• Exchange 12 Unified Messaging - Outlook Voice Access (OVA)
• Henrik Walther?s Exchange Server 2003 Security book -- Order Today!
• MSExchange.org Learning Zone Articles of Interest
• KB Articles of the Month
• Tip of the Month
• MSExchange Links of the Month
• Ask Henrik Walther a question

1. Exchange 12 Unified Messaging - Outlook Voice Access (OVA)

You've probably heard the term Unified Messaging mentioned several times in relation to the upcoming version of Exchange - Exchange 12. But what's hiding behind the term anyway? Well, Unified Messaging is a totally new feature in Exchange 12 that among other things integrates voicemail capabilities, which provides your users with voice access to their mailboxes from a phone. This new feature is called OVA (yes that's right OVA which is short for Outlook Voice Access) and makes it possible for your users to, for example, re-schedule and cancel meetings, reply or delete email messages through speech recognition (OVA is based on the Microsoft Speech Server product). OVA also makes it possible for your users to receive voicemail as email messages, meaning that when somebody calls you at work, and you're not there to receive the call, the call gets redirected to the Unified Messaging server, which then delivers an email message with an attached .WMA file including the voice message. When you reach your desk again or perhaps access your mailbox via OWA from home you can then simply double-click on the attached .WMA file and listen to it in Windows Media Player (or have the message directed to your phone).

Another killer feature in OVA is that your users will have the possibility to listen to unread email messages over the phone. You can also call a user in the particular organization's GAL by dialing into your mailbox.

I agree many of the features which will be included in OVA already are possible via technologies such as Exchange ActiveSync (EAS) and Outlook Mobile Access (OMA), but one place where I really look forward to using OVA is when I'm driving around in my car. You know as well as me it's quite difficult, as well as illegal (at least here in Denmark) to sit and play with your mobile phone while driving. With OVA you just dial a number and you can check your mail, calendar etc. simply by speaking to your mailbox. Can it be better than that? I don't think so.

I only touched the surface of what will be possible when it comes to the new OVA feature, which will be included in Exchange 12, but hopefully I gave you an idea of what to expect. As I also promised you in the January newsletter, you can look forward to some in-depth articles covering OVA and many other exciting Exchange 12 features here on MSExchange.org.

That was all for this time. Should you have any ideas for content in future editions of the MSExchange.org newsletter, you're more than welcome to shoot me an email at Henrik@msexchange.org.

2. Henrik Walther?s Exchange Server 2003 Security book - Order Today!

By Henrik Walther Are you among the persons who like the articles I write for MSExchange.org? Then this book is definitely for you. It provides you with step by step instructions on how you get your Exchange Server properly secured. The book covers topics such as how to: Secure OWA 2003 (including many real world tips and tricks) Configure and secure SMTP Setup protocol and client encryption Delegate and control permissions Combating spam and virus

Click here to Order your copy today

3. MSExchange.org Learning Zone Articles of Interest

We have a great group of articles in the Learning Zone that will help you get a handle on your most difficult configuration issues. Here are just a few of the newer and more interesting articles:

• Explaining the new MAPI Access feature included in Exchange Server 2003 Service Pack 2
• Creating Exchange Users with Excel
• A look at the Microsoft Exchange Server Profile Analyzer (EPA) Tool
• Provisioning Outlook Web Access 2003
• How to change the POP3 / IMAP4 and SMTP banner in Exchange 2003
• Creating and Using Moderated Public Folders in MS Exchange Server

4. KB Articles of the Month

Here are some interesting and useful MSExchange related articles posted by Microsoft in the last month:

• The display name in e-mail messages contains localized language characters that are incorrect after you synchronize Windows Mobile with Exchange Server 2003 Service Pack 2
• The "Sender ID Filtering" feature does not work correctly in an Exchange Server 2003 SP2 server
• A duplicate message is delivered to a public folder in Exchange Server 2003 SP2
• Error message when you run the Eseutil command to determine the amount of free space in a database file in Exchange Server 2003 Service Pack 2 or in Exchange Server 2003 Service Pack 1: "Usage error: Source database has no streaming file"
• The expected e-mail messages are not found when you use Message Tracking Center in Exchange Server 2003 Service Pack 2

5. Tip of the Month

Since the release of Exchange 2003 Server SP2, I've seen many issues related to the Intelligent Message Filter (IMF). As most of you know IMF is, after installation of Exchange 2003 SP2, an integrated part of the Exchange 2003 Server product. Before SP2 IMF was a separate add-on, that could be downloaded from the Microsoft.com site (and of course still can be downloaded by those of you not running Exchange 2003 SP2 yet). This means that you must uninstall IMF v1 from the server, before you start applying Exchange 2003 SP2. Failing to do so will typically end in a warning message informing you to uninstall IMF v2 before preceding with the installation of Exchange 2003 SP2, but in some situations the Exchange 2003 SP2 installation wizard simply continues. This typically ends up in a malfunctioning IMF, and will in worst case stop all inbound SMTP mail flow.

