SMB Tech Roll-up: Microsoft Readys SMB Server 7, Google Gives Lessons on Spending Ad Budgets

By David Roe (@druadh20) Sep 16, 2010

With both Microsoft and HP paying more and more attention to the SMB market and with the recession now behind us (we hope!), both are hoping small companies will start upgrading their IT networks. With this in mind both are preparing new servers specifically for this space, while Google aims to teach SMBs how to spend their online advertising budgets.

Microsoft SMB Server 7 is Beta Ready

You may remember in the middle of August that Microsoft released previews of its new Aurora server for SMBs. Missing in that release, however, was any sign of the SMB Server 7, which is designed to complement Aurora and the other SMB server due for release called Vail.

Over the past week though, Microsoft (news, site) has confirmed that it will release a public beta of the server by the end of the month. It will be able to support up to 75 Client Access Licenses as well as provide backups and off-premise access to files and other items stored there.

As yet SMB Server 7 still has to be christened as Aurora and Vail already have, but that is expected to happen between now and the end of the month.

The principal difference between Aurora and SMB 7 appears to be the cloud element. Aurora is for companies with up to 25 user accounts and, more importantly, access to online services on a pay-as-you-go basis. There is no fixed date for release as yet, but it will definitely be before the end of the month, Microsoft assures us.

HP Releases Micro-Business Server

Also on the sever front is news from HP (news, site) which has been actively chasing both the SMB and the micro market for quite some time now.

Last week we outlined how it is now offering IT for just about everything deal. Within that package is the new ProLiant MicroServer gives companies centralized control and security of data as well as an easy to manage set-up and system.

The HP MicroServer is a cost effective starter server for businesses with less than 10 users and is designed to support networks were none exist to date. According to technology market researcher AMI (news, site) 1.7 million small businesses will purchase their first server in the next five years. It will be interesting to see how many of them take this route.

Google Launches AdWords Small Business Center

Meanwhile, Google has also been busy this week with SMBs, this time teaching them how to spend ad money. It aims to do this with the launch of the AdWords Small Business Center, which is designed to provide SMBs with a hub that they can use to learn AdWord best practices.

AdWords is Google's flagship advertising product and one of its main sources of revenue. It offers pay-per-click (PPC) advertising, and site-targeted advertising for both text, banner and rich-media ads. It also includes local, national and international distribution.

However, Google is clearly not happy with the way SMBs are taking to it because last week it launched the AdWords Small Business Center.