Microsoft Touts Exchange 2007's Mobility Features

BOSTON -- Microsoft today showed off new mobility features that will be available in Exchange Server 2007, the next version of the company's e-mail and messaging software.

The forthcoming update improves e-mail searches on mobile devices, allowing users to search through a greater number of e-mails on mobile devices than they can right now, said Megan Kidd, group product manager for Exchange 2007, at the company's TechEd conference here.

The new software also will allow a remote user to wipe all Exchange Server-fed data from a device if it is lost or stolen. Currently, only someone with Exchange Server administrator privileges can do this.

Exchange Server 2007 also will allow mobile device users to reply to meeting requests in a variety of ways, Kidd said. Currently, when users receive a meeting request from Exchange Server on a mobile device, they can only reply by accepting or declining the invitation. With Exchange Server 2007, a user will be able to do either of those things and send an e-mail reply to the sender or forward the message.

Mobile User Improvements

Devices that license Microsoft's ActiveSync technology will be able to leverage Exchange Server 2007's new mobility features. So far, Microsoft has not lined up vendors to support the new software, but the company expects there will be devices available next year after the general availability of Exchange Server 2007, Kidd said.

Microsoft plans to release a public beta of Exchange Server 2007 at the end of July. Users can pre-register for the beta now at www.microsoft.com/exchange/preview.

Exchange Server 2007 will ship either at the end of 2006 or in early 2007.