E-mails as an electronic means of communication is facing an increasing competition from media such as messaging, VoIP and social media. While the market leaders Microsoft and IBM offer independent products for the synchronic forms of communication such as Lync and Sametime, CommuniGate is bundling its various technologies in a messaging server of the same name. Also on board are the most important groupware functions such as address and task management and calendar.
Most of the established messaging solutions such as Exchange, Zimbra, Kerio or Open Xchange are far more than just a mail server and also offer e.g. collaboration functions. But in most cases the offer ends at this point. Those who want to use instant messaging, phone calls via internet or even file sharing generally have to apply additional products. This increases the management efforts and the user has to come to terms with several clients.
Unified Communications With A Single Product
The approach of CommuniGate however is to bundle all communication services under a single user interface and to render each user accessible under his unique address, whatever the channel.
CommuniGate Pro considers itself as the communication centre within the company and offers also phone calls via internet, instant messaging, display of the online status, SMS, online conferences as well as file-sharing in a client server system in addition to the classic tools such as e-mails, group calendars, address-book and task management.
The data that exist within the groupware applications can be reused in other parts of the program. A phone-call for example, coming in during a meeting that was fixed in the calendar will automatically be redirected to the answering machine, appointment reminders can be sent via instant messaging or SMS or carried out as automatic calls.
Support For All Established Standards
The system generally backs common standards, protocols and interfaces. SMTP, POP3 and IMAP serve as e-mail connection, WebDAV and CalDAV for the exchange of dates, SIP/RTP and XMPP of telephony or the instant messaging. With the help of XMPP and SIP CommuniGate Pro is able to exchange with other systems such as ICQ, AIM, Yahoo via corresponding gateways.
Due to the standard conformity, almost all common clients for mail, appointment management, messaging and the like can connect to CommuniGate Pro. Outlook users, too, can stick to their accustomed program and use CommuniGate Pro by merely downloading and installing the MAPI plug-in. Established XMPP and SIP clients, too, enable access to the unified communications server.
Web- and Flash-Client
For a platform independent use of the system CommuniGate delivers a WebClient based on HTML basis with various skins and layouts as well as the fully adequate Client Pronto! As flash application the last-mentioned is available in two flavours: as zero-install program or desktop application, which requires Adobe AIR on the PC and goes through a corresponding installation.
The client uses the XIMSS Protocol for the communication with CommuniGate Pro. Depending on the configuration of the specific user, Pronto!-Client delivers its benefits as mail program, appointment calendar, task manager or transfers presence information as well as instant messaging chats.
If the PBX service for the user is enabled by using Pronto! he can answer or build up telephone calls or use further telephony services such as answering machines, call forwarding and alike. At the client that runs in the browser the user must download an additional plug-in for telephony.
Users without Flash fall back on either the simple web client, that is based upon an old HTML standard, does not know Ajax and thus has to do without some functions especially from the segment of the real-time communication (telephony, instant messaging, presence). According to the manufacturer, a completely new HTML5 client is currently in work.
Apps for Android and iOS
In contrast, users of mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets know the true promise of native apps for iOS and Android that practically bring the entire functional range on the device and make a mature impression with good operability.
On demand, ActiveSync provided by CommuniGate ensures an automatic synchronisation of mails, appointments between server and mobile. Blackberries can be aligned over-the-air by using the optionally available AstraSync.
Conference and Video Calls
To make a call via VoIP a click on the entry of the desired call partner within the address book is absolutely sufficient. In case of conferences with multiple participants, the only thing that the user has to do is drag and drop the contacts into the call window.
Besides regular voice-calls video calls can be carried out, too, but only between two participants. In addition to regular features of telephone systems such as mailbox and answering machines as well as forwarding, also conference functions including a virtual whiteboard which can be used by all participants for viewing texts and images and exchanging information simultaneously can be used.
Integration with Social Media
Furthermore, the system offers a multitude of additional features: the integrated Media Player plays music, photos and videos directly. In his account the user can manage these data independently, only limited by nothing else but the quota given by the administrator.
