Zarafa
Zarafa software is an open source email and collaborative software that features calendaring, is compatible with mobile devices, and ensures task and contact management. Zarafa is a webmail that utilizes Ajax and accessible online. It offers users a direct interface with Microsoft’s Outlook making the platform a useful open source alternative for Microsoft exchange. The platform’s collaborative messaging software was originally meant to support the MAPI protocol. The software is developed by Zarafa Company that was previously known as Connectux. Users of the software have access to email storage services through servers from the parent company. The enterprise edition of Zarafa has an embedded Z-push open source solution that ensures it is compatible with every Active Sync smartphone and portable Pcs.
- Some of the features are
- Users of the Zarafa software get to enjoy features that are easier to use compared to what is available on Microsoft Exchange.
- Audio and video conferencing: Zafara makes audio and video conferencing easy.
- It supports both audio and video conferencing.
- Chat/Messaging feature: The software can be used for group chatting and bulk messaging.
- Group calendars: The Zafara software is compatible with hosting group calendars.
- Supports contact management: If you want a software that will help you manage your contacts, Zafara is your best bet.
- Task management support: Zafara software allows for task management.
- Users of Zarafa software get access to benefits such as
- The platform is an open source platform making it attractive to many users.
- Improved Outlook-like web interface: When using Zarafa software instead of Microsoft Outlook, users have access to an improved web interface that is similar to Outlook interfaces.
- It comes featuring ZPush: ZPush function makes it possible for users to access ActiveSync and smartphones. This feature makes the platform a useful application for developers.
- Compatible with Outlook and Exchange protocol: Users of the platform are able to connect Outlook and Exchange protocol through Zarafa platform. This capability makes the platform a free and operational alternative software to Microsoft Exchange.
- The platform comes with the following limitations
- You will need a plug-in to access Outlook support
- For a complete solution, the platform needs to be complemented with other open source apps.
The software was initially designed to complement Microsoft Office Outlook with the developers of the software intending it to be an alternative to Microsoft Exchange Server. Zarafa software is retailed under the Affero GPL v3 and data within the platform is stored in the MySQL database. Zarafa makes its groupware function available by ensuring it connects the Linux-based server with Microsoft Outlook via MAPI. The platform underwent a major improvement in 2012 to ensure that users enjoy enhanced interface designs and an ergonomic administrative platform. The improvements ensured that the software was optimized with an enhanced internal structure that improves the platform’s internal mechanisms as per the market’s needs. Some of the companies that use Zarafa platform are Tivoli, Riagg Rijnmond, InterAkt Contour, Revell, International School of the Hague, KMP, and Lammerink. One of the unique characteristics of Zarafa is the connection it gives users with their inboxes and other data especially when using Microsoft Outlook. The platform utilizes its unique MAPI provider (Mapi4Linux) as the end server, which makes the software’s host function as an Exchange Server. This also makes it compatible with Outlook.