What is new with Exchange Server 2010 ActiveSync and Outlook Mobile?

Some great new changes coming with Exchange 2010 Active Sync.

 

We have many more partners beyond Windows Mobile that have licensed the ActiveSync protocol for syncing email to your mobile device. Here are just a few:

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What has changed for the Exchange 2010 architecture?

ActiveSync has same connectivity flow as Exchange 2007.

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What are some new Exchange Server 2010 ActiveSync features?

Block/Allow/Quarantine list

You can setup a single list to block/allow mobile devices as needed. You can also quarantine devices such as new untested devices, etc.

Over the Air Update Mode

You can now push new Outlook Mobile updates/new versions to Windows Mobile 6.1 and above. This is really nice since you no longer have to wait for a new Windows Mobile OS version to obtain a new version of Outlook Mobile.

SMS Sync

The ability to send SMS text messages through Exchange and EAS is used to sync SMS message with user’s mobile device.

Benefits of SMS sync:

•User can use OWA, Outlook, and Outlook Mobile to respond

•SMS messages are backed up on the server

•Recipients can respond to messages

•User can switch “screens” while still seeing all their messages

IMAP/POP3 service discovery

You can now autodiscover/autoconfigure the IMAP/POP3 settings from your mobile device by just specifying your email address.

 

What are some new Outlook Mobile features?

Conversation view

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Conversation view is invaluable. This really allows you to have a nicer mobile email experience when trying to skim through your onslaught of emails.

As you can see on the left, the new Outlook Mobile allow for threaded conversations (see highlighted conversation with 18 messages condensed). The view on the right is the current Outlook Mobile experience with the deluge of 18 additional emails in the inbox.

 

Reply state

You can now see which emails you have replied to or forwarded.

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Conversation actions

You can now ignore threads, move always threads to folders, etc from your mobile device. Ignore thread may become quite a popular feature. :)

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Nickname cache

Very nice that your nicknames follow you now. Especially useful for external recipients you email often.

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Voice Card

You no longer have to download the voicemail attached like before (right). You just hit play and hear the VM. The other feature that I really like is the ability to see a transcription of the voice mail in the body of the message. Very useful for meetings, noisy airports, where you can’t play the VM.

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Get Free/Busy

I love this feature. It is awesome since you can now at a quick glance from your phone see the Free/busy info vs. breaking out the laptop, etc.

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As you can see, there are some very useful features coming to Exchange Server 2010 ActiveSync and the new Outlook Mobile.