REDMOND, Wash., Jan. 28, 1997 — Microsoft Corp. today announced the immediate availability of free add-ons to Microsoft® Outlook
™
, the breakthrough desktop information management tool now included in Microsoft Office 97, the world’s best-selling productivity suite. The new Outlook Rules Wizard provides an innovative, step-by-step interface that makes it easy even for first-time users to create sophisticated filters automatically, providing a new level of personal e-mail management. Microsoft also released 14 ready-to-use applications for Microsoft Outlook and Microsoft Exchange Server that provide customers’ most requested groupware solutions while eliminating the need for significant custom development. The add-ons are available to download free of charge (connect-time charges may apply) from the Microsoft Web site at http://www.microsoft.com/outlook/
Rules Wizard Makes It Easy to Manage E-Mail
Rules Wizard for Outlook 97 provides an innovative, step-by-step interface that makes it easy even for first-time users to more effectively manage e-mail in ways previously limited to power users. The server-independent rules perform automatic actions on incoming and outgoing mail messages, based on a set of user-defined conditions. For example, users can create a rule that all messages from a particular newswire list are forwarded automatically to a Leisure Reading folder, which allows them to read the messages later as well as keep their Inbox free of clutter. The Outlook Rules Wizard can work with any POP3/SMTP Internet mail system. A final version is scheduled to be available later this quarter.
Instant Groupware That’s as Easy as E-Mail
The Outlook desktop information manager provides
“instant groupware”
with no programming required so users can deploy collaborative solutions quickly and easily. The 14 sample groupware applications were developed internally at Microsoft with the help of leading groupware solutions provider Lante Corp. using the integrated design environment of Outlook.
“Outlook is pivotal in helping our customers create customized information management applications,”
said Jeff Alvis, director of consulting at Lante.
“It’s a feature-rich groupware development environment that allows our customers to take full advantage of their existing knowledge of, and investment in, Microsoft Office. It will save development time and money and will provide our customers with the solutions they need at a low cost.”
The sample applications help automate the most commonly requested business processes that are typically available only with custom development. The sample applications can be used unmodified or can be easily customized for specific needs:
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Classified Ads. Providesa bulletin board for buying and selling items and creating want ads and announcements.
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Corporate Calendar. Allows an organization to easily post corporate events and employees to copy events from the shared corporate calendar to a personal one.
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Employee Handbook. Enables selected individuals to post and track policies and procedures for an organization and allows the rest of the organization to read them.
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Expense Report.
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Help Desk.
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Job Candidates.
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Job Postings.
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Knowledge Base.
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Office Supplies/Equipment Requisition.
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Project Management.
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Sales Tracking. Enables users to store and track client information, record contacts, create action items, and post responses.
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Training Management. Automates student enrollment in training courses and manages enrollment based on criteria such as class size.
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Vacation Request. Enables employees to submit vacation requests and managers to reply with approvals or rejections.
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While You Were Out. Makes it possible for anyone to take a message for another employee by using a form modeled after the standard
“While You Were Out”
forms.
Availability
The Outlook add-ons are available to download free of charge (connect-time charges may apply) from the Microsoft Web site, http://www.microsoft.com/outlook/ . Currently, both
add-ons are available in English only. Five of the sample groupware applications (Classified Ads, Sales Tracking, Training Management, Vacation Request and While You Were Out) are also supplied with Outlook in the Office 97 box that is available in stores today. Additional free add-ons and ready-to-use applications are planned to be available from the Microsoft Outlook Web site each month, including a version of the popular Crystal Reports visual reporting tool designed especially for Outlook 97.
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (NASDAQ
“MSFT”
) is the worldwide leader in software for personal computers. The company offers a wide range of products and services for business and personal use, each designed with the mission of making it easier and more enjoyable for people to take advantage of the full power of personal computing every day.
Microsoft and Outlook are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corp. in the United States and/or other countries.
Other product and company names herein may be trademarks of their respective owners.
For online product information:
Microsoft Outlook Web site: http://www.microsoft.com/outlook/
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