MSE Blogs

Did you see the previous four Exchange ’12’ Webcasts that were transmitted in March? Guess what? Microsoft have scheduled two more in April!
TechNet Webcast: Improvements to Calendaring in Exchange “12” (Level 300)Tuesday, April 18, 2006 – 11:30 AM – 12:30 PM Pacific TimePaul Tischhauser, Program Manager, Microsoft CorporationThis webcast provides an in-depth look at the enhancements to calendaring in the next generation of Microsoft Exchange Server, code-named Exchange “12.” We go into detail on improvements to resource scheduling, the new model for free/busy data, and how these features are implemented in Microsoft Office Outlook 2007, formerly code-named Outlook “12”, to provide a better end-user experience.http://msevents.microsoft.com/CUI/EventDetail.aspx?EventID=1032292770&Culture=en-US
TechNet Webcast: Recipient Management, Permissions, and Policies in Exchange “12” (Level 300)Tuesday, April 25, 2006 – 11:30 AM – 12:30 PM Pacific TimeBrad Clark, Program Manager Lead, Microsoft CorporationLearn how to create and manage most types of recipients using the management console and management shell in the next version of Microsoft Exchange Server, code-named Exchange “12,” without Recipient Update Service (RUS) running in the background. See how a lower-level administrator can easily become a Recipient Manager without changing the access control list (ACL). This webcast also provides an overview of the Exchange “12” permissions model along with a primer on provisioning address lists, e-mail address policies (formerly recipient policies), unified messagi

I-mate have now also released firmware updates including the MSFP for their SP5 and SP5m models.
You can go download them either via club.imate.com or ftp://ftp.clubimate.com
Via: http://blogs.msdn.com/jasonlan/archive/2006/03/22/557794.aspx 

Jason Langridge (aka MR Mobile) has created a splendid MS Whitepaper (69 pages!) showing you how to deploy Mobile Messaging with the MSFP and Exchange 2003 SP2.
Get it here.
BTW I currently writing a 5 part article series covering all from the DirectPush technology to the Remote Wipe tool, much of this stuff will probably also be included in this whitepaper (haven’t read all 69 pages yet) but not as detailed which makes it a good first read before moving on to this whitepaper.
 
 

From Matt Hester’s WebLog…
I just wanted to share recent customer question I received from Bob.The story was sparked by a new addition to my technology family.Thanks to Harold Wong, I now have a new HTC Wizard, more importantly it has the new Mobile 5 bits and the security feature pack on it.So I can get direct push of my email without using SMS messaging.Very cool stuff.
The reason I mention this is that currently my team are doing live sessions on Exchange 2003 SP2 and we are discussing the new direct push technology for mobile 5 devices.There has been some confusion on this so I would recommend that you check out Harold’s blog on Mobile 5 and the MSFP: http://blogs.technet.com/haroldwong/archive/2006/01/31/418476.aspx

Back to my point I had one of my event attendees, Bob asked me this: How does Verizon’s wireless-sync workgroup software work in comparison to Microsoft’s Active-sync with Mobile 5 devices?
Here is the answer (BTW, if I misstate the Verizon Technology please comment):
Verizon Wireless Sync (based on what I read here): http://www.verizonwireless.com/b2c/businessSolutions/mobileProfessional/emailOrganizer.jsp?action=mpEmail
Mail comes into your Exchange Server is sends it to the Client.Then the Client, using their wireless sync software sends an IP notification and pushes the email to the device via IP.By installing Verizon’s Wireless Sync on your desktop PC, as long as your PC is left on and in a condition to receive email, you’ll get new emails, calendar, contact, and task information sent to your mobile device whenever you&rsquo

Great post about Exchange 2003 mobile messaging over at Eileen Brown’s blog…Every month I get an internal email newsletter from David in Denver. He’s a technical specialist focused on Exchange, so our paths cross quite a bit (I last saw him during out Exchange 12 training in Redmond in January). Well, he hasn’t got a blog (why David?) which is strange, because his newsletters are full of the most amazing hints and tips, and have a full collection of technical resources in one place. So I’ve pinched the lot from his latest newsletter for wider distribution. He was planning to deliver a mobility tour in the US in February and collated all of these links. So with apologies if you’ve seen these before, and thanks to David for doing such a great job, here are all of his links on Exchange and mobility:
Step By Step Guide to setting up Windows Mobile and Exchange Server 2003: Microsoft IT Scalability Experience With Windows Mobile Exchange Server 2003: Exchange Server ActiveSync (EAS) FAQ:
Exchange Server 2003 documentation:• Chapter 6, "Managing Client Access to Exchange Server" in the Exchange Server 2003 Administration Guide• Chapter 8, "Configuring Exchange Server 2003 for Client Access" in the Exchange Server 2003 Deployment GuideClient Access Guide for Exchange Server 2003:     
Windows Mobile Enterprise Resource Kit:
Microsoft Exchange Server ActiveSync Certificate-Based Authentication Deployment (English only)Provides several tools to help an Exchange administrator conf

