Client Software Choices

Summary: This page describes the capabilities of the supported client software programs. For instructions on connecting to the UW Exchange Server from each of the supported clients, see Connecting to the Server.

Topics on this page

• Comparing Client Software Programs
• Outlook (Windows)
• Outlook Web Access (OWA)
• Entourage (MacOS)
• Windows Mobile Devices
• Blackberry
• Email-only Clients

Comparing Client Software Programs

Different client software programs provide different feature sets in the Exchange environment, with Outlook 2007 providing the richest user experience. The differences have been described in several ways:

• Results of UW Technology internal testing. UW Technology tested a few common email and calendar tasks using each client software program and compared the results to Outlook 2007.
• Feature comparison table from Colorado State University. Colorado State University migrated to Exchange and provided this data.
• Table from Microsoft comparing Outlook 2007, Outlook 2003, and Outlook Web Access.

Outlook (Windows)

Microsoft Outlook is Microsoft's Exchange client software program for Windows. Outlook must be appropriately licensed for use on the computer you are using, it is most often licensed as a component of Microsoft Office.

The current version (Outlook 2007) provides access to all the functionality of Microsoft Exchange Server 2007. Outlook 2007 is strongly recommended for use with UW Exchange. Outlook version 2002/2003 may also be used, with some reduction in access to Exchange Server 2007 features. Versions of Outlook prior to Outlook 2002 are not supported by Microsoft for use with Exchange Server 2007.

The Microsoft Web site has a table that describes the Exchange 2007 features that are available with Outlook 2007, Outlook 2003, Outlook Web Access 2007, and Outlook Web Access 2007 SP 1.

A table from Microsoft describes which versions of Outlook work with which versions of Exchange.

For instructions on connecting to the Exchange Server from Outlook, see Outlook 2007 (Vista and XP) and Exchange or Outlook 2003 and Exchange.

Outlook Web Access (OWA)

Outlook Web Access (OWA) allows you to connect to the Exchange Server by using only a Web browser. No other client software is needed. OWA comes in two versions:

• If you are using Internet Explorer (version 6 or above) on a Windows computer, you can use the Premium version, which provides the most features. You can also choose to use the Light version (for slow connections), which does not include all of the features of the Premium version.
• If you are using browsers other than  Explorer (version 6 or above), you get the Light version, which does not include all of the features of the Premium version. For information on the differences see Exchange Client Software Feature Comparison.

For information about the new Exchange 2007 SP1 features available through OWA Premium and Light versions, see the Microsoft TechNet article New Client Access Features in Exchange 2007 SP1.

For instructions on connecting to the Exchange Server using Outlook Web Access, see Outlook Web Access and UW Exchange.

Entourage (MacOS)

Entourage is Microsoft's Exchange client software program for Macintosh computers. Entourage must be appropriately licensed for use on the computer you are using. It is most often licensed as a component of Microsoft Office for Macintosh.

The current version (Entourage 2004 SP2) provides the best available solution for Macintosh connectivity to Exchange 2007. A new version (Entourage 2008) is currently in beta test and should provide more functionality.

For instructions on connecting to the Exchange Server using Entourage, see Entourage 2004 and Exchange.

Windows Mobile Devices

Windows Mobile devices come with all the software needed to access Exchange. You'll typically see this on the mobile device as ActiveSync, Outlook E-mail, Calendar, and Contacts.

For instructions on connecting to the Exchange Server using Windows Mobile devices, see Windows Mobile Devices and UW Exchange.

Blackberry

See Blackberry and UW Exchange.

Email-only Client Software Programs

Any email client software program that uses the IMAP protocol can work with UW Exchange. UW Exchange does not support the POP3 protocol.

POP3 and IMAP4 are two common mailbox access protocols used for Internet e-mail.

• POP3 (Post Office Protocol 3) provides a message store that holds incoming e-mail until users log on and download it.
• IMAP (Internet Message Access Protocol) IMAP provides a message store that holds incoming e-mail until users log on and download it.

Thunderbird and PC-Pine are two popular IMAP email clients in use at the University of Washington.

When you connect to an Exchange server using the IMAP protocol, you get only email functionality. You do not get access to the other features of Exchange: calendar, tasks, and contacts. To get the full set of Exchange features, use an Exchange client software program, such as Outlook or Entourage.

For instructions on connecting to the UW Exchange server using several popular email-only client software programs, see Connecting to the Server.