MS Entourage Update

today also announced that is putting the final touches on a number of Entourage 2004 enhancements, including iSync support and Spotlight compatibility as well as an enterprise update for Messenger and the forthcoming release of Open XML converters for Mac users. The Entourage update, due in late March, will enable users to sync data from Entourage calendar, address book, notes and tasks with a variety of handheld devices (supported by iSync). New Engourage support for Spotlight for Tiger users will allow customers to more effectively search Entourage e-mail messages--similar to the functionality already found in Office 2004 for Mac Word, PowerPoint and Excel files. In addition, The Mac BU will bring enhanced Smart Card technology for customers who need to send digitally signed and encrypted e-mail messages

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Messenger update offers secure file transfer

In addition, to the upcoming Entourage update, the Mac BU promised it would release new Messenger features for enterprise customers. Messenger for Mac 5.1 will allow users to send files more securely to external contacts--in addition to the already supported encrypted chats; the update will also improve the software's ability to determine a user’s location and where to send the message if the user is logged into Microsoft Office Live Communications Server on more than one machine. Version 5.1 will also offer IT managers more control over how they save chats at an organizational level with the ability to control chat archiving. Messenger 5.1 also is expected to be released in March.

Open XML format converters coming

In effort to maintain cross-platform compatibility with the forthcoming Open XML format in the next version of Office for Windows, the Mac BU said it will offer converters that let Office for Mac users read the new Microsoft Office Open XML Format. The downloadable converters will be released for current versions of Office for Mac following the availability of the next version of Office for Windows.

by MacNN Staff