Information Technology at JPL

Unified Messaging Service

Integrated Calendar & Email 

JPL IT - Unified Messaging Service

Webmail - Outlook Web Access (OWA)

Outlook Web Access (OWA) is the online companion to Microsoft Office with Exchange 2007. There are two flavors of OWA: OWA Premium and OWA Light.

All JPL employees will have access to one or both versions of OWA. If you are working in Internet Explorer version 6 or higher, you will automatically have access to OWA Premium (applies to most PC users). If you are working in any other browser, or an older version of Internet Explorer, you will automatically have access to OWA Light (applies to Mac, Linux and Unix users).

Even if you have access to OWA Premium, there may be times when you wish to log into OWA Light. OWA Light has higher security standards, and is preferable when working on a public computer, such as an internet kiosk at an airport