DuBois added that while earlier adoptions of archiving and e-discovery software focused on compliance, "now we're seeing companies use the software for optimizing e-mail." In addition to storage costs, the software can boost e-mail performance and cut the necessary backup window.

EMC, of course, said the new software makes a good combination with its own storage hardware, but SourceOne will also run on competitors' systems, Tidmarsh added.

"This is just the beginning," she said. "We all know e-discovery doesn't start and stop with e-mail."

EMC intends to build out the SourceOne line with products for SharePoint archiving, XML and data archiving, and file archiving later this year and into 2010, Tidmarsh added.