[oxse-announce] Open-Xchange releases OXtender 2 for Microsoft Outlook

[Open-Xchange Server Edition Maintenance Announcements]

Dear Customers of Open-Xchange,
 
The Open-Xchange OXtender 2 for Microsoft Outlook® lets users keep their familiar Outlook client when their organization moves to Open-Xchange Server. Users feel right at home working with their Outlook interface while in the background the OXtender synchronizes E-Mails, Calendar, Contacts and Tasks, along with Public, Shared and System Folders. Real-time synchronization enables fast response times, so teams can work as efficiently as possible.
 
The OXtender 2 for Microsoft Outlook uses the newly introduced Open-Xchange Universal Synchronization Machine (USM), which saves the client state and manages  the data stream between Microsoft Outlook and Open-Xchange connector. USM only processes the data changes, filters them to ensure fast access and holds them temporarily in cache. The connector software used JSON protocol. Within Outlook MAPI is used, of course, to handle the data. USM is sending information on availability of new objects to Outlook using a sophisticated push notification architecture.
 
Features and benefits of OXtender 2 for Microsoft Outlook:
 
- E-Mail push synchronization (server push bundle is required)
- Calendar, Tasks and Contact (incl. distribution lists, pictures and attachments) data push
- Public, private and shared folders synchronization
- Synchronization of public, private and shared address books
- Distribution-list synchronization
- Categories and reminder setting synchronization
- Free/Busy function in Microsoft Outlook to schedule appointments
- Labels designating personal (private) appointments in Microsoft Outlook
- Change personal settings in Microsoft Outlook (i.e. email signature)
- Password changes in Microsoft Outlook
- Change email filter rules in Microsoft Outlook
- Vacation notice changes in Microsoft Outlook
- Offline/Online Synchronization: Any changes that are made using Microsoft Outlook offline will be automatically synchronized the next time you go online
- Confirmation status for appointments (accepted, declined, tentative)
 
Availability:
 
OXtender 2 for Microsoft Outlook is part of the offering for Open-Xchange Server Edition, Open-Xchange Hosting Edition and Open-Xchange Advanced Server Edition via Open-Xchange and its partners. The new OXtender will be available for the Open-Xchange Appliance Edition End of February 2011.
 
Requirements:
 
- Open-Xchange Server 6: OX v6.18.2 Rev 19 (built 2011-02-03) (Public PTF 2011-02-07 for v.6.18.2)
- Client PC operating system: Latest Versions of Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7 (each with 32 + 64 bit) (no support of Mac OS X clients with emulators)
- Supported Outlook versions: Latest Versions of Microsoft Outlook 2003, Microsoft Outlook 2007, Outlook 2010 (only 32 bit)
 
Installation of the new Version:
 
Please follow the instructions to install the new version: 
http://oxpedia.org/wiki/index.php?title=OXtender_2_for_Microsoft_Outlook
 
For more information, please visit:
http://www.open-xchange.com/en/products/oxtender/outlook-oxtender
 
Please Note: Open-Xchange still provides support for the old version OXtender for Microsoft Outlook until January 31, 2012 but no further feature development will happen for the old version. Bugs in the categories "blocker", "critical" and "major" will also be fixed until January 31, 2012. After January 31, 2012 Open-Xchange discontinues support for the old version entirely.
 
Best regards,
Your Open-Xchange Team
 
--
Open-Xchange AG,  Maxfeldstr. 9, 90409 Nürnberg
info at open-xchange.com [mailto:info at open-xchange.com] 
Amtsgericht Nürnberg HRB 24738
Vorstand: Rafael Laguna de la Vera, 
Aufsichtsratsvorsitzender: Richard Seibt