ActiveSync in Exchange 2007

ActiveSync is a technology that allows your mobile device to synchronize with the Exchange server for emails, calendars, contacts and task items in your mailbox. Exchange 2003 Service Pack 2 introduced a new feature called Direct Push which enables Exchange data in your mailbox to be sent in near real time. A long standing HTTPS request is maintained between the device and the Exchange server. When new items arrive to the Exchange mailbox, those changes are synchronized to the device. This enables ActiveSync to provide a similar mobile messaging experience as BlackBerry.

Exchange 2007 takes mobile messaging a step further by providing several improvements to ActiveSync features. Some of the key improvements include:

Mailbox Search – You are now able to search items in your entire mailbox without downloading the items to the mobile device.

Self Service Device Management – Exchange 2007 allows you to wipe data on a lost or stolen mobile device using a tool in the option interface in Outlook Web Access (OWA).

Handheld Lockup – A security policy can be set up to require a password be entered on your mobile device after a period of inactivity.

Out of Office Support – You are now able to configure an Out of Office Message directly from your mobile device.

HTML/Flagged Message - The HTML/flagged message can now be displayed properly on the mobile device.

In order to take full advantage of these new features, your mobile device will need the latest Windows Mobile 6.0 operation system. Ultimately, the mobile device’s operation system will largely determine the new features it supports.
For a full list of new features and supported devices, please refer to http://msexchangeteam.com/archive/2007/04/06/437572.aspx.

New and improved Out of Office Assistant (OOF)

Exchange 2007 provides several improvements to the Out-of-Office (OOF) feature, which are accessible to users via Outlook 2007 or OWA. (If you are wondering why it is called OOF and not OOO, go here: http://msexchangeteam.com/archive/2004/07/12/180899.aspx)

Some of the improvements include:
1) Scheduled OOF Messages
You can now schedule when your OOF message is sent. One obvious benefit of this is that you can pre-create your OOF message(s) and set the desired schedule. When you leave the office, your messages are automatically sent, and upon your return, your OOF is automatically disabled. This is especially helpful when preparing for an extended period of absence, such as a business trip or vacation.

2) Improved Security
OOF messages will not be sent out in response to server-detected junk e-mail or internet mailing lists.

3) Improved Editing Controls
OOF messages can now be composed in HTML format and customized with all the same controls currently available for editing emails.

For more details on this feature, please see the Exchange 2007 OOF blog: http://msexchangeteam.com/archive/2006/10/06/429115.aspx.

Is OOF assistant one of your favourite features in Exchange 2007? Vote in our poll!

Sharepoint and Exchange 2007

Where did those Public Folders go?! The answer is they are still there; just not as visible as they used to be. Exchange 2007 has been designed in such a way that Public Folders, although still available, require command-line like administration – a little bit clunky. But why use dated technology to store your files, emails, contacts and calendar items? The reported reason behind the slow demise of Public Folders is so that newer more efficient and functional technologies can prevail.

Enter SharePoint either in WSS 3.0(Windows SharePoint Services) or MOSS (Microsoft Office SharePoint Server, formerly SharePoint Portal Server) 2007 flavor. SharePoint provides an easily extensible platform for the sharing of information (something Public Folders didn’t offer). It allows administrators and users to create themed ‘sites’ and ‘lists’ that contain the same information, but on a rich platform that allows for version control (not available on PFs), check-in/check-out document control (not available on PFs), customizable views (not that easy to do on PFs) that can include multiple ‘webparts’ to display relevant information to viewers like work group calendars, link lists, key contacts etc. Other functionality like the quick creation of blog and wiki sites and configurable event driven email alerts further extend capabilities that were never even conceived in public folders.

Integration through Exchange 2007 comes at the client level (spare email routing requirements). SharePoint lists and objects can be added directly to the Outlook 2007 for direct access via the folder tree. OWA also integrates with SharePoint through the ‘Document Access’ feature (on a read-only basis) which allows remote users to open up local documents either via SharePoint URLs or UNC File Shares. And of course, if you want to provide direct access to your SharePoint Site collections, SharePoint can be placed on public facing systems and accessed via standard web browser and can even allow anonymous access to specific sections (no one has an excuse to NOT have a blog space now!)

So I say, out with the old (Public Folders) and in with the new (easily extensible rich featured SharePoint)!

For more information on SharePoint:

Microsoft Office SharePoint Official Site
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/sharepointserver/FX100492001033.aspx

Microsoft Feature-by-Feature WSS 3.0 and MOSS 2007 Comparison http://download.microsoft.com/download/1/d/c/1dc632e8-71e1-466f-8a2f-c940f1438e0a/SharePointProductsComparison.xls

A great collaboration of SharePoint professionals and enthusiasts
http://www.sharepointblogs.com

A quick description of SharePoint from our Favorite Wiki Resource
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SharePoint