MailEnable: Not for the Masses

Very few people actually need to host their own email–any ISP or other email service will do the trick. But for organizations and businesses that have a large library of email addresses for employees, hosting costs can begin to be a problem.

MailEnable allows anyone with a domain and the proper hardware to host their own email. It boasts a long list of features including administrative tools, a number of mail services, filtering, anti-spam and anti-virus capabilities, and customization. Unfortunately, several features are only available in the expanded versions, rendering the standard edition somewhat useless for those that are drawn to some of the more exclusive features of the software.

While individuals probably have no need for MailEnable, large franchises probably make enough money not to worry about the savings that it provides. With this having been said, the software will probably prove to be most useful for medium sized companies—ongoing hosting for a few hundred employees can be pricey for companies that aren’t grossing much. The only other individuals who will probably find MailEnable useful are those who host their own website or are paranoid about having their email out there on someone else’s server.

In order to use MailEnable you’ll need a decent server, internet connection, public IP address, and a registered domain. The software is currently in version 3.0 and available in three editions: Standard (free), Profession (US$280), and Enterprise (US$620). Support costs an addition $260 and upgrades to newer versions can be purchased, as well. Try it or buy it at www.mailenable.com.