History of Exchange

Microsoft first released Exchange to the public in March 1996. This first version was named Exchange Server 4.0 and it was released as the replacement for Microsoft Mail 3.5. There have been 10 releases of new versions of Exchange, starting with 4.0 and continuing through to the present-day version of Exchange Server 2019, which was released in October 2018. Here is a brief timeline of the Exchange releases:

• 1996: The first version of Microsoft Exchange, Exchange Server 4.0, is released as a replacement for Microsoft Mail 3.5:

• 1997: Exchange 5.0 is released with an admin console and SMTP network access. Also released was Microsoft Exchange Client 5.0.
• 1997: Later 1997, Exchange Server 5.5 is released in Standard and Enterprise versions. Also released is Microsoft Outlook, as a replacement for Microsoft Exchange Client, and OWA.
• 2000: Exchange Server 2000, otherwise known as Exchange Server 6.0, was released as the first version to be fully reliant on Microsoft's Active Directory. This release also had support for an instant-messaging utility, which later became Microsoft Office Live Communications server:

• 2003: Exchange Server 2003, otherwise known as Exchange Server 6.5, was released with features such as multiple filtering methods and improved disaster recovery:

The Outlook Web App 2003 looks as follows:

• 2006: Exchange server 2007 released Standard and Enterprise editions with new features, such as voice mail integration, more filtering capabilities, and a new OWA interface. Standard and Enterprise editions began to be released with every version of Exchange from this point forward.
• 2009: Exchange Server 2010 was released, with features such as support for multi-tenancy personal archiving, moderated distribution groups, administration delegation, boosted compliance and legal search, and OWA enhancements:

The first version of Outlook in Office 365 looks as follows:

• 2011: Office 365 was released with a version of Exchange called Exchange Online.
• 2012: Exchange Server 2013 was released with features such as offline support for OWA, public folders, site mailboxes (bringing together mail and SharePoint), data-loss prevention, fast search, and the Outlook Web App for desktop, tablet, and mobile. The following screenshot shows the Outlook desktop application: 

The Outlook Web App is as follows:

• 2013: An updated version of Office 365 with an updated version of Exchange Online was released.
• 2015: Exchange Server 2016 was released with features such as the ability for hybrid deployment with Office 365 through a configuration wizard and changes to OWA, which was renamed Outlook on the Web.
• 2018: This is the release of present-day Exchange Server 2019 with new features for security and performance. The feature of unified messaging has been removed from this version.
• 2018: Later 2018, the newest version of Outlook on the Web was released. This version is available via an opt-in toggle. A simplified ribbon as well as new colors and icons are just a few of the improvements made. Here's Outlook 2019:

The newest version of Outlook on the Web, formally known as Outlook Web App, is as follows:

With each new release, Microsoft added more and more features and capabilities to make Exchange the application it is today. In this chapter, we will focus on Exchange Online, which is the offering for Exchange via Office 365.