Using Exchange 2007 has subtle implications for Mail. Connected to an Exchange 2007 Server, however, Mail acts like Entourage - persistantly synced. In other words, ActiveSync doesn't do anything Mail continues to synchronize based on the schedule you've chosen, and as with the iPhone, folder mail is updated only when the folder is opened. Connecting to an Exchange 2003 Server via Apple's Mail is done via IMAP, which Snow Leopard's Mail 4.0 calls IMAP Exchange and Leopard's Mail calls simply Exchange.

It's simply there, enabling Microsoft's Entourage (2004 or 2008) to keep synced with your Exchange server, updating your folders regardless of whether you open them. In business, using ActiveSync at first appears to be a nonevent. But note the requirement to use Exchange 2007 for native access, though there's no need for an Exchange client license on the Mac. And Mac OS X Snow Leopard will come with native Exchange support via ActiveSync as well, so you can use Apple's Mail client or Microsoft's Entourage client with Exchange 2007 Server natively - no longer are you restricted to using IMAP. The new iPhone OS 3.0 due out this summer is said to extend the business-oriented security features even further. A year ago, the iPhone added native Exchange support via Microsoft's ActiveSync, including remote kill capabilities and other management features via Exchange. Native Exchange support on a Mac You could easily argue that Apple's public lack of interest in business users masks a stealth strategy to worm its way into the enterprise without being held accountable.

Even if IT doesn't like the Mac's presence, and even if Apple doesn't care to commit to enterprise support, Macs are now better business clients than ever. As for Mac OS's showing among those connected to the Internet, NetApplications has Mac OS X at 9.8 percent. And, according to a Technology Intelligence survey, nearly a quarter of businesses have at least 30 Macs. market share, hovering between 7 and 8 percent (with a share of about 4 percent in business). And yet, the newest Mac OS - Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard, due to be released in September - has two major changes aimed directly at business users and the IT staff that supports them.ĭespite that mutual disinterest, metrics from both IDC and Gartner show that Mac OS has held steady in U.S.

It's the OS that won't go away, despite many enterprises' avowed distaste and Apple's own public disinclination to support enterprise usage.

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