Features & Benefits of Hosted Exchange Server and Outlook Client

Exchange Server is an e-mail-based collaborative communications server for businesses that enables you to send and receive electronic mail and other forms of interactive communication through computer networks. Designed to interoperate with Microsoft Outlook on Windows desktops, Microsoft Outlook Web Access (OWA) on web browsers, Microsoft ActiveSync for Windows mobile devices, or Blackberry Enterprise Server for Blackberry devices. Exchange Server offers integrated collaborative messaging features that extend e-mail to include scheduling, contact management, folder sharing, and task management functionality. Cached Exchange Mode enables work regardless of network availability or speed, and compression capabilities optimize existing bandwidth.

Basic Features:

  Business-Class Messaging

Coupled with Microsoft Outlook, Hosted Exchange provides valuable messaging features that go beyond simple e-mail that allow business users to take control of their inbox. This functionality includes:

• Contact management, event and calendar management, resource scheduling and administration, task management and shared folders (see below for details)
• Delegate access to allow others to check designated components like e-mail, tasks lists and calendars
• Server and client-side rules and spam filtering to manage the flow of incoming messages
• Multi-colored flagging to mark messages for follow-up, prioritization, searching and categorization
• Recovery of sent messages
• Ability to delete and replace an unread message
• Out-of-office automatic reply

   Enhanced Security

Exchange was designed for optimal security and privacy, with a variety of features at both the server and mailbox level. Exchange Server 2003 uses Kerberos authentication, a network security protocol that provides mutual authentication for a network connection.  Additional security protocol support includes Secure/Multipurpose Internet Mail Extensions (S/MIME), enabling users to digitally sign and encrypt e-mails and attachments or to access their mailboxes securely, without a VPN connection, when working outside company firewalls.  Anti-spam features include support of real-time Safe and Block lists and both server-side and client-side message filtering in Outlook to help reduce the amount of unsolicited junk e-mail messages.

   Anytime, Anywhere Access

In addition to Outlook, Exchange Server enables a large number of clients for mailbox connectivity, including web browsers through OWA (Outlook Web Access) and Windows-mobile devices through OMA (Outlook Mobile Access), providing flexibility and productivity for information workers regardless of location.

   Shared Calendars

Exchange Server includes rich features for personal, group, and resource scheduling that integrates with e-mail, contacts, and tasks.  Users can share their calendar information with others and view multiple calendars simultaneously to send meeting requests for shared open times.  Recipients can decline or propose a different time, or accept and have the meeting automatically entered in their calendars.  Schedules for shared resources like conference rooms and projectors may also be incorporated.

   Shared Contacts

Contacts in the company directory (Global Address List or GAL) are centrally maintained for sharing throughout the organization and can be downloaded to Outlook and synchronized for access from Outlook Web Access (OWA) and Outlook Mobile Access (OMA).  Distribution lists also can be centrally shared and maintained to facilitate communication to groups such as departments or customer lists.

   Shared Task Management

A task list provides the ability to create and assign tasks and can be integrated with e-mail notification and scheduling for basic project management and personal time management. Users can track progress as a task moves from active to complete to overdue, while managing status through various criteria like the person responsible and the category.

   Public Folders

Public folders are a shared resource, available offline and online, for instantaneous storage of digital content and communications.  Any user with access privileges can retrieve and contribute information from a public folder while working in Outlook.  Rather than e-mailing file attachments back and forth, they can be stored in a common location for sharing and discussion.