In Microsoft Exchange Server 2007, the Unified Messaging server role is one of several server roles that you can install and then configure on a computer that is running Exchange Server 2007. Unified Messaging is new to the Exchange product line, and its introduction brings new concepts that may not be familiar to an Exchange administrator.

Unified Messaging combines voice messaging and e-mail messaging into one store, which can be accessed from a telephone and a computer. Exchange Server 2007 Unified Messaging integrates Exchange Server with telephony networks and brings the Unified Messaging features to the core of Exchange Server.

New Unified Messaging Server Role Improvements

Unified Messaging has been improved and has added new features in Exchange 2007 SP1. To use some of these features, you must correctly deploy Microsoft Office Communications Server 2007 in your environment.

To correctly plan and deploy Exchange 2007 SP1 and Communications Server 2007 in your Unified Messaging environment, you must follow the planning and deployment steps that are provided in the Office Communications Server and Client Documentation Rollup.

The following is a summary of the Unified Messaging features that are available in an integrated Exchange 2007 SP1 and Communications Server 2007 environment:

  • Ability to create Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) Uniform Resource Identifiers (URIs) and E.164 dial plans by using the New Dial Plan wizard
  • Additional logic for resolving internal calling number
  • Notification of forwarding when leaving voice messages in scenarios where the destination uses call forwarding
  • Support for recording high-fidelity voice messages in Exchange Unified Messaging
  • Access to Outlook Voice Access from Microsoft Office Communicator 2007 without requiring the user to enter a PIN
  • Ability for Office Communicator 2007 clients to associate subjects and priorities to voice messages
  • Support for media streams to traverse firewalls
  • Integration of missed call notification e-mail messages with Office Communicator 2007
  • Ability to prevent Play on Phone calls that are placed by using Office Communicator 2007 from being subjected to call forwarding rules that are configured

The following features are available in Exchange 2007 SP1 without integrating your Unified Messaging environment together with Communications Server 2007:

  • Support for Secure Real-time Transport Protocol (SRTP).
  • Exchange Management Console support for configuring Mutual Transport Layer Security (mutual TLS) for dial plans.
  • Ability to add a SIP or E.164 address for a user by using the Enable Unified Messaging Wizard.
  • Ability to modify extension numbers and SIP and E.164 addresses for a UM-enabled user by using the Exchange Management Console.
  • Quality of Service (QoS) support.

For more information about each of these features in Unified Messaging and Exchange 2007 SP1, see New Unified Messaging Features in Exchange 2007 SP1.