XP....Where's the Workgroup Mail Server? Part 3 - More Things You Can Do D. E. Levine
Mark Williams wrote us with a question about Microsoft Mail Server, and we thought all of our readers would find both the question and answer of help.
MW: I read your article about Office XP with interest, however, there is one question I am burning to get an answer to...
Where's the Microsoft Mail Server, beloved of Outlook 98, which dealt with the workgroup mail?
I just turfed out 6 old Win 3.11, Win 95, and Win 98 machines and got 6 new Win2KPro Office XP laden machines.
The last week has not been easy. The machines were Dell and all pre-installed with software. But, I got them in, modified, configured, and talking. The one thing that escapes me though is any reference to internal mail connectivity, post offices, whatever.
Where can I find I get information on this area and an answer to my question?
We went to Microsoft and discussed Mark's question with Office XP Product Manager Giovanni Mezgec. Here is his reply:
GM: Outlook 2002 does not support Microsoft Mail Server and Microsoft Mail Fpr PC Networks (which was the mail postoffice technoloy that shipped as part of Windows for Workgroup and Windows 95).
Microsoft Outlook 2002 can be used with a wide variety of e-mail servers and services. The primary e-mail servers and services supported by Outlook include the Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP), the Post Office Protocol version 3 (POP3), the Internet Mail Access Protocol version 4 (IMAP4, the Messaging Application Program Interface (MAPI), which includes servers such as Microsoft Exchange Servcer, Lotus Domino/Notes Server, and Lotus cc:Mail Server.
Office SP customers who are using Microsoft Mail Server can upgrade to Microsoft Exchange Server, upgrade to any other POP3, IMAP4, HTTP, or other MAPI servers, or choose to use a variety of e-mail services provided by ISPs and other service providers.
Additional information can be found on the Office XP Resource Kit on the Microsoft We Site. A good starting point is at Microsoft Office XP.