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.
  
• 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.

Exchange was designed for optimal security and privacy, with a variety of features at both the server and mailbox level. Exchange Server 2007 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(Virtual Private Network) 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.


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.


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.

Customized Forms

Design and publish forms for common organizational functions that require basic routing and communication, including time-sheets, expense reports and vacation requests. Custom forms will be available to all users, including remote and mobile employees.


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.


Mobile Messaging with Microsoft Office Outlook Mobile

Outlook Mobile now offers a vastly superior mobile messaging experience. The familiar Microsoft Outlook tools, plus support for Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint attachments can help your SMB customers be more productive while away from their desks.

You can allow them to sync most Windows Mobile powered devices over-the-air, through their mobile operator or at a wireless hotspot. Their Calendar, Contacts, and Tasks are always up to date. You can also sync when you're back at your desk. With the new Messaging and Security Feature pack, available on some new devices, you can offer them Direct Push technology. This means they'll never have to wait for their e-mail. Moments after messages have been sent, they'll arrive in their hands.


Outlook Web Access

A rich Outlook-like experience from any Internet connected computer with a supported browser provides encrypted access to the inbox, powerful search, and the ability to view different types of attachments.

Hosted Exchange includes Outlook Web Access, the most comprehensive Web mail client available. Completely redesigned in Exchange Server 2007, Outlook Web Access is designed to offer a rich Outlook experience in a Web browser.

Like Outlook 2007, Outlook Web Access offers powerful new collaboration capabilities. Outlook Web Access ensures that, even when away from their desks, employees have access to the tools to help make them productive.

Small and medium business customers realize many benefits from using Exchange hosted as an online service rather than installing and operating it for themselves on in-house servers. These benefits include:

• Instant deployment, with no capital investment or complex project to install and configure Windows 2007 Server, Exchange 2007 Server and other required components.
• Lower TCO (Total Cost of Ownership), resulting from two primary factors. First, no need to make upfront capital investments or commitments to hardware, software and IT infrastructure. Instead, Hosted Exchange customers pay a simple monthly fee based on the number of users. The savings can be quite significant when the needs for a highly reliable (e.g. redundant servers, information backup, etc.) are considered. Second, a business using Hosted Exchange does not need to maintain the same level of in-house IT expertise to manage and maintain the environment.
• Enhanced security compared to an in-house installation, including automated and timely installation of anti-virus and other software updates.
• Increased levels of availability and performance due to the robust bandwidth and redundant network access of the hosting provider.
• High availability architecture of the hosting provider, which delivers higher reliability at a lower cost.
• Professional operations and support personnel with significant expertise and certifications in Exchange, Windows and all the other technologies needed to deliver service.
• Accessibility over the public Internet allows secure access for both internal and external scenarios and support for highly distributed, 'virtual' work situations. No requirement for complex VPN or Internet/ Intranet solutions.
• Hassle-free operations mean no worrying about security patches, software updates/upgrades, monitoring, repairing failed hardware, adding capacity, etc.
• Daily backups stored off-site, ensuring business continuity and disaster recovery capabilities.