A tiny provider of open-source e-mail exchange software is using a disruptive pricing model to compete against Microsoft Corp. and other large providers of proprietary e-mail service technology.
As part of a deal announced Monday, Open-Xchange Inc. will provide its open-source technology to 1&1 Internet AG, an international Web-hosting company that plans to offer a hosted e-mail service for €4.99 (US$6.00) per user per month or €2.99 per user with the purchase of 100 accounts or more, said Open-Xchange Chairman Rafael Laguna.
The service will launch this month in Germany and Austria, with France, the U.K. and the U.S. to follow in May.
Under a flat-rate pricing plan, 1&1 Internet will be able to offer a basic version of the Open-Xchange software to all its 2.7 million customers without having to pay any additional fees, according to Laguna.
In addition to open-source code and application programming interfaces, "disruptive pricing models like ours are another reason why companies choose open-source software," he said.
A premium version, which links with Microsoft's Outlook application and provides other features, will be available for a fee.
The 1&1 Internet e-mail offering, called MailXchange, will include calendar, contacts and task management functions that are similar to those of Microsoft Outlook.
In addition to Open-Xchange, 1&1 Internet will continue to offer Microsoft Exchange and its own e-mail service software.
Open-Xchange, which is based in Tarrytown, New York, employs 54 people. It has product development and operational facilities in Nuremberg and Olpe, Germany.
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