Servier providers." I am not currently using MXContact with a
hosted Exchange yet but will consider this very soon for my own needs.

Best Wishes,

-THP

Tim,

Thanks for the tip. It seems like MXcontact would certainly fit my
requirements. How can I go about finding Exchange Server hosting providers
that provide it as part of their offering? Any tips on how to go about
selecting an ASP?

Regards,

Kurvenal

Kurvenal,

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