Outlook Web Access

Mobile workers have previously enjoyed the flexibility of Outlook Web Access provided with Exchange. With Exchange Server 2003, Outlook Web Access has even better performance, is more secure, and has usability improvements that closely match those of Outlook 2003.

Outlook Web Access has been greatly improved with Exchange 2003, providing a new user interface, and services that the mobile worker could only previously receive using a full version of Outlook. These features include a spelling checker, additional views, S/MIME encrypted email, auto signatures, right-click mouse functionality, quick flagging, the ability to create e-mail rules, and junk e-mail folder capabilities.

Outlook Web Access Low-Bandwidth Enhancements In many low-bandwidth environments, Outlook Web Access is an obvious solution. With Exchange 2003, core changes have been made to Outlook Web Access that improve the performance of the client. These changes include:

• Bandwidth reduction Changes like removal of white space, shortening variable names, and optimizing the data needed for each line of views cut a substantial number of bytes from a typical user session. • User interface redesign In Exchange 2003, view updates are requested 80% faster than they were in Exchange 2000. This saves almost 24K bps in wire traffic for each message moved or deleted. The new folder list and updates to the view technology save almost 110K bps in wire traffic per typical user session. • Improved user performance With forms-based-authentication, files that Outlook Web Access needs download in the background while the user types in username and password, which improves the process of painting the user interface (UI) on screen. In addition, some script downloads are deferred until needed. These changes result in almost 10 seconds being shaved off of the dial-up logon process. • Network compression Outlook Web Access supports gzip compression between Internet Information Server (an underlying component of Exchange Server 2003) and the browser client. Additional changes now make the feature easier to enable and manage with the Exchange System Manager tool. For SSL-encrypted network traffic, users will realize data reduction on the order of 40% to 60% (depending on individual user traffic).

Overall, these changes provide a dial-up logon experience that’s almost 70% faster than Exchange 2000. Other common operations (such as deleting and moving messages) are more than 60% faster for dial-up users or when connected over a dial-up or low-bandwidth wireless network such as GPRS or 1xRTT.

Using Outlook Web Access to Access Corporate Information over the Internet Due to strict corporate security policies, many mobile workers have been prevented from using Outlook Web Access to connect to an Exchange server from non-corporate access points such as shared computers or public Internet kiosks. This restriction was due in part to the browser window's inability to be closed, meaning the session would not be closed down securely. However, Exchange 2003 has the ability to time out e-mail sessions even if the browser window must remain open. This allows Outlook Web Access to be used in scenarios that were previously impossible due to corporate security policies.

The new and enhanced mobile features in Outlook Web Access are summarized below.

Security enhancements include these added features:

• Session inactivity timeout using forms-based authentication provides support for secure logoff and timed logoff after a period of inactivity, even if the browser is left open with a current session to the server. • S/MIME support (Internet Explorer 6.0 and Microsoft Windows 2000 or later is required). • Web beacon blocking makes it more difficult for senders of spam to confirm e-mail addresses. When a user clicks a hyperlink in the body of an e-mail message, Outlook Web Access helps protect private information from being revealed to the visited Web site.

Usability improvements in the user interface include these added features:

• Two-line view; context menus view; ability to forward meeting requests; notifications on navigation pane; add to contacts functionality; ability to set number of items to view per page, bidirectional layout support for Arabic and Hebrew (Internet Explorer 6.0 required for bidirectional layout); richer support for icons in mail view; options to control when messages are marked as read messages in Reading Pane; public folders now display in their own browser window. • Server-side spelling checker in English, French, German, Italian, Korean, and Spanish. • Access to Global Address Lists properties sheets within an e-mail message or meeting request; message sensitivity settings on the information bar; forward/reply to meeting requests; ability to launch the calendar in its own window from a meeting request, which provides the ability to evaluate and schedule meeting request at the same time. • Management UI for server-side rules; Quick Flags; personal tasks; and message signatures.

Performance improvements include these added features:

• New logon page allows choice between Basic (Netscape and versions of Internet Explorer prior to Internet Explorer 5.01) and Premium (Internet Explorer 5.01 or later) client versions of Outlook Web Access. The Basic client may perform faster in low-bandwidth scenarios. • Gzip compression can provide substantial performance improvements for Outlook Web Access users connecting via dial-up or other low-bandwidth networks. With compression enabled, dial-up logon is almost 70% faster than with Exchange 2000.

Outlook Web Access (OWA) is an ideal companion for roving and mobile users who need access to Microsoft Exchange 2003 when away from their primary workstations. It also acts as a full-functioning client for users who use it as their primary interface to Microsoft Exchange 2003. It provides rich messaging and collaboration with less network overhead. Outlook Web Access includes ample functionality for messaging components such as e-mail, calendaring, and contacts.