Exchange 2003 – features

Exchange 2003 – What’s new?

Exchange 2003, like many of the Microsoft’s 2003 family, is really just a point upgrade over Exchange 2003, e.g. Version 5.0 –> version 5.1.  (This version was formerly code-named Titanium.)

The key new features are:

• Better Anti-spam tools – comprehensive set of filters
• Improved Queue management
• Smoother integration with IIS
• Enhanced OWA.  Now includes a spell checker and X509 certificates
• Outlook Mobile Access (OMA), which functions like OWA for devices
• Cached replication of Outlook 2003.  Cached mode creates a local data file that Outlook uses for all foreground activity. It  then contacts the Exchange server in the background.

Because of their similarity, an upgrade from Exchange 2000 will be easy.  All you really need is service pack 3 for Windows 2000 alternatively use Windows Server 2003 for Active Directory.

Where possible I like to keep systems in synch so I recommend either:

1) Windows 2000, Exchange 2000, Outlook 2000

Or

2) Windows Server 2003, Exchange 2003 and Outlook 2003 (v 11)

My feeling is that not many people will migrate from Exchange 2000 to Exchange 2003, but those who have not yet migrated from Exchange 5.5, will go straight to Exchange 2003.

For much more on Exchange 2003 see here

See Also

• Exchange 2003 – More
• Exchange 2000 New Features
• Exchange 2000 Installation
• Migration from Exchange 5.5 to Exchange 2000
• Exchange 2000 Configuration