Open-Xchange adds Mac, iPhone support

Open-Xchange, which makes an e-mail and document server, has added support for some Apple applications due to increased demand, the company said Tuesday.

Open-Xchange announced a beta version of its iSync connector OXtender for Mac OS X. The connector integrates Apple applications such as Mail, iCal and Address Book with version 6 of their server, according to Open-Xchange.

Apple computers are increasingly popular at home and in the office, which prompted the company to add support, according to Rafael Laguna, Open-Xchange's CEO.

OXtender for Mac OS X can synchronize contacts between Open-Xchange and the Apple Address Book, as well as appointments and tasks with iCal. Open-Xchange's document manager, InfoStore, can also be linked Apple Finder using WebDAV.

Open-Xchange plans to eventually add automatic configuration of Apple's Mail Client for access to Open-Xchange's Mail Services, but that feature isn't in the current beta.

The connector also adds synchronization support for iPhones that are connected to a Mac. Users of MobileMe will get new e-mail, calendar and contact entries pushed directly to their iPhone.

Other mobile devices can also get access to, for example, e-mail via a Mac, as long as they support iSync.

The beta can be downloaded from the Open-Xchange Web site.