VMware, the global leader in virtualization and cloud infrastructure, on Wednesday announced Zimbra Collaboration Server 8.0.

For many organizations interested in cloud based email, Zimbra 8.0 offers a clear path for moving messaging and collaboration to the cloud. Easily deployed in private or public clouds, Zimbra is flexible enough to deliver the solution that best fits an organization’s needs both now and in the future. As part of this announcement, VMware is making Zimbra 8.0 Beta available for download to organizations worldwide.

The newest version of Zimbra is built on the strength of VMware’s cloud expertise, offering all organizations from enterprise companies to small business the option to deploy a browser based email solution in a private or public cloud, while delivering the advanced features and enterprise functionality that users demand. Further simplifying the IT experience, Zimbra 8.0 is available as a virtual software appliance that can be deployed in as little as ten minutes and requires minimal ongoing management.

"We’re witnessing a fundamental shift in the way people work, and in turn a new set of demands that are put on IT infrastructure and applications like email and integration communications," said John Robb senior director at VMware. “Zimbra 8 is designed to make end users more efficient by connecting them with their data while providing IT departments a simple way to manage the transition to a public or private cloud and help deliver the benefits promised by the post-PC era."

Zimbra 8.0 connects users to their personal cloud with a redesigned interface and a smarter mailbox that helps manage the flow of information through their email, calendar, voice and social channels. New to Zimbra 8.0, VMware has partnered with Cisco and Mitel to offer unified communications capabilities embedded within Zimbra. These deep integration capabilities allow users to connect their voice and message systems in a unified inbox, enabling Click2Call, voicemail, presence, and chat all from within the Zimbra Web app. Zimbra 8.0 features a user interface and the integration options to connect users to their cloud and enables a new way to work in the post-PC era.

"In the post-PC era employees are collaborating in innovative new ways.  More than ever, our customers are asking for cloud-based collaboration services that deliver compelling, integrated, productivity enhancing user experiences," said Laurent Philonenko, vice president, Cisco Unified Communications. "Cisco works with innovative partners like VMware to integrate collaboration applications such as Cisco Jabber and Cisco WebEx that bring together presence, instant messaging, voice and video, voice messaging, desktop sharing and conferencing into a consistent experience across PCs, Macs, tablets and smart phones."

“Mitel and VMware have delivered virtualized voice apps to more than 2,000 Mitel clients of all sizes,” said Alan Zurakowski, director of business development and strategic alliances for Mitel. “By offering an out of the box integration with Zimbra, we’re extending the benefits of virtualized voice apps by providing end users with a great, streamlined unified communications experience, while simplifying usability, deployment, maintenance and upgrades for both Zimbra and Mitel apps."