Web radio, RSS feeds as well as a client for Twitter, Facebook and Flickr round off the range of features. The eDisk service establishes an online memory for each user, where he can save and call data directly from his Pronto! Client, smartphones or alternatively by WebDAV or FTO.
Installation and Management
The simple installation is carried out in a similar way at all operating systems: The compressed file must be unpacked, after that the setup ensures that the server system is installed in exactly two files - one for the program and another one for settings and configuration.
Then CommuniGate Pro starts an own web server, which first prepares the administration console on port 8010 or 9010 (SSL) to avoid conflicts with a possibly already existing HTTP server. The web client for users can be accessed via the URL such as http://server:8100 or 9100 (SSL).
The administrator can now start connecting the server directly to the outside world to define domains and create users with their accounts. A CommuniGate Pro Server just needs a few minutes to get ready for operation, even if the somewhat antiquated Web-GUI does not give any rise to joy. As an alternative, ambitious administrators can use a powerful CLI for the configuration and management of the system.
Updates of the software just require a reinstallation of the program files with a subsequent restart of the service. If CommuniGate Pro is run in the cluster, an interruption-free update can be carried out by applying a rolling updating process.
Scalability and High Availability
CommuniGate Pro was originally developed for internet providers. Via hosted installations more than 150 million users worldwide are served. Accordingly, the stability and performance even in case of high user figures played an important role while designing the software. CommuniGate Pro keeps the SpecMail2001 record for ISP Messaging and recommends itself as a highly stable mail server even under high loads.
To offer the maximum degree of scalability CommuniGate Pro supports a multi server operation. It differentiates between two setups: On one hand there is the partitioning mode, where user accounts are spread on various servers without keeping a common data pool.
The system considers the Dynamic Cluster as the second and more efficient option, that fall back on a shared storage, thus enabling higher flexibility and safety through failover. In this configuration, there are up to 5 million users - an impressive evidence for the effectiveness of the systems.
E-mail traffic can be separated from the VoIP traffic by interconnecting the telephony functions on dedicated servers to a so-called SIP farm. This helps to maintain the quality of service for the language services even under adverse conditions, such as an DoS attack or a spam wave.
In contrast to many other solutions, CommuniGate Pro does not need a separate data base to save the user data. All data such as mails, appointments, tasks and addresses are saved separately as mails, so that administrators can benefit from a large flexibility when saving and restoring data. Specific data-backup programs as they are needed for Microsoft Exchange are not required.
Safety Functions and User Management
Users can connect to the server without an VPN tunnel by using SSL/TLS safely whilst travelling. In this process, all ways of communication are automatically encoded. Mail encoding using S/MIME is possible. All payloads saved on the server are stored in an encoded form without explicit intervention of the administrator or user.
To protect from malware and spam, the administrator can engage programs of various producers such as Kaspersky or McAfee as modules. Besides various other possibilities, the authentication of clients can also be carried out via a RADIUS server.
Problematic Relation with Repository Services
Generally, CommuniGate Pro is capable of using an LDAP server for saving and managing domain data as well as user accounts for authentication. But this implies functional restrictions - e.g. it does not work in dynamic clusters.
The most serious aspect for many entrepreneurs is the very limited integration with the Active Directory of Microsoft: Because of various schemes and incompatible authentication mechanisms the AD cannot be used for the user management, so that the CommuniGate accounts have to be hold separately in the groupware server.
As a multi domain system, CommuniGate Pro supports a hierarchical domain delegation with its web GUI, so that each domain can be managed by different administrators.
Conclusion
CommuniGate Pro succeeds in combining user-friendliness and the great functionality range of a system for unified communications. With Pronto! Client, it provides a powerful communication centre that bundles all channels in a tool and enables standardized use.
Its relatively simple installation and modest demands to the hardware make it also suitable for small companies. Its high availability functions and broad platform support also make it interesting for large environments and hosting providers. The producer promises a scaling of up to 200,000 users per server, depending on use patterns and work intensity.
