Expanding into the New Wireless and Mobility Technologies

In addition to the Outlook Web Access client, Exchange 2003 also added new wireless and mobility technologies for the use of wireless phones and Pocket PC devices for access to mail and messaging, as shown in Figure 1.3. The new mobility technologies built in to Exchange 2003 minimize the need for users to have a separate mobile phone, PDA, and wireless email device lining their beltline. With multifunction mobile phones enabled with Pocket PC technologies, a user can have a single device that provides real-time email, calendar, contacts, and Internet access. Exchange 2003 provides real-time synchronization of information with mobile devices.

Figure 1.3. Outlook client on Pocket PC.

Although mobile device synchronization has existed for a few years , the utilities were typically add-ons to messaging systems that required additional costs and had complicated integration requirements. With mobility technologies built directly in to Exchange 2003, the licensing is part of the user cost, so a single-user license covers the cost of a full Outlook client, Web access client, and mobile phone or mobile device access client license. Because the mobility software is built directly in to Exchange 2003, there are no special installation or integration requirements. A user's mailbox is mobility-enabled, simplifying the process of providing mobile access to mail, calendars, contacts, and other Exchange system information.

Mobility is covered in Part VII, "New Mobility Functionality in Microsoft Exchange Server 2003" in three chapters of the book: Chapter 22, "Designing Mobility in Exchange Server 2003," Chapter 23, "Implementing Mobile Synchronization in Exchange Server 2003," and Chapter 24, "Configuring Client Systems for Mobility."