Outlook Web Access for Everyone

Previous versions of Outlook Web Access have worked in the majority of browsers but only in a 'light' version which removes most of the functionality. The following functionality of the Premium version are not present in Light:

•The Tasks module
•Task-specific properties: Only the text of the task items can be read through OWA Light.
•Search for mail items: OWA Light users can search only Contacts and Address Book. •Reminders
•HTML composing of messages: OWA Light users get only plain text textboxes with no editing or formatting options.
•Flags and Categories
•Weekly view in Calendar: OWA Light shows the daily view only.
•Free/Busy grid in Appointment/Meeting Scheduling Assistant: OWA Light users get only "Suggested Times".
•Print
•Spell Check
•Conversation View
•Account Quota information
•Recover Deleted Items
•Calendar month view
•Add/edit distribution lists
•Public Folder access
•S/MIME features
•Add/edit rules

The only way to get the full functionality in Outlook Web Access was to use Microsoft's Internet Explorer. However Microsoft has now realised that there are a large number of people and businesses are now using alternative browsers to Internet Explorer. Rather than try and fight this and limit non Internet Explorer users to a lesser experience with Exchange 2010 users can experience the same, great Outlook Web Access Premium experience within Internet Explorer 7+, Firefox 3+, and Safari 3+.

This also includes some new features not seen before in the OWA expereince. These include:

Instant Messaging (IM): Outlook Web Access now contains instant messaging functionality within the client. Administrators can choose to connect this to Office Communications Server (onsite) or the Windows Live Messenger Service (hosted). Using the status indication of another user, employees can quickly decide if they should send an e-mail or just fire off a quick IM to get a fast response.

Conversation View: By grouping messages from a single conversation together, the new conversation view enable user to quickly identify the most recent messages, and the chain of responses. Conversation view is always preserved, even if individual e-mail message are located in different folders in the mailbox. By treating an entire group of messages as a single conversation it can be managed, ignored, moved, and deleted as a whole. New messages to old conversations will automatically be placed in the folder to which you have directed the conversation, even if you have deleted or ignored a conversation.

Single Page of Messages: Outlook Web Access 2010 no longer has pages. All messages are on one page and no matter how big the folder, your mailbox will let you scroll through every message without having you advance through pages. Users can more efficiently access the messages and scan conversations to find the communications they are looking for.

Single Page of Messages: Outlook Web Access 2010 no longer has pages. All messages are on one page and no matter how big the folder, your mailbox will let you scroll through every message without having you advance through pages. Users can more efficiently access the messages and scan conversations to find the communications they are looking for.

View/Set Status: A user's contact list is shown in Outlook Web Access with colorful indicators to let the user know if their contact is available to chat or not. This presence indication lets users know which means of communications will help them get the information they need instantly. Users can not only see the status of others but they can also set their own so other users on the network know if they are available to chat.

SMS Sync: Exchange ActiveSync now provides the ability to send and receive SMS text messages from Outlook and Outlook Web Access. Incoming messages, sent via EAS to the user's mobile device, will be seen both in the usual SMS message location and the e-mail Inbox.