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I am pleased to announce that after 12 weeks of evaluating
various e-mail systems, Temple University has purchased a
new and comprehensive e-mail solution from Mirapoint, Inc.
The decision to choose the Mirapoint Messaging System was
made after carefully reviewing the University's e-mail
requirements, researching current vendor platforms, and
assessing various solutions using the following major
criteria:
- compatibility with Temple's current technical
infrastructure,
- performance and reliability based on current
installations at other universities with comparable
volume,
- ease of migration, and
- the inclusion of features to meet the University's
needs.
Mirapoint offers one product and one product
only—a
total e-mail solution, including both hardware and
software, that is simple to install. We
have run the platform through a series of testing
scenarios and are
satisfied that it will provide us with a reliable and
powerful e-mail system. Along with system performance
measures, we tested the use of IMAP and POP clients
(including Netscape Messenger, Outlook Express, and Eudora),
evaluated the system's virus and spam filters, and reviewed
the web mail interface. We also tested a special connector
that will allow faculty and staff members to synchronize
their Microsoft Outlook calendars with Mirapoint's web
calendar.
Mirapoint's other University clients include Virginia
Tech, Wayne State University, University of Illinois
(Urbana-Champaign),
University of California (Riverside), University of
Wisconsin (Madison), Queensland University, and Baker
College. The company just signed an agreement with James
Madison
University and is in the final stages of contract
negotiation with the University of Georgia. In addition to
these higher education institutions, Mirapoint also provides
e-mail to Cisco Systems and BMW, to mention a few of their
numerous for-profit clients.
The Mirapoint system will become Temple's
university-wide
e-mail system. Computer Services’ technical staff are now
meeting to plan the implementation of this system. Given the
large number of e-mail systems we are dealing with, and the
numerous e-mail addresses that everyone has, this process is
very complex and must be carefully planned and phased in.
The Mirapoint Messaging System's unique platform will
result in performance gains and overall improvement for
Temple e-mail users. We are excited about this new
technology and are anxious to get it installed. Further
details, including migration dates and a Mirapoint
implementation website, will be forthcoming.
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