GFI, developer of the market-leading GFI FAXmaker fax server range, has launched a freeware version of GFI FAXmaker for Exchange that enables users to send and receive SMS/text messages from Microsoft Outlook. This allows them to easily contact business colleagues and associates who are on the road or away from their desk.
SMS gateway: Leverages the usefulness of SMSing in the corporation
Short message service, known as SMS or texting and used mainly in Europe and Asia, has become an extremely popular way of sending personal messages. However, SMS also has several applications in the corporate environment:
Advantages of using a gateway rather than a mobile
Although anybody with a mobile phone can send an SMS, GFI FAXmaker’s SMS gateway offers many advantages. Through it, users can type and send SMS messages much faster from their computer (rather than using their mobile phone pad) and can also use the corporate email address book for recipient mobile numbers. The SMS gateway grants organizations central control of SMS usage. A company can also benefit from application integration: Because GFI FAXmaker integrates seamlessly with Exchange Server, any application that can generate emails can now send notifications via the SMS gateway, meaning that organizations can easily SMS-enable any corporate application.
“Few companies have understood the potential of using SMS in a corporation” said Nick Galea, GFI CEO. “The freeware version of GFI FAXmaker will make it easy for administrators to illustrate the usefulness of an SMS gateway, without requiring any investment.”
GFI FAXmaker’s SMS gateway implements an SMS server that uses one or more mobile phones to send out the SMS. Alternatively, users can subscribe to an Internet-based SMS service.
About GFI FAXmaker for Exchange 10 (commercial version)
GFI FAXmaker for Exchange is a native fax connector for Microsoft Exchange Server. This seamless integration allows users to send and receive faxes and SMS messages directly from Microsoft Outlook, making GFI FAXmaker easy to use and learn. Standard GFI FAXmaker for Exchange features include a multi-line fax server, inbound fax routing, print to fax driver for Windows, support for server-based rendering of Office documents, fax management features and more. GFI FAXmaker for Exchange is the most competitively priced fax server on the market: A 25-user version sells for $850 and a 100-user version sells for $2050. Companies using GFI FAXmaker include Microsoft, Telstra, Mercedes-Benz, Vodafone, Philips, HSBC Bank, Volkswagen, Compaq, and many more. More product information and a free trial version are available at http://www.gfi.com/fex/.
Windows & .NET Magazine readers have selected GFI FAXmaker for Exchange as winner of the Best Fax Servers category in the 2002 and 2003 editions of the Windows & .NET Magazine Readers’ Choice Awards. GFI FAXmaker for Exchange has won the .Net Magazine Reader's Choice Award 2003 for Best Communication and Collaboration Solution and the Microsoft Packaged Application Partner of the Year award 2000. It has been awarded Product of the Year by Internet Telephony Magazine for 2000, by Communications Solutions Magazine for 1999 and by CTI Magazine for 1998, as well as being selected as CTI Magazine Editor’s Choice 1999.
Obtaining the freeware version
The freeware version can be downloaded from http://www.gfi.com/fex/. The download is a trial version of GFI FAXmaker for Exchange (11Mb), however the SMS gateway remains active for two users by means of a free SMS serial key. The free SMS serial key can be obtained from http://www.gfi.com/fex/freewareappl.htm. The GFI FAXmaker manual may be viewed online or downloaded at http://www.gfi.com/fex/fex10manual.pdf. User-to-user support is available at http://forums.gfi.com.
About GFI
GFI is a leading software developer that provides a single source for network administrators to address their network security, content security and messaging needs. With award-winning technology, an aggressive pricing strategy and a strong focus on small-to-medium sized businesses, GFI is able to satisfy the need for business continuity and productivity encountered by organizations on a global scale. GFI has offices in the US, Malta, UK, Hong Kong and Australia which support more than 200,000 installations worldwide. GFI is a channel-focused company with over 10,000 partners worldwide. GFI is a Microsoft Gold Certified Partner. More information about GFI can be found at http://www.gfi.com.