Despite the tough economic times that have impacted a number of communications technology businesses this year, Ipswitch, a developer of business-class messaging applications, which offers email server services, is ending 2009 on a bright note. The company is reporting double-digit increase in growth in new units – 24 percent to be exact – and achieved a 91 percent renewal rate.

 

Company officials attribute the growth to new product releases, as well as their ability to save businesses money and “do more with less.”

 

“Economy aside, it goes without saying that every business, large or small, can appreciate an IT solution that will reduce costs and increase their ROI,” Renee Hewlett, Internet marketing specialist at Ipswitch’s (News - Alert) messaging division, told TMCnet in an interview printed in full below.

 

During the interview, Hewlett also said that while economic conditions are uncertain, the company’s product offering remains strong heading into 2010 and its business model is “bright.”

 

Our exchange follows.

 

Renee Hewlett: Ipswitch IMail Server performed exceptionally well in 2009. We had projected 13 percent growth in new units for 2009, which would have been a very nice target to achieve. However, we actually experienced a 24 percent growth in new units and maintained a better than 91 percent retention on renewals. These numbers speak to a solid product line and a phenomenal team of experts that support our loyal customers.

 

RH: Looking back, 2009 has been a remarkable year for Ipswitch IMail Server. In March, we were very proud and excited to receive PCMag.com Editors’ Choice award. Obviously, PCmag.com is a highly credible source for technology reviews so it was an honor to receive such an award. In April, we announced the release of our current version, IMail Server v11. With this release, we added new features such as mobile synchronization and push support for email as well as adding IP Reputation Service to the Commtouch (News - Alert) Premium Anti-spam offering. In addition, we also added Instant Messaging and WorkgroupShare collaboration to all IMail Server product offerings, making our messaging solution even more cost-effective and competitive in the market. In August, IMail Server celebrated its 15th anniversary. And in December, IMail Server released v11.01.

 

RH: Our business has actually grown over the last year.  And it’s no surprise when you consider that our value proposition is focused on enabling businesses to “do more with less.”  This proposition has always resonated strongly with small to medium size businesses that typically have fewer resources at their disposal. They are tasked with doing business smarter in any economy. But what we are seeing is that in a recession, when budget cuts are deep, more and more medium to larger size businesses are also finding value in a high-quality, low-cost software solution like IMail Server. Economy aside, it goes without saying that every business, large or small, can appreciate an IT solution that will reduce costs and increase their ROI.

 

RH: It’s hard to predict what the economic landscape will look like in 2010.  However, despite the ups and downs of the economy, our product offering remains strong. We meet the needs of all businesses; any size and in any economic state. It’s safe to say that we proved that in 2009. Our offering ranges from a very small business option, IMail Express, which is FREE for a 10 user license to IMail Server Premium that includes all the functionality and features of an Enterprise mail server, yet still at a fraction of the cost.

 

RH: The outlook for our business model is bright. As we maintain our commitment to being customer-focused and data-driven then we will continue to deliver high quality messaging solutions that add value to our customers’ IT infrastructure.