Microsoft Windows Small Business Server 7 Public Preview Available

The true successor to Microsoft Windows Small Business Server 2008 gets a little bit closer with the launch of a free public preview of a new version, codenamed Small Business Server 7. Redmond says SBS7 is targeted at enhancing security and management over previous versions. Here’s the update.

According to the Microsoft Small Business Server blog, SBS7 is designed to provide on-premises email and collaboration suite functions that users of codename Aurora can add through online services. Microsoft calls SBS7 a “highly manageable, low complexity solution.”

Microsoft also says SBS7 comes with better migration tools and pre-migration checks, helping users of old versions get updated.

In terms of new features, Microsoft makes a compelling case for the upgrade: it introduces the ability to check “communications” from any device with a web browser thanks to integrated Exchange Server 2010 and Outlook Web Access (OWA) capabilities.

In addition, with SharePoint Foundation 2010, Microsoft says, SBS7 users can view, edit, and share Office documents online by way of Office Web Apps.

Microsoft Windows Small Business Server remains a key part of the titan’s channel business, needless to say. It’s hard to tell for sure amongst Microsoft’s own hype, but with the integration of useful SaaS services like webmail and web collaboration, SBS7 might be onto something.

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