The above issue leads me to one word of advice - always be sure to read the release notes before you apply a service pack, this is not only the case with Exchange but with all Microsoft products.

6. MSExchange Links of the Month

Since the main topic of this newsletter is around Exchange 12 Unified Messaging, I thought it would be a good idea to list below two articles which talks more about this feature in general.

Microsoft Exchange Server: Exchange Unified Messaging Integrates Communications

http://www.microsoft.com/exchange/preview/unified_messaging.mspx

Q&A: Microsoft Forms Unified Communications Group to Deliver Innovative Communications Solutions

http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/features/2006/jan06/01-30UnifiedComms.mspx

March will be a very exciting month when speaking Exchange 12, because not only will a special version of the product be included in the March Technet shipment, the Microsoft Technet team will also present four Exchange 12 specific Webcasts!

TechNet Webcast: An Overview of Exchange "12" (Level 200)
The next major version of Microsoft Exchange Server (code-named Exchange "12"), represents a leap forward in technology, enhancing information workers access to larger mailboxes while giving the e-mail administrator a more manageable and secure e-mail infrastructure. This webcast provides an overview of the product direction and offers a sneak peek at some of the new feature enhancements that will be included in Exchange 12.

Start Time: Tuesday, March 14, 2006 1:00 PM (GMT-08:00) Pacific Time (US & Canada)
End Time: Tuesday, March 14, 2006 2:30 PM (GMT-08:00) Pacific Time (US & Canada)

TechNet Webcast: Giving the Administrator More Control in Exchange "12" (Level 200)
You can now have a complete and scriptable command-line interface for Microsoft Exchange Server. In this webcast, find out about the biggest changes for administrators in the next version of Exchange (code-named Exchange "12"), from the new setup interface and Exchange System Manager to the Exchange command-line shell. See an overview of the updated architecture of Exchange "12" and learn how improvements to input/output and advances in high availability and disaster recovery can make large mailboxes widely available at lower cost.

Start Time: Wednesday, March 15, 2006 11:30 AM (GMT-08:00) Pacific Time (US & Canada)
End Time: Wednesday, March 15, 2006 1:00 PM (GMT-08:00) Pacific Time (US & Canada)

TechNet Webcast: Client Access and Web Services in Exchange "12" (Level 200)
The front-end server you know from Microsoft Exchange Server 2003 has evolved into the Client Access Services role in the latest release (code-named Exchange "12"). Along with the name change comes new capabilities and broader access to the resources in the Exchange environment. In this webcast, learn about advances in Exchange "12" client access support, including Microsoft Office Outlook Web Access. We also show you how to integrate mail, calendar, and other data from the Exchange store into your line-of-business applications.

Start Time: Thursday, March 16, 2006 11:30 AM (GMT-08:00) Pacific Time (US & Canada)
End Time: Thursday, March 16, 2006 1:00 PM (GMT-08:00) Pacific Time (US & Canada)

TechNet Webcast: Message Security and Active Protection in Exchange "12" (Level 200)
Regulations, spam, viruses, snoops, and spies are just some of the many threats and complications that affect e-mail today. In this webcast, find out how the next release of Microsoft Exchange Server (code-named Exchange "12"), can help your organization move from insecure, postcard-like e-mail that can be easily intercepted and read, to e-mail in secure digital envelopes that are encrypted and signed. We explore the anti-spam and anti-virus features in Exchange "12" that help create a cleaner message stream. We also look at the updated range of messaging policy and improved regulatory compliance features in this new release, including transport rules, per-user journaling, message labels, and bannering.

Start Time: Friday, March 17, 2006 9:30 AM (GMT-08:00) Pacific Time (US & Canada) 1830 UK Time
End Time: Friday, March 17, 2006 11:00 AM (GMT-08:00) Pacific Time (US & Canada) 2000 UK Time

7. Ask Henrik Walther a question

QUESTION: Our organization is right about to start migrating from Exchange 5.5 to Exchange Server 2003. Now that Exchange 12 is around the corner would you recommend we hold our horses and migrate directly to Exchange 12 instead?

ANSWER: The answer is no and this is for several reasons. First, a transition from Exchange 2003 Server to Exchange 12 will be much easier than a migration from Exchange 5.5. Second, Exchange 2003 and Exchange 12 coexist quite nicely together. But when this is said you should bear in mind that Exchange 12 will only run on x64 servers, this means you already should consider using x64 hardware in your Exchange 2003 migration. But can I install Exchange 2003 on x64 hardware? Yes both the 32-bit version of Windows 2003 Server and Exchange 2003 Server are supported on x64 hardware, just remember Exchange 2003 isn't supported and cannot be installed on top of a Windows 2003 Server 64-bit version.