Gordano Messaging Suite

Gordano Messaging Suite (GMS) will be a new name to many, but NTMail (or GLMail for Unix users) certainly won't. GMS consolidates both and adds functionality like anti-virus, anti-spam and numerous other optional components. The centre of attention is SMS text messaging from within GMS, but how useful is this within a corporate setting?

Gordano scores points for wrapping it up within the messaging suite and making the setup simple, which provides a strong incentive for corporate SMS use. Even allowing for the 160-character restriction, it's still liberating for those in the field to have filtered incoming email automatically forwarded via SMS to their cellphone. The totally integrated nature of the suite means that the shared calendar capabilities also work with SMS alerts.

GMS is designed around a core backbone messaging service on Windows or various Unix platforms, providing the IMP (Internet Messaging Protocol) services are used to transfer large volumes of messages. User reports suggest delivery rates of more than two million messages, and volumes of 2GB per day are achievable through a single Windows system. Whether you're supporting 100 users or 10,000, you'll be well catered for. Each system is able to support multiple domains and each account can have different quota controls. Authentication is achieved against a range of external databases such as LDAP, SQL (through ODBC), Windows SAM or Active Directory - the choice is yours.

The web interface provides easy configuration for both system administrators and end users, and anti-spam protection is well thought out using client-side filtration/ confirmation processing, which can be customised to suit, while retaining the usual reverse look-up tools on the server side. Other noteworthy additions include improved reporting functionality, which now features nine global and six 'per domain' reports to help the administrator keep an eye on system performance and assist in problem solving.

Also new is the real-time alert report, which displays information for each event - with just one mouse-click, more detailed descriptions of each event become available. The online help has been revamped and translated into 12 languages. Administrators will be relieved to know that GMS will log, compress and archive all messages passing through, if required.

The security and integrity of data is provided by an anti-virus protection component, with updates sent automatically via email without any firewall changes. The fire-and-forget nature of the anti-virus component, with plenty of administrator configurability for dealing with infected messages (reject, delete, add warning, quarantine or even automatically remove the virus attachment from the message itself), makes for a high-value and low-maintenance addition to the anti-virus arsenal.

While I'm a firm believer in adopting multiple anti-virus solutions, you should find GMS is all you need for business messaging needs. With shared calendar capabilities, SMS email forwarding, anti-spam and anti-virus measures, GMS is definitely worth considering if TCO sits as high as functionality on your feature list.

Price: Mail, £345; WebMail, £345; IM, £345; supplier Gordano 01275 345100

Anti-Spam, £169; Anti-Virus, £1,695; Calendaring, £169.(Prices for 50 users of Windows versions. All exc VAT. Discounts, other software versions and support options available from the website)

Author: Davey Winder