Aside from obvious management and administrative improvements, and new Windows PowerShell-based access to the product, Microsoft introduced the idea of unified messaging and aims to transform the way organizations handle a flood of messages in a number of formats. There are also new VoIP-based requirements for the new features. Let's take a look at exactly what's new and what's needed to take advantage of this new release.

Unified messaging

Exchange Server 2007 integrates the concept of "unified messaging" throughout all of the corners of the product -- a way of thinking about the Exchange mailbox as a central place to interact with the different aspects of a user's life. Exchange Server 2007 wants every piece of personal information or data to cross its path so it can help the user manage it, wherever and whenever.

Seamless access to e-mail, voice mail, faxes, calendar items, your to-do list, from essentially any device -- including a phone -- is part of the idea. Exchange also wants to blur the line between what format a piece of data is in. No longer should it matter, according to Microsoft, whether you have information contained in a voicemail message, a fax, or an e-mail--- they are all actionable items, able to be consumed and stored in the most convenient format for the user.

So how is unified messaging implemented in practice, at least in this release? It appears namely in two areas: Outlook Voice Access and new wireless capabilities and support.