When I posted a tutorial recently on how to set up an Exchange server, I got quite a few emails asking me why an individual would need an exchange server. Considering that monetary resources would have to be invested into this, many are wondering if they really need an Exchange Server. There are also quite a few options out there that functions similar to an Exchange Server, plus they are free as well, so why exactly an Exchange Server?

Backup

Mosy users are Windows users. And if you are running Windows Mobile, chances are that you sync with Outlook as well. Based on your dependence on these technologies, how often do you back it up. Or do you back up your data at all? Considering that things can crash without notice, you can imagine how important these data should be guarded. If you have yet to experience such a crash, thank your lucky stars and talk to someone who has. Then maybe you will want to consider back ups.

While an Exchange Server is not meant to be used as a back up service, it does not mean you cannot use it as such. Considering that it is online and hosted by another company (most probably a web hosting company), they would have multiple back ups of their (and your) files. In the event of a crash on their side, they would still be able to have your data up shortly. If your back up was corrupted, do you have a back up of that back up?

On The Go Sync

By having an Exchange Server, you can always get access to the data on your server from anywhere, provided you have a connection to it. You do not have to store tons of contacts on your device because you can keep them on your server and only access them when you need to, thus speeding up your device. If you are a busy individual, your data can be synced with your server frequently, even when you are aware from your computer. This way, even if your device goes down (due to a dead battery for example), you are just a click away from your Exchange Server because you can access it from any computer with an internet connection.

Multiple Devices, One Server

Imagine having one device for messaging and another for making calls. Wouldn’t it be great if you made changes on one device, and it got updated on the other device? If you have set it up to auto-sync, you do not have to worry about having to manually sync all your devices when you get home because these devices will do it all on their own.

More and more phones nowadays are being labeled as smartphones. Not just Windows Mobile based devices but even Nokias and Sony Ericssons running Symbian are in this category. And the thing is, most devices in this category are able to sync with an Exchange Server. So if you were to buy a new smartphone tomorrow and take the train ride home, you could practically have the phone all set up and customized to your liking before you even get home.

This convenience does not just cover phone but extends to personal computers as well. If you have set up your Outlook (or any similar programs) to connect with your Exchange Server, then all your data will always be in sync. So if you were at the office and added some new appointments and tasks from the desktop, soon you will see those newly added appointments and tasks on your device as well. No intervention on your part needed.

Platform Independent

Will Windows be the OS of choice on desktops and laptops in the future. No one knows. With Mac OS and Linux getting more and more popular, there might come a time when you have to sync your Windows Mobile phone with a Linux. Having been there, I can tell you it is not an easy process. Hopefully there will be new software developed to solve this problem but until then, you can rely on an Exchange Server. Why? Because it is OS-independent.

This means that you can access your Exchange Server as long as you are on a computer that is connected to the web. And with the world becoming more connected, this is becoming much easier. When I first started using Linux, my main problem with it was the lack of synchronization between my phone with the computer. With the Exchange Server in place, I no longer had to worry about that. While I still could not sync my devices directly, it was comforting to know that any changes I made to my Exchange Server data on the Linux computer would soon be reflected in my Eten Glofiish X500.

Is It For Everyone?

The fact that you can use an Exchange Server as a back up shows how important I view an Exchange Server. However, you do not have to spend a bundle to get an Exchange Server. Services like Mail2Web offers such an Exchange Server for free. While it’s basic and has only 1GB of space, it should be more than enough for the normal user. But if you need more features (such as a customized domain) or extra space, the amount you have to pay is very minimal compared to the convenience that you will be getting.

In conclusion, I urge everyone to have a go on an Exchange Server. There might be other options coming up in the future that are cheaper and does the same thing as an Exchange Server but until that day comes, you’ll be covered. And even if these upcoming options were to become widely accepted or mainstream in the future, you can be sure that there will be an option to import your Exchange Server data.

Have you used an Exchange Server? What has your experience been like?

Tags: opinion