Exchange Server Overview

New features and enhancements in Exchange 2013 include architecture and administration simplifications (such as a reduction in server roles and integrated on-premises and Exchange Online management); data sharing with SharePoint; Outlook Web App (OWA) updates such as offline access and a new user interface designed to work better on touch-based devices; more ways to handle messaging policies (such as retention and searching); built-in antimalware tools; and improvements to public folder infrastructure. Exchange 2013 is compatible with Exchange 2007 and later and Outlook 2007 and later. Exchange 2010 SP3 is required for Exchange 2010 coexistence with Exchange 2013, and Exchange 2007 SP3 Update Rollup 6 is required for Exchange 2007 coexistence with Exchange 2013. Coexistence with Exchange 2013 also requires Exchange 2013 Cumulative Update 1 or later.

Exchange 2013 SP1 became generally available in Feb. 2014, and it delivers support for Windows Server 2012 R2, the return of the Edge Transport Server role, and other features. There will probably be another Exchange 2013 service pack around the time the next major version of Exchange is released to provide coexistence support and possibly compatibility with the next major version of Windows Server.