Microsoft Readies Exchange Server 2007 Beta 2

[Kris Kumar]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/features/2006/jun06/06-12Exchange.mspx' target='_blank'>http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/features/2006/jun06/06-12Exchange.mspx</a><br /><br /></div><i>"Today, the nature of work is dependent on a workforce’s ability to connect anytime and anywhere in order to make faster and better business decisions. As a greater number of remote and mobile workers enter the industry, Microsoft recognized the need to create software solutions that simplify working together and provide closer connections with customers and partners at all times. New mobile features and additional functionality in Exchange Server 2007 are designed to address this pain point, and include ability to search on a device, self-service remote device wipe, support for HTML mail, message flagging, document access and improved meeting request handling. ... Let me give you a couple of examples, starting with support for search. Users will be able to search and access all of the e-mail that resides on their Exchange Server 2007 using their handheld device."</i><br /><br /> <img src="http://www.smartphonethoughts.com/images/Kris-june06-Exchange.jpg" alt="User submitted image" title="User submitted image"/> <br /><br />The above quote is from Terry Myerson, General Manager for Exchange Server, in response to the question about the new mobile features in the upcoming Exchange Server 2007 release. Looks like the new release will include some much needed and powerful features like message flagging, meeting request handling and support for searching server email from device. And then there are some cool features that I am not sure how they will be implemented like document access and support for HTML mail. I always thought that HTML support was something that the email clients need to provide, wonder how the server is going enable it? :? Check out the <a href="http://www.microsoft.com/exchange/preview/default.mspx">Exchange Server 2007 Preview</a> site for more information. Also check out this <a href="http://msevents.microsoft.com/CUI/WebCastEventDetails.aspx?culture=en-US&amp;EventID=1032298074&amp;CountryCode=US">On-Demand Webcast</a> for the presentation given by Terry at Tech·Ed 2006 in Boston.

[OSUKid7]

And then there are some cool features that I am not sure how they will be implemented like document access and support for HTML mail. I always thought that HTML support was something that the email clients need to provide, wonder how the server is going enable it? :?
I'm thinking that's going to be a feature in WM6, or whatever the next Smartphone OS becomes. Notice that it says "support for HTML mail, message flagging, document access and improved meeting request handling." Support, meaning the server-side will support sending HTML mail to clients if they support it. I don't see any way the current WM devices can display HTML email unless Microsoft actuall upgrades the client software.

Now that the Cingular 2125 will have push Exchange email, I'm considering getting a 4Smartphone account. I still don't like the idea of only being able to send email from one address, but I think it's worth it. Since I haven't used Exchange for my own email, is it possible to have more than one Exchange account in Outlook 2003 (if I were to get another Exchange account through work in the future)?

[Mike Temporale]

Interesting, I guess the Exchange server provides the conduit to retrieve the images and what not in an HTML mail. I'm pretty excited to see what the next version offers. I can't wait for Exchange ActiveSync to add some new features for sync'ing data over the air. :D

[Kris Kumar]

Check out the Mobile Messaging section. Looks impressive:
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/exchange/2007/productevaluation/features.mspx

[brianchris]

Since I haven't used Exchange for my own email, is it possible to have more than one Exchange account in Outlook 2003 (if I were to get another Exchange account through work in the future)?

You can setup multiple Outlook profiles, each outlook profile can have one Exchange account. Outlook will prompt you for which profile to use when you open it (assuming everything got configured correctly....its not hard).