The AtMail 6.0 messaging platform

Email, calendaring and groupware don’t necessarily have to go through Microsoft Outlook to be enjoyable.

One such alternative which deserves to be seriously considered is built onLinux using AJAX and is aptly named AtMail 6.0 and you can download a free version of their client, with or without the server, which can handle up to five (5) users, for free.

This client and server ensemble provides an enterprise-class solution which helps everybody in the team actually feel part of it.

Along with full source code for easy customization (in AJAX, which makes it humanly comprehensible), version 6.0 adds…

• a single interface for all email needs (with tabs for direct access to the features);
• a conversation view of email messages (so you see the list of the latest emails while reading one, in particular… like Hotmail’s interface, if you prefer);
• new thread support (which helps you keep your sanity when you play “message-tennis” with many people); and
• direct reply capabilities (akin to some forums where you can “quick reply” to any thread).

Because the platform is built on AJAX, development is zippy and heavy on all advanced features you expect from an enterprise-class email solution.

AtMail 6.0 also offers integrated web-based email management for remote install, upgrade and maintenance.

This product is solid and clearly on the right path but, it isn’t “there”, yet.

This being said, the fact that it’s built on AJAX should appeal to the web 2.0 crowd and those who undertstand that the open source community tends to move faster than the closed source folks who can hardly compete with thousands of passionate developers who just ooze with creative ideas to futher AJAX’s feature set.

The free version is obviously as affordable at it gets but the paid version of AtMail 6.0 are probably a bit steep for smaller companies with a 25 seat client going at 400$ and if you add the server, it jumps up another 100$. Cutting that price in half would’ve surely helped the product gain wider adoption with smaller customers. For 1k users, it’s just 1,250$ which, for that kind of volume, is surprisingly affordable.

So if you’re courageous enough to look past MS-Outlook and Gmail types of solutions, AtMail 6.0 may well be worth your while.

Tags: atmail, atmail 6.0, 6.0, email client, email server, e-mail, full source code, linux-based, built on ajax, ajax, ajax email server, email needs, conversation view, remote install, remote upgrade, remote maintenance