Don’t want to deal with the hassle of importing the files to Zimbra on your own? For a one-time cost of $9.95 per user, let DataSync do the work for you. Contact sales@datasyncorp.com or call 1-866-901-7478 to find out how to migrate to Zimbra today.

DataSync’s Zimbra Migration services include:

• Microsoft Exchange Migration– Zimbra’s tool that takes data from your Microsoft Exchange server and imports it into our Zimbra system. Allows you to reintegrate with Outlook just by taking Exchange out of the equation.
• PST File Import – This is our most common Zimbra migration service. It takes your Microsoft Outlook PST files and imports them into Zimbra. Your PST files can now be accessed in Zimbra, as well as on your mobile device.
• IMAP Mail Import – We can import mail from your local mail client (Outlook, Apple Mail, Thunderbird) and migrate it into a Zimbra server.
• CSV Import – We can import contacts from your current mail client as a CSV file into Zimbra. This creates a separate address book from your Zimbra address book, so you can access both lists.
• ICS Import – We can also import your calendar as an ICS file from your current mail client to Zimbra. It creates a calendar separate from your Zimbra calendar, and you are able to view as many calendars as you want at a time.

We have more information available on Zimbra Migration Services, as well as further training at DataSync University.

In the last few years, Zimbra has grown by leaps and bounds in competing with Outlook and Exchange in the corporate email world. Most technical analysts agree that Zimbra has a much better and more server management tools, is much more efficient than exchange, and is more reliable than exchange, however thus far Zimbra has been primarily been an email-server solution, and much less of an email client. It’s has a very usable AJAX web client, but until recently, there was no desktop software that Zimbra created to compete directly with Outlook. Zimbra recently launched a beta of their new desktop client, dubbed Zimbra Desktop, and we’re impressed.

The primary benefit in using Zimbra desktop as opposed to the web client is that you can use it when you’re offline. You might be on the road, have your laptop with you, and want to send an email or save an appointment for later, but you can’t since there’s no internet connection. You can now do that with Zimbra Desktop. You can make any changes you want with Zimbra’s Desktop Client, and then whenever you have an internet connection again, it’ll sync your changes up to the server.

Zimbra Desktop features full email support as you get in Outlook. It also features a fast and indexed search tool. You can also access your calendar and contacts offline. An interesting feature is that you can manage Gmail, Yahoo Mail, IMAP, and POP email accounts in addition to your Zimbra email accounts. This means that you can view all of your Gmail offline, make changes as you’d like, and then when you connect to the internet, any changes you make to the account will by synced.

The client is written in Java and is available on Windows, Mac, or Linux. So far, it’s just a beta, but it’s got a lot of potential. As the development process continues and Zimbra Desktop matures, Outlook is sure to have a fierce competitor.

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Customization – Outlook’s web client only allows 4-5 different color schemes developed by Microsoft. Zimbra offers close to 10 different themes which each significantly change the look and feel of the client. In addition, developers can create their own Zimbra themes whereas Outlook’s themes are limited to what Microsoft creates.

Address Book, Contacts, & Tasks – Outlook & Zimbra both offer very good address book, contact, and task functionality. These are fairly mature pieces of software and we won’t likely see much change in the near future between either of the clients.

Document Management – Outlook has no support for document management. Zimbra has what they call a “Briefcase” which will allow you to upload and store files in your email server, which can come in really handy when you don’t have a flash drive. It also makes it so you don’t have to email files to yourself.

Instant Messaging – Outlook has no support for instant messaging and Microsoft instead suggests that their customers rely on the Windows Live Messenger service that they offer, but this requires a desktop client, which not everyone wants. For corporate and educational environments, Zimbra offers a very functional instant messaging client. You can add anyone else in your network and chat with them when they have their email clients open, so it’s a great solution for business environments.

External Mail Delivery – Outlook’s desktop client allows you to add multiple POP3 and IMAP email accounts from various servers, but Outlook’s web client is missing this functionality all together. Zimbra’s web client allows you to add as many POP3 and IMAP accounts as your hearts desire.

Preferences – Zimbra has 9 different tabs of options & customizations that you can modify to your heart’s desire, whereas outlook only has one page and very meager settings and customizations that users can play with.

So where do we stand? Zimbra is clearly technically superior because it has all sorts of functionality that Microsoft’s Outlook web client is missing. It also provides a much better user experience because it’s versatile and can be customized to whatever the user’s heart desires.