Maxis Communications Bhd has partnered Microsoft Malaysia to offer small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and enterprises two new e-mail solutions: Maxis Mail and Maxis Push Email.

Maxis Mail is a subscription-based e-mail service that delivers desktop e-mail using Microsoft’s Exchange Solution on office PCs for SMEs.

Companies who use Maxis Mail will not have to buy their own enterprise server, integrated software and provision but can have push e-mail and also use their own company domain name; for example, yourname@yourcompany.com.my.

On the other hand, Maxis Push Email is offered to SMEs as well as corporate customers with their own enterprise server and allows employees to send, receive e-mail and schedule appointments based on Microsoft Exchange Solution using their Windows Mobile-based device.

Maxis’ chief marketing officer, Tom Schnitker says that the information technology (IT) usage in the SME market is low, mainly because of cost.

For companies with more than 50 employees, it makes sense to have their own server but most SMEs have less employees, he adds.

However, since Maxis Mail eliminates the need to purchase an enterprise server, software and provision employees’ workstations and wireless devices for e-mail, the cost and complexity of having a company e-mail and mobile e-mail are reduced.

“With Maxis Mail, companies can personalise e-mail as a small and medium enterprise business without having your own server,” he says.

Meanwhile, Microsoft Southeast Asia Communications sector director, Vishal Singh says that hosting e-mail offerings are becoming a growth initiative, allowing companies to identify themselves and create their own brand in business.

“Thirty-five per cent of all SMB survey respondents listed wireless e-mail access as a top messaging priority for the next 12 to 18 months,” Vishal says.

On the other hand, Maxis’ chief executive officer, Sandip Dass says that Maxis now offers a complete solution of e-mail products. Maxis Mail for SMEs is offered under Maxis’ Guanxi campaign, which is geared towards helping small businesses increase their competitiveness in the marketplace.

E-mail subscription on Maxis Mail is available to customers on the Maxis SME plan at RM38 per month for a client-based Outlook Access with a 100-megabyte mailbox size. Maxis Mail customers who want mobile e-mail access have the option of subscribing for unlimited data access at an additional RM99 per month.

Also present at the Maxis and Microsoft Partnership Presentation were Microsoft Malaysia managing director, Yasmin Mahmood; Microsoft Enterprise and Partners Group general manager, Vincent Ler; Maxis Head of SME Business, Jeff Chong; and Maxis Head of Enterprise Business, Fitri Abdullah.