Options: Hosted Exchange + Website

[mattking]

Hi all,

 

I'm attempting to establish a new setup for my self-employed business.

 

I recently purchased a domain and now want to a host a simple, static website on it (HTML, CSS, JS etc.). In addition, I want to have Exchange email for that domain so I can sync email, contacts, calendars and notes.

 

I don't need a powerful setup as the system is just for me. A couple of hundred MB for the site is fine, and a few GB for email. My main concern is pricing as I don't want to pay an arm and leg for it (which Exchange often costs). Cheapness is the most important factor for me.

 

I've been very impressed with Exchange ActiveSync's speed and performance and while I can get that with certain places e.g. Outlook.com. It's only for mobile mail clients and not for desktop (at least not if you're a mac user like me). Therefore I think the only full solution is Exchange, and that's what I want to go for.

 

Can anyone suggest any well-priced, reliable providers that offer a combo package of Exchange email and web hosting?

 

Thanks!

[#Michael]

I always like hostgator for an inexpensive web hosting: http://www.hostgator.com/

For inexpensive (i.e free) exchange you cannot do any better then microsoft's live domain: http://domains.live.com/

 

Live domain gives you the outlook.com interface, which is now eas, 50 (?) email accounts using your domain name, and 25gb per account.  Doesn't get any better than that.

[mattking]

Thanks #Michael. Will look at hostgator.

 

I was aware of Outlook.com with Live Domain, but they don't provide full exchange support which means I'm limited to IMAP on the Mac desktop and do not have a way to sync contact, calendar or notes.

[#Michael]

Thanks #Michael. Will look at hostgator.

 

I was aware of Outlook.com with Live Domain, but they don't provide full exchange support which means I'm limited to IMAP on the Mac desktop and do not have a way to sync contact, calendar or notes.

 

In that case, for full exchange on mac, I'd look at using office 365 small business.  It is $5/month/user.

 

http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/compare-office-365-for-business-plans-FX102918419.aspx?WT%2Eintid1=ODC_ENUS_FX101785584_XT104029222&WT%2Eintid2=ODC_ENUS_FX102918418_XT104063440

[Roger H. Veteran]

I was just gonna say Office365 which is actually $4/user/month unless you step up to next level which is $5. In any case, I set it up for a small CPA firm and they can even interact with your domain and set the MX records for you automatically. I could have done it myself but since its designed for small business I tried it and it all works swimmingly. :)

I normally do on-premises Exchange servers but this is pretty sweet in that I'll now be recommending this to all my clients :)

[Argi]

You should consider Office365 for hosted Exchange.  You don't have to pay for an Exchange license and you don't have to manage the servers.  That way you can just get some cheap hosting to go with.

 

* disclaimer - I work on the product.

[mattking]

Thank you all for the advice. I think Office 365 is indeed the solution. Will look into it some more, but just to confirm:

 

1. Office 365 Small Business gives me full Exchange support that will allow me to sync mail, contacts, calendars, notes between my Mac's native applications (Mail.app etc.) and my iPhone's native applications?

 

2. The public website section of package allows upload and usage of static HTML pages + css, js etc.

 

Many thanks again!

[Argi]

Thank you all for the advice. I think Office 365 is indeed the solution. Will look into it some more, but just to confirm:

 

1. Office 365 Small Business gives me full Exchange support that will allow me to sync mail, contacts, calendars, notes between my Mac's native applications (Mail.app etc.) and my iPhone's native applications?

 

2. The public website section of package allows upload and usage of static HTML pages + css, js etc.

 

Many thanks again!

 

For (1) the answer is absolutely!  It has active sync support for phones and you'll get Exchange web services for Mac clients, be it Mail or Outlook for Mac.

 

For a full list of feature support, you can check out this page. :)  http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/business/compare-office-365-for-business-plans-FX102918419.aspx

 

* disclaimer - I work on the product.

[sc302 Veteran]

Or get exchange online from microsoft. $4 for 25GB or $8 for unlimited.

I work, sell, implement, and migrate to the product.

[mattking]

Thanks +sc302 for the alternate suggestion, but I think Office 365 is the better choice as that also covers my website needs.

 

Again, thank you for all the replies and advice.