News

Microsoft Releases MCIS 2.5

• By Scott Bekker
• 06/14/1999

Version 2.5 touts improvements such as the HTML Mail Interface (HMI). This adds to basic e-mail services by enabling commercial service providers (CSPs) to include browser-based access to e-mail accounts. MCIS 2.5 also includes Personal Web Page (PWP) services that allow CSPs to provide large numbers of users the tools to create their own Web pages.

The MCIS Administration and Provisioning Service (MAPS) framework gives CSPs the ability to provide Web-based forms, enabling customers and business users to sign up for the services they want. After customers complete these forms, MCIS calls a series of COM objects that automatically create user accounts and configure user-selected services. Finally, there's an updated resource kit that includes guides and tools to help administrators deploy their commercial service.

Version 2.0 was released last summer to much fanfare, especially by hardware suppliers. It was seen as so high-end that corporate users might consider it overkill but ISPs would see it as a venerable solution.

"More than 200 CSPs to date have worked with Microsoft to design and deploy Internet access and hosting services on MCIS," said Jon DeVaan, vice president of the Microsoft Consumer Commerce Group, in a company release. "With the release of MCIS 2.5, Microsoft has underscored its commitment to commercial service providers with new feature enhancements that specifically address their growing needs." -- Brian Ploskina