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2288

Why should I use Outlook rather than simply OWA?

Whilst OWA (Outlook Web App) is sufficient for many email and calendaring purposes and has the advantage that you can access it from anywhere with an internet connection, the desktop application Outlook includes many more features and is able to take advantage of shared features in Microsoft Office. The decision to use one or the other should be based on your requirements. To help you decide, the following table highlights the major differences:

	OWA (webmail)	Outlook
Draft and work with emails whilst offline
Use custom dictionary
Easy integration and content sharing with other MS Office applications
'To do' bar
No additional software configuration required
Will work with low spec computer
Available to any platform or OS capable of web browsing
Available to users when on the move
View mailbox quota

Outlook is available as part of Microsoft Office and should already be installed on most staff PCs. If it does not appear on your office computer, please contact the Staff Desktop Support team who should be able to arrange for it to be installed.

Note: when using Outlook your emails are still stored on the ßÏßÏÊÓƵ mail server (as with OWA) even if copies are downloaded to the hard disk of your computer for offline working. Changes made offline are synchronised to the server upon re-connection.

Please note that older versions of Outlook (earlier than 2007) will not work with the ßÏßÏÊÓƵ Exchange system, which uses Exchange 2010.  Only Outlook 2016, 2013, 2010 and 2007 can be used with the ßÏßÏÊÓƵ Exchange system.  However, Outlook 2007 is no longer supported by IT Services.