Conversion to Microsoft Outlook Email and Calendar
Over the next 15 months ITS will be migrating campus email to Microsoft Outlook from Netscape Communicator. Our goal is to have everyone using Outlook for campus email by June 2008. To assist users in migrating to Outlook User Services will be offering training classes starting this summer. Below is an FAQ about the conversion to Outlook.
Frequently Asked Questions.
1. Why is the campus dropping Netscape email?
Netscape is at end of life. Over the last couple of years many campus users have moved to other email clients including Outlook away from Netscape. Netscape was sold to Sun computer several years ago and is no longer being developed by Sun. Netscape 7.2 does not easily support the use of PDAs. Netscape Calendar was discontinued 4 years ago and we have supported the old Netscape calendar without upgrades or support for the product. We have found Netscape to be unstable as users accummulate larger and larger stores of emails.
2. Why Outlook and will this affect other email clients use on campus?
Microsoft Outlook is the dominate email client in the market. Most faculty and staff who come to Belmont have experience with Outlook. If you are using another program such as Safari or Thunderbird these programs will not be affected. However, Outlook is the supported campus standard for email and calendar for users on campus.
3. When will I have to convert my email to Outlook?
Starting this summer User Services will be installing Outlook on all new PCs. Over the next year each user's email on campus will be converted on a scheduled basis by User Services.
4. When will I have to convert my personal calendar to Outlook Calendar?
Current Netscape Calendar users will need to convert to Outlook Calendar by June 2008. We encourage you to contact Network Services before then and start using the new calendar program now. There are many advantages to using Outlook Calendar and the old Netscape Calendar is seriously out of date and not supported. With the move you will have convenient access to your calendar from the web, as well as from Outlook.
5. Will there be training?
Yes, User Services will provide classes this summer and if you need personal assistance you can contact Beth Brewster in User Services for some one on one training.
6. Can I still use BIC for email?
yes
7. Can I access my email and calendar from home?
yes, through your web browser or outlook client?
8. Will my calendar and email work with my PDA?
yes
9. Does the change to Outlook affect students?
No, students access email through BIC and will not be affected
10. Will my email address change?
no
11. Do I have to upgrade to Outlook at home?
No. Netscape will still work with your office email. If you want calendar integration with email then you must use the Outlook client. XP comes with Outlook so we encourage users over time to move to Outlook for consistency.
12. What is the recommended web browser for the campus?
Microsoft Internet Explorer 7 is recommended web browser
If you have other questions about the conversion to Outlook please contact User Services or Network Services staff.