Also for companies that do not need unified communication in its pure sense, CommuniGate Pro can provide an interesting option against established market leaders such as Microsoft Exchange or Lotus Notes/Domino. Last but not least, the prices are still cheap compared to the market.
On the server side, CommuniGate Pro supports a strangely large range of operating systems: Besides Windows it can also be installed on Linux, Solaris, Mac OS and some more exotic systems such as FreeBSD. A localisation of the surface is available in 20 languages.
Licensing and Prices
The Community Edition of CommuniGate Pro enables free use of the software by up to 5 users. This number can be exceeded without any limitation in the trial mode , but then the software displays a note in all mails and telephone calls. The smallest licence package includes 25 users and costs a one-off payment of 999 Euro excl. VAT. The licence for 50 users costs 1449 Euro. The licence includes all functions. Only optional anti-virus and anti-spam modules of various providers such as Kaspersky, Sophos or McAfee must be purchased additionally.
Advantages and Disadvantages
Pro
- Simple installation and operation, thus also suitable for KMU
- Numerous features for unified communications
- Support for many server and client platforms
- Conformity with many standards and protocols
- Comprehensive scaling options inclusive high availability
Contra
- Admin-GUI (HTML) is not contemporary anymore, partially unclear
- Separate user management for the operation of the CG system required, integration with active directory impossible
Source: windowspro.de
About WorldSkills London 2011
CommuniGate Systems develops the worlds most efficient and secure Unified Messaging technology, enabling businesses of any size to better connect and collaborate. An evolution of email, CommuniGate Pro provides unprecedented security to Internet Communications for web and mobile users. The unique multi-threaded technology holds all known world records and has unchallenged performance delivering the best value to organizations that take security and efficiency seriously.
Companies that depend upon CommuniGate Pro for their secure Unified Messaging include; NASA, British Airways, SITA, US Missile and Space Command, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Lockheed Martin, AeroVironment, along with more than 15,000 businesses utilizing over 190 million accounts.
CommuniGate Systems' open-source cPanel adapter is the industry's first secure Unified Messaging technology solution for virtual server hosting environments. The software package leverages the industry acclaimed CommuniGate Pro version 6.0 server, and Pronto! the Unified Messaging client for mobile iOS /Android, web and desktop deployments. communigate.com
Most of the established messaging solutions such as Exchange, Zimbra, Kerio or Open Xchange are far more than just a mail server and also offer e.g. collaboration functions. But in most cases the offer ends at this point. Those who want to use instant messaging, phone calls via internet or even file sharing generally have to apply additional products. This increases the management efforts and the user has to come to terms with several clients.
Unified Communications With A Single Product
The approach of CommuniGate however is to bundle all communication services under a single user interface and to render each user accessible under his unique address, whatever the channel.
CommuniGate Pro considers itself as the communication centre within the company and offers also phone calls via internet, instant messaging, display of the online status, SMS, online conferences as well as file-sharing in a client server system in addition to the classic tools such as e-mails, group calendars, address-book and task management.
The data that exist within the groupware applications can be reused in other parts of the program. A phone-call for example, coming in during a meeting that was fixed in the calendar will automatically be redirected to the answering machine, appointment reminders can be sent via instant messaging or SMS or carried out as automatic calls.
Support For All Established Standards
The system generally backs common standards, protocols and interfaces. SMTP, POP3 and IMAP serve as e-mail connection, WebDAV and CalDAV for the exchange of dates, SIP/RTP and XMPP of telephony or the instant messaging. With the help of XMPP and SIP CommuniGate Pro is able to exchange with other systems such as ICQ, AIM, Yahoo via corresponding gateways.
Due to the standard conformity, almost all common clients for mail, appointment management, messaging and the like can connect to CommuniGate Pro. Outlook users, too, can stick to their accustomed program and use CommuniGate Pro by merely downloading and installing the MAPI plug-in. Established XMPP and SIP clients, too, enable access to the unified communications server.
Web- and Flash-Client
For a platform independent use of the system CommuniGate delivers a WebClient based on HTML basis with various skins and layouts as well as the fully adequate Client Pronto! As flash application the last-mentioned is available in two flavours: as zero-install program or desktop application, which requires Adobe AIR on the PC and goes through a corresponding installation.