We’ve now got the promised push-email update for the HTC Wizard in the form of the QTek 9100 AKU2 update and the HTC Universal with the i-Mate JasJar one. But what of that Orange SPV C600 update? Well, it’s here that I’d like to ask you guys a few questions….I’ve been using it for a few days and I’ve noticed a problem. For some reason, with the keypad lock on, all of my power management settings are completely ignored. It was never this way before. Do you like your screen on all the time? Well tough, with the keylock on it goes off after a few seconds.Anyone else noticed this?Source: http://www.coolsmartphone.com/news2236.html

Here’s another "must read" article from the You Had Me At EHLO blog.
 
Introduction

When selecting hardware for your Exchange servers, there are many things that you must consider. Two of the most critical resources are processor and memory.

This blog provides rough guidelines for processor/memory configurations that provide good performance for Exchange 2003 while also providing a strong platform for Exchange Server 12. Recommendations will also be made on how server hardware deployed for Exchange 2003 roles can be re-utilized for Exchange Server 12 on a per server role basis (e.g. Mailbox, Client Access Server (CAS) etc).With this in mind, I have tried to make safe/highly confident predictions concerning what processor/memory configurations work well for E12 server roles to help administrators maintain current Exchange 2003 environments with an eye toward the future.

***This information is provided with the caveat that Exchange 12 is still under development and processor/memory metrics may change.This information will be updated as "Best Practices" are defined for Exchange 12.***

Why are Exchange 12 server hardware requirements different from previous versions of Exchange (2003)?

The primary hardware difference between Exchange 2003 and Exchange 12 is the move from a 32-bit platform (Exchange 2003) to a 64-bit platform (Exchange 12).Exchange 12 will only be supported in production environments when it is running on an x64 edition of Windows Server 2003.

The change from a 32-bit platform to a 64-bit platform requires a new approach to choosing server har

I must admit RIM are going in the right direction with this move, especially with Exchange 12 (E12) on the horizon…
Acquisition Enables RIM to Deliver Enhanced Voice Solutions to Enterprise Customers
San Jose, CA and Waterloo, ON – Research In Motion (RIM) (Nasdaq: RIMM; TSX: RIM) today announced it has acquired Ascendent Systems, a leading provider of solutions that simplify voice mobility implementations in the enterprise. Ascendent, a member of the BlackBerry® ISV Alliance Program, makes the Ascendent® Voice Mobility Suite, a standards-based software solution that augments existing PBX (Private Branch Exchange) and IP-PBX (Internet Protocol Private Branch Exchange) systems and supports heterogeneous telephony environments to "push" voice calls and extend corporate desk phone functionality to mobile users on their wireless handset or any wireline phone. Ascendent will become a wholly-owned subsidiary of RIM. Terms of the agreement were not disclosed.
“The Ascendent Voice Mobility Suite is a perfect complement to the BlackBerry Enterprise Solution. This deal allows us to further extend and enhance the use of wireless communications in the enterprise by offering a voice mobility solution that helps customers align their mobile voice and data strategies,” said Jim Balsillie, Chairman and Co-CEO at RIM.
“We developed a solution that extends the identity, security and manageability of the corporate desk phone to the wireless phone. It allows enterprises to be more responsive to their customers, encourages collaboration and increases sales opportunities by providing a mob

New Release Makes it Easier to Manage Larger BlackBerry Deployments, Provides Integration with Enterprise Instant Messaging (IM) Systems, and Incorporates a New Visual Development Tool for Creating Applications from Web Services
Waterloo, ON – Research In Motion (RIM) (Nasdaq: RIMM; TSX: RIM) today announced the immediate availability of BlackBerry Enterprise Server™ v4.1 and BlackBerry Enterprise Server – Small Business Edition v4.1 for Microsoft® Exchange and IBM Lotus® Domino™. The latest versions of BlackBerry Enterprise Server build upon the manageability and power of BlackBerry® as a platform for wireless communications and mobile access to corporate data.
Incorporating feedback from thousands of enterprise customers across the globe, BlackBerry Enterprise Server v4.1 includes new functionality that makes it easier than ever to expand populations of BlackBerry users and manage larger scale deployments. The new release further expands wireless communications in the enterprise by providing tight integration with leading platforms for enterprise instant messaging, including Microsoft Windows Messenger, Live Communications Server 2005 and IBM Lotus Sametime. BlackBerry Enterprise Server v4.1 also incorporates support for the new BlackBerry Mobile Data System™ v4.1 (MDS) application development and deployment environment, which includes BlackBerry MDS Studio™ (a new visual development tool for creating BlackBerry wireless applications from Web Services).
“RIM continues to enhance the BlackBerry platform and extend its industry leadership. BlackBerry Enterprise Server v4.1