Realestate.com.au deploys cloud email

ASX-listed online real estate company REA Group has dumped its on-premise Exchange 2003 installation for Microsoft Exchange in the cloud.

The operator of the realestate.com.au website deployed 750 Microsoft Exchange Online seats through Telstra's software-as-a-service (SaaS) portal, T-Suite, following a deal that was finalised in July.

Telstra said the 12-month agreement was its biggest T-Suite deal to date, although a spokesman declined to disclose financial terms.

According to REA Group CIO Daniel Oertli, cloud services were consistent with its goal to more efficiently manage business-as-usual operations.

REA Group staff in Australia, Italy, Luxembourg and Hong Kong would use the service, and more seats could be added through T-Suite to meet any increase in demand.

"We were running an outmoded corporate email system," Oertli stated. "Taking advantage of the resilience, cost efficiencies and managed convenience [of SaaS] made much more sense."

A Telstra spokesman said T-Suite would manage relevant servers and keep the REA Group updated with the latest software versions, freeing its IT staff to work on other areas of business.

Telstra became a reseller of Microsoft Online Services on 1 September 2009, offering its customers per-month licenses for SharePoint, Exchange, Office Communications Online and Office Live Meeting.

According to a survey conducted by Melbourne IT earlier this year, cloud computing was most commonly used by SMBs for e-mail, storage, CRM, and desktop office applications.