What's New in the OWA Client (Since Exchange 2000)

There are many new features in OWA 2003. This section discusses old and new features. Table 26.1 details the new features and indicates which are available in both basic and premium modes, and which are available only in the premium mode. The table does not include a full list of OWA features.

Table 26.1. Features of OWA

Feature	New Feature	Premium Mode Only	Basic and Premium Mode
User interface
New user interface	X		X
Resize panes	X	X
Public folders open in own window	X	X
Last window size remembered	X	X
Split screen view	X	X
Logoff on toolbar	X	X
Deferred View Update	X	X
General Functionality
Keyboard shortcuts	X	X
Saved searches	X	X
Items per page	X		X
Search folders shown in folder tree	X	X
GAL property sheets	More Information in the sheets		X (but only in received items and draft items)
Server-side rules	X	X
Spell Checker	X	X
Context menus/right-click functionality	X	X
Notifications of new email and reminder in Navigation pane	X	X
Mail Functionality
Send/receive email			X
Two-line view	X	X
Preview pane	X	X
New message notification		X
Quick flags	X	X
Auto signature	X		X
Mark message read/unread	X	X
Message sensitivity Infobar	X		X
Mail icons	X		X
Find names from messages	X	X
Customizable font in email editor	X	X
Reply/forward in Infobar	X		X
Calendar Functionality
Reply to/forward meeting requests	X		X
Preferred reminder time changes	X	X
Launch invitation in own window	X	X
Receive reminders			X
Set default reminder time	X
View calendar from meeting request	X	X
Contact Functionality
Create contacts			X
Add recipients to contacts	X	X
Send mail from find names	X	X
Tasks Functionality
Create tasks	X		X (but no reminders)
Set default reminder time	X
Security Upgrades
S/MIME support	X	X
Clearing credentials at logoff IE 6 SP1 or later	X	X
Cookie authentication time-out	X	X
Block external content—spam beacon blocking	X		X
Timed logoff	X		X
Attachment blocking (basic OK)	X		X

Logging In

The login interface might appear different from the older versions of OWA, depending on the configuration of the Exchange server.

Logon Screens

If the Exchange server is configured to use forms-based authentication, users can choose basic or premium mode upon logon if they are using Internet Explorer 5.01 or greater, as shown in Figure 26.3.

If the Exchange server is configured for forms-based authentication but you are using an older version of IE or another application, such as Netscape, you receive the authentication screen, but not the choice of basic or premium mode.

If the server isn't configured to use forms-based authentication, you receive a basic logon screen and when logged in, receive premium or basic mode, depending on what application was used to access OWA.

Login Credentials

Also depending on how the administrator has configured OWA, users might have to enter their domain name, and then their username—for example, companyabcAmanda. The user may use the fully qualified name, such as [email protected]. Users also might be able to omit the domain name and enter just a username—for example, Amanda. After successfully logging in, the user is presented with the default OWA screen.

Security Options on Logon

When presented with the basic/premium logon window, there are also options available regarding security. Users can choose whether they are on a public or shared computer or a private computer.

If the Private Computer option is clicked, the time before OWA automatically logs off after inactivity is longer than if the Public or shared computer option is selected.