Microsoft Tool Eases Move from Lotus to Exchange

Microsoft has officially released software to help companies move from IBM's Lotus Domino collaboration server to Microsoft's Exchange 2007.

The software, Microsoft Transporter Suite, is available as a free download.

Microsoft released several tools last year to encourage companies to migrate from Lotus Notes/Domino, widely considered the second most popular corporate e-mail and collaboration system, to Outlook/Exchange, the market leader.

Microsoft Transporter Suite differs from those tools by focusing on easing the move of users, mail and applications from Lotus Domino 6 and 7 to Windows Server 2003-based Active Directory, Exchange Server 2007 and Windows SharePoint Services 3.0.

The 32MB download was first released as a beta in mid-January. Microsoft is strongly pushing Exchange 2007, especially its emerging unified communication features.

IBM, meanwhile, is preparing Version 8 of Lotus Notes and Domino for final release this summer. It hopes that an improved user interface will help it stanch ongoing defections to Outlook and Exchange.

IBM has published its own guide on how to best migrate from Exchange to Lotus Domino.