Communications

Communication is the lifeblood of businesses—and not just network communications, important as they are. Windows 2000 includes dozens of enhancements to make communicating easier and more reliable. For connections both inside and outside your business, Windows 2000 offers the following tools:

• Through the Internet support built into Windows 2000 Professional and Windows XP Professional, users can send e-mail, chat, and view newsgroups.
• Windows 2000 provides client support for the industry-standard virtual private network (VPN) through two protocols: the Point-to-Point Tunneling Protocol (PPTP) and the Layer Two Tunneling Protocol (L2TP). These protocols allow clients or branch offices to connect to another network (such as their corporate network) over the Internet.
• Microsoft Outlook Express, an Internet standards-based e-mail client, is built into Windows 2000 Professional and Windows XP Professional.
• Users can send, receive, monitor, and administer faxes directly from the desktop. Several easy-to-use utilities are available right from the Start menu.