Microsoft reveals Exchange 2010 with public beta

Microsoft today revealed Exchange 2010 and promised the product will become available in the second half of 2009.

Microsoft also hinted that Office 2010 and related products will enter technical preview in the third quarter of 2009 and become available in the first half of 2010.

Amongst the usual fanfare of lower costs for deployment and management options the company touted improved features in it's Outlook Web Access for Exchange mailboxes. Amongst the new features:

• MailTips. Warn users before they commit an e-mail faux pas such as sending mail to large distribution groups, to recipients who are out of the office or to recipients outside the organization, helping protect against information leaks and reduce unnecessary e-mail messages.
  
• Voice Mail Preview. See text previews of voice mail directly in Outlook.
  
• Ignore Conversation. This e-mail "mute button" allows people to remove themselves from an irrelevant e-mail string, reducing unwanted e-mail and runaway reply-all threads.
  
• Conversation View. Combine related e-mail messages in a single conversation to reduce inbox clutter.
  
• Call Answering Rules. Create customized "Press 1 for ..." call-routing menus with Exchange voice mail.
  
• Consistent Experience. Use Outlook on the PC, a mobile phone or a browser for the same experience with enhancements in Outlook Mobile and Outlook Web Access.