If you work in a Small and Mid Size business (SME) there's a huge possibility that you are sending, receiving emails and sharing contacts/tasks/calendars on hosted market or Webmail powered email hosting option. However, what are the differences between hosted exchange and Webmail and what's the best option for your industry?

Many SMEs typically don't have the time, a large IT budget or technical staff to execute and maintain a whole in-house email infrastructure. Other factors such as prices are normally the main reasons why hosted trade or Webmail email hosting is getting increasingly more popular. By using hosted exchange or Webmail from an email hosting provider your company don't have to physical-in-house-on-site email servers.

Hosted Exchange is occasionally also referred to as foreign exchange hosting and is usually running on a Microsoft Exchange backend server. Employing an email hosting provider you receive peace of mind that your email address is obviously protected, backed up and running and up. Employing a premier email hosting provider services comes with high reliability and performance plus management and 24/7/365 support. To summarise the main difference between hosted trade and Webmail email hosting is that:
1. Webmail is a budget version of hosting and
2. Using Webmail you use an internet browser to send, receive and review mails, i.e. you will need internet access to use Webmail.

Hosted Exchange

Hosted exchange relies on Microsoft's most up-to-date exchange server with Microsoft outlook as your customer. With Outlook you can do more than send and receive email, you can share calendars, contacts and folders. Outlook is available for desktop, browser and mobile access so you're always connected, whether you're in the office, on the road or working at house. You constantly connect to the identical exchange server; hence your inbox always stays synched at near-real time, no matter which Outlook client you're using.

At a hosted exchange surroundings, the hosting provider owns and is responsible for the data centre, network, devices, operating system and software infrastructure components. In short, the hosting provider is accountable for providing a stable working environment for every single program utilized. Your own IT organisation manages the applications and maintains full control over the software infrastructure and business process. Compared with in-house-on-site email servers you need to give maintenance and have anti-virus subscription and safety update upgrades. You'll want to purchase a new server approximately every 5 years and you'll have slow access from beyond the workplace. In addition, you must invest in server hardware, server software anti virus, exchange enterprise software and Blackberry server software. Eventually you'll want to employ a consultant to set up software and perform maintenance/upgrades. Having a hosted exchange option mean you don't need to pay through the nose for expensive in-house servers, software licenses, employing IT staff to set up and maintain the infrastructure, or being responsible for a 24/7 infrastructure.

Webmail

Webmail gives you"anywhere, anytime", calendars, emails, contacts and task lists. It is meant to be as powerful as a desktop client, including Outlook. The only limit is that you will need is a web browser and an online connection. It's possible to get email from Outlook, BlackBerry, Webmail, or any other email client or wireless device with absolutely no care on your end. Webmail email hosting is a funding email hosting option, but nevertheless it delivers great functionality for small businesses. A Webmail service takes away complexities of installing and maintaining an in-house email solution and at the same time offers the latest anti-spam, anti virus and safety technology. Webmail is an email hosting option that's perfect for companies that have somewhat restricted in-house budgets for IT expenditures, limited IT resources to support an email environment and businesses that need the latest virus and spam protection.

Hosted exchange or Webmail - What's ideal for you?

What are the principal differences between hosted exchange and Webmail? In summary hosted exchange is a more complex solution with more shared options and is more broadly deployed, on the other hand Webmail is gaining market share readily accessible and is of course a less costly alternative than hosted trade. Below is a brief explanation of what the differences are in relation to ability to share contacts, calendar and tasks - between hosted exchange and Webmail email hosting.

Share contacts

Shared contacts are usually available with the hosted exchange option. Other users may be granted access to personalize your contacts. Ordinarily there is absolutely no ability for shared connections with the Webmail option. Other users may not have access to personalize your contacts.

Share jobs

You may usually share tasks among users with hosted exchange. Now you have the ability to assign a job to other users. You can choose the users you want to invite and mechanically observe the very best times to match. Collaboration with tasks among users is generally not available using the Webmail option. You cannot assign a task to someone else and you need to manually find everyone's schedule before you agree to set up a meeting.

Chat calendar

Exchange usually permits you to delegate read/write capabilities with the hosted exchange alternative, i.e. you could have an helper create events for you. Occasions can have different statuses and colors on your own calendar (i.e. out of office, on vacation, company etc.). No delegation capabilities can be given to additional users with the Webmail choice, so your helper can't create events for you. Just read access can be given. Categories of events aren't accessible (personal, out of office, on holiday etc.) and all calendar events are all displayed in the exact same color.