Microsoft Exchange Server 2010 Beta Now Available

Originally code-named E14, Microsoft Exchange Server 2010 was released as a beta in the second quarter of 2009. By October 2009, it had been released to manufacturers and then officially launched in early November of the same year. Since then, IT professionals have been upgrading and deploying this latest incarnation of Exchange Server in businesses around the globe.

Microsoft has renewed its commitment to unified communications, and it shows in the new Exchange Server product. Among the enhancements are: lower storage costs, integrated message archives, improved productivity, and consistency amongst PCs and mobile devices. One of the new features is the voicemail preview function. With this feature, you can see text versions of your voicemails from within Microsoft Outlook. Another neat feature is the “Ignore Conversation” button which allows you to remove yourself from irrelevant group emails, thus giving you better control over your incoming messages.

Other features of note include Call Answering Rules which can be customized to route incoming calls and Conversation View which allows you to group messages into conversations rather than individual messages.

Rajesh Jha, Microsoft’s corporate vice president of Exchange, says that the release of Exchange Server 2010 raises the bar with new features that will improve productivity and save companies money. It has been designed for working onsite as well as online.

In fact, the Software Plus Services option makes it possible to either install Exchange Server at the business place or set it up so that it is accessed as a service from Microsoft online. Exchange Server 2010 is the first of the Microsoft Server products to be built from the ground up to include the Software Plus Services features.

With all of the new features, Microsoft Exchange 2010 training is an absolute must for end users as well as the IT professionals responsible for installing, deploying, and maintaining Exchange Server 2010.  In fact, Exchange Server 2010 is not an upgrade from previous versions. IT pros must move databases, uninstall previous versions of Exchange Server, install the new product, and mount the databases.

CBT training is a terrific way to prepare for an Exchange Server 2010 deployment. With this format, you can learn about the new features as well as how to implement and configure and migrate to the Exchange Server product by watching instructor-led training videos on your computer. CBT Planet offers several computer training courses covering Microsoft Servers including Exchange Server 2010.