Yahoo's Zimbra software now can work hand-in-hand with other server software for e-mail, calendar, and contacts, including Microsoft's widely used Exchange.
Zimbra Collaboration Suite, an open-source software package, now has an "open extension framework," and the first extension works with Exchange 2003, Yahoo said Tuesday. The company is leaving it to others to develop extensions for other software, such as IBM's Lotus or Novell's GroupWise.
Integration with Microsoft's dominant Exchange is a major requirement for many companies. Yahoo got it working by using existing Microsoft Exchange APIs (application programming interfaces), said John Robb, Zimbra's vice president of product marketing. "We are using WebDAV, standard Exchange settings, and a Zimbra module that runs alongside the Exchange server," he said in a statement.
The University of Pennsylvania is one organization using Zimbra's Exchange connection software, according to Sumatra Development, a company that specializes in e-mail migration.
