Exchange and Outlook Overview

Exchange Server 2010 became generally available in Nov. 2009. Exchange Server 2010 includes archiving, compliance, high availability, and performance improvements, and support for new client features such as a new conversation thread view and speech-to-text conversion for voice-mail previews. It requires 64-bit (x64) editions of Windows Server 2008 or later and will not run on Windows Server 2003 or Windows Server 2003 R2.

Exchange Server 2007 was updated with SP2 in Aug. 2009, which includes several administration improvements and must be installed on Exchange 2007 servers that will interoperate with Exchange 2010 servers. Outlook 2007 received a second service pack with the release of Office 2007 SP2 in Apr. 2009. The next version, Outlook 2010, is expected in the first half of 2010 and, when used with Exchange 2010, provides new capabilities for managing mail threads and previewing voice mail, among other features.

Microsoft hosts Exchange on dedicated hardware, a service called Exchange Online Dedicated. Microsoft also hosts Exchange in multitenant installations with a service called Exchange Online Standard. Both Exchange Online services rely on Exchange Hosted Services, a collection of Microsoft-hosted services for e-mail archiving and security. Exchange Hosted Services will also continue to be available separately.