Understanding Microsoft s Direction on OWA

Understanding Microsoft's Direction on OWA

Outlook Web Access in Exchange 2003 provides a much more robust client interface, available via the Web. Additionally, OWA leverages newer technology, such as XML and the .NET framework, to make it more powerful and useful. Arguably, OWA has changed the most of any aspect of Exchange 2003 from previous versions.

Creating a Common Interface

A tremendous change in the 2003 OWA and previous versions of OWA is its look and feel and its similarity to the full Outlook 2003, which is covered in Chapter 25, "Getting the Most Out of the Microsoft Office Client." Although there are still differences between Outlook 2003 and OWA (including those inherent in using Web-based access and standard access), the look and feel and many of the features are exactly the same. Elements such as spell checker, keyboard shortcuts, the ability to configure rules, reading panes, and other improvements help it feel familiar and therefore easier and friendlier to use, even for the least savvy end- user .

Making a Full-Feature Web Client

The offshoot of creating OWA in this manner is that clients feel more comfortable using OWA as their only mail client, secure in the knowledge that they do so without losing many features or much functionality! OWA is no longer regarded as only a remote access mail client, but can be used day in and day out by users both in the office and out of it. Some organizations might even decide not to deploy the full Outlook 2003 at all, and use OWA exclusively as the standard Exchange client for their users. However, it should be noted that Outlook 2003 does provide additional features that OWA doesn't provide, but the more robust OWA certainly makes it an attractive alternative.

Integrating XML in the Client Interface

Microsoft has taken the major step of integrating XML into the client interface of OWA, because the integration of XML into all Microsoft products that use the Web is a major push for Microsoft. This means that OWA can better integrate data, and a similar code is used throughout Exchange and other Microsoft products that are served on the Web, such as Outlook Mobile Access (OMA) devices. The inclusion of XML and IIS 6 means that OWA is more secure and better locked down than previous versions.

Leveraging the .NET framework

OWA uses the new .NET framework and Internet-centric technology that enables applications to more easily integrate with each other. It sits on top of XML Web services but enables XML to be used by OWA. It uses the powerful .NET framework to be more compatible with other technologies to a deeper level ”to exchange data on a Web-based communications layer. The .NET framework also enables a user to access OWA using IE 6 (SP1 or higher) to use the Microsoft Passport functionality to access OWA and the MapPoint functionality in contacts discussed later in this chapter. The .NET framework makes OWA a better Web interface and application.