The client uses the XIMSS Protocol for the communication with CommuniGate Pro. Depending on the configuration of the specific user, Pronto!-Client delivers its benefits as mail program, appointment calendar, task manager or transfers presence information as well as instant messaging chats.
If the PBX service for the user is enabled by using Pronto! he can answer or build up telephone calls or use further telephony services such as answering machines, call forwarding and alike. At the client that runs in the browser the user must download an additional plug-in for telephony.
Users without Flash fall back on either the simple web client, that is based upon an old HTML standard, does not know Ajax and thus has to do without some functions especially from the segment of the real-time communication (telephony, instant messaging, presence). According to the manufacturer, a completely new HTML5 client is currently in work.
Apps for Android and iOS
In contrast, users of mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets know the true promise of native apps for iOS and Android that practically bring the entire functional range on the device and make a mature impression with good operability.
On demand, ActiveSync provided by CommuniGate ensures an automatic synchronisation of mails, appointments between server and mobile. Blackberries can be aligned over-the-air by using the optionally available AstraSync.
Conference and Video Calls
To make a call via VoIP a click on the entry of the desired call partner within the address book is absolutely sufficient. In case of conferences with multiple participants, the only thing that the user has to do is drag and drop the contacts into the call window.
Besides regular voice-calls video calls can be carried out, too, but only between two participants. In addition to regular features of telephone systems such as mailbox and answering machines as well as forwarding, also conference functions including a virtual whiteboard which can be used by all participants for viewing texts and images and exchanging information simultaneously can be used.
Integration with Social Media
Furthermore, the system offers a multitude of additional features: the integrated Media Player plays music, photos and videos directly. In his account the user can manage these data independently, only limited by nothing else but the quota given by the administrator.
Web radio, RSS feeds as well as a client for Twitter, Facebook and Flickr round off the range of features. The eDisk service establishes an online memory for each user, where he can save and call data directly from his Pronto! Client, smartphones or alternatively by WebDAV or FTO.
Installation and Management
The simple installation is carried out in a similar way at all operating systems: The compressed file must be unpacked, after that the setup ensures that the server system is installed in exactly two files - one for the program and another one for settings and configuration.
Then CommuniGate Pro starts an own web server, which first prepares the administration console on port 8010 or 9010 (SSL) to avoid conflicts with a possibly already existing HTTP server. The web client for users can be accessed via the URL such as http://server:8100 or 9100 (SSL).
The administrator can now start connecting the server directly to the outside world to define domains and create users with their accounts. A CommuniGate Pro Server just needs a few minutes to get ready for operation, even if the somewhat antiquated Web-GUI does not give any rise to joy. As an alternative, ambitious administrators can use a powerful CLI for the configuration and management of the system.
Updates of the software just require a reinstallation of the program files with a subsequent restart of the service. If CommuniGate Pro is run in the cluster, an interruption-free update can be carried out by applying a rolling updating process.
Scalability and High Availability
CommuniGate Pro was originally developed for internet providers. Via hosted installations more than 150 million users worldwide are served. Accordingly, the stability and performance even in case of high user figures played an important role while designing the software. CommuniGate Pro keeps the SpecMail2001 record for ISP Messaging and recommends itself as a highly stable mail server even under high loads.
To offer the maximum degree of scalability CommuniGate Pro supports a multi server operation. It differentiates between two setups: On one hand there is the partitioning mode, where user accounts are spread on various servers without keeping a common data pool.
The system considers the Dynamic Cluster as the second and more efficient option, that fall back on a shared storage, thus enabling higher flexibility and safety through failover. In this configuration, there are up to 5 million users - an impressive evidence for the effectiveness of the systems.
E-mail traffic can be separated from the VoIP traffic by interconnecting the telephony functions on dedicated servers to a so-called SIP farm. This helps to maintain the quality of service for the language services even under adverse conditions, such as an DoS attack or a spam wave.
In contrast to many other solutions, CommuniGate Pro does not need a separate data base to save the user data. All data such as mails, appointments, tasks and addresses are saved separately as mails, so that administrators can benefit from a large flexibility when saving and restoring data. Specific data-backup programs as they are needed for Microsoft Exchange are not required.
Safety Functions and User Management
Users can connect to the server without an VPN tunnel by using SSL/TLS safely whilst travelling. In this process, all ways of communication are automatically encoded. Mail encoding using S/MIME is possible. All payloads saved on the server are stored in an encoded form without explicit intervention of the administrator or user.
To protect from malware and spam, the administrator can engage programs of various producers such as Kaspersky or McAfee as modules. Besides various other possibilities, the authentication of clients can also be carried out via a RADIUS server.
Problematic Relation with Repository Services
Generally, CommuniGate Pro is capable of using an LDAP server for saving and managing domain data as well as user accounts for authentication. But this implies functional restrictions - e.g. it does not work in dynamic clusters.
The most serious aspect for many entrepreneurs is the very limited integration with the Active Directory of Microsoft: Because of various schemes and incompatible authentication mechanisms the AD cannot be used for the user management, so that the CommuniGate accounts have to be hold separately in the groupware server.
As a multi domain system, CommuniGate Pro supports a hierarchical domain delegation with its web GUI, so that each domain can be managed by different administrators.
Conclusion
CommuniGate Pro succeeds in combining user-friendliness and the great functionality range of a system for unified communications. With Pronto! Client, it provides a powerful communication centre that bundles all channels in a tool and enables standardized use.
Its relatively simple installation and modest demands to the hardware make it also suitable for small companies. Its high availability functions and broad platform support also make it interesting for large environments and hosting providers. The producer promises a scaling of up to 200,000 users per server, depending on use patterns and work intensity.
Also for companies that do not need unified communication in its pure sense, CommuniGate Pro can provide an interesting option against established market leaders such as Microsoft Exchange or Lotus Notes/Domino. Last but not least, the prices are still cheap compared to the market.
On the server side, CommuniGate Pro supports a strangely large range of operating systems: Besides Windows it can also be installed on Linux, Solaris, Mac OS and some more exotic systems such as FreeBSD. A localisation of the surface is available in 20 languages.
Licensing and Prices
The Community Edition of CommuniGate Pro enables free use of the software by up to 5 users. This number can be exceeded without any limitation in the trial mode , but then the software displays a note in all mails and telephone calls. The smallest licence package includes 25 users and costs a one-off payment of 999 Euro excl. VAT. The licence for 50 users costs 1449 Euro. The licence includes all functions. Only optional anti-virus and anti-spam modules of various providers such as Kaspersky, Sophos or McAfee must be purchased additionally.
Advantages and Disadvantages
Pro
- Simple installation and operation, thus also suitable for KMU
- Numerous features for unified communications
- Support for many server and client platforms
- Conformity with many standards and protocols
- Comprehensive scaling options inclusive high availability
Contra
- Admin-GUI (HTML) is not contemporary anymore, partially unclear
- Separate user management for the operation of the CG system required, integration with active directory impossible
Source: windowspro.de
About WorldSkills London 2011
CommuniGate Systems develops the worlds most efficient and secure Unified Messaging technology, enabling businesses of any size to better connect and collaborate. An evolution of email, CommuniGate Pro provides unprecedented security to Internet Communications for web and mobile users. The unique multi-threaded technology holds all known world records and has unchallenged performance delivering the best value to organizations that take security and efficiency seriously.
Companies that depend upon CommuniGate Pro for their secure Unified Messaging include; NASA, British Airways, SITA, US Missile and Space Command, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Lockheed Martin, AeroVironment, along with more than 15,000 businesses utilizing over 190 million accounts.
CommuniGate Systems' open-source cPanel adapter is the industry's first secure Unified Messaging technology solution for virtual server hosting environments. The software package leverages the industry acclaimed CommuniGate Pro version 6.0 server, and Pronto! the Unified Messaging client for mobile iOS /Android, web and desktop deployments. communigate.com
