TMCnet News
Survey Finds 55% of CIOs and IT Managers Would Consider Switching to Linux Email SAN MATEO, Calif. --(Business Wire)-- Dec. 1, 2004 -- Expected Benefits Are Lower Costs, Improved Reliability and No Vendor Lock-inLinux continues to gain traction in the enterprise, with 55% of IT executives interviewed in a recent study saying they'd consider switching to Linux messaging over the next two years, if there were no disruption to end users. The independent study, undertaken by Osterman Research in October 2004, also showed that over 80% would consider switching to a web-based email client if it had the same functionality as current desktop clients. Other findings: -- Over 21% of the messaging executives surveyed said they would prefer Linux for their entire email infrastructure if they could scrap their current email infrastructure. -- Over 42% said they would probably or definitely replace their backend messaging infrastructure for one with better performance or lower costs if it allowed them to keep their current desktop clients. -- Over 20% said they plan to migrate to a different vendor's messaging system within the next 24 months. -- 82% of IT managers said they have noticed an increase in the percentage of employees accessing their email from home. An expanded look at this study, as well as other Linux-related research reports, are contained in a recently released white paper titled "Linux and eMail Infrastructure: A Business and Technology Perspective." Scalix, a Linux email infrastructure software company, has published the whitepaper to help CIOs and IT managers extend the business and technology benefits of Linux to their email infrastructure. Copies of the paper can be obtained at www.scalix.com. The Osterman survey also gathered data on barriers to migrating to Linux-based email infrastructure. The top reasons were insufficient Linux messaging expertise and expected disruption to end users. Scalix claims that it has tackled these issues head on. "We have developed a comprehensive methodology that allows customers to migrate their email infrastructure to Linux in a manner that's transparent and non-disruptive to end users, by co-existing with their legacy environment," said Julie Hanna Farris, Scalix's founder and chief strategy officer. "Furthermore, we're seeing the same trend toward webmail as the research indicates. Several of our customers have opted to use Scalix's power web client as an alternative to a desktop email client." "The survey shows that Linux is a key platform for messaging and its market share is increasing," said Michael Osterman, head of Osterman Research. "Scalix is an important player in this market. They are listening to customers and addressing concerns as well as delivering key products in important areas such as webmail clients." These and other messaging-related findings are documented in Osterman Research's full report, called "Enterprise Messaging System Trends, 2004 - 2007." It can be obtained at http://www.ostermanresearch.com/. About Scalix Corporation Scalix delivers the industry's most powerful email and calendaring platform based on Linux and Open Systems. For organizations that are incorporating Linux into their infrastructure, Scalix offers a richly-featured, reliable and scalable messaging solution that blends seamlessly with both open and proprietary infrastructure, including Microsoft Outlook, Exchange and Active Directory. Scalix brings the benefits of flexibility and freedom of choice to email and calendaring. Scalix's team of messaging industry veterans has helped pioneer the world's most successful messaging systems at IBM/Lotus, cc:Mail, Microsoft and Hewlett-Packard. The privately held company is headquartered in San Mateo, California, with offices and distribution partners in the United States, United Kingdom, Germany and Australia. For more information, visit www.scalix.com or call 650-212-8300. Scalix is a trademark of Scalix Corporation. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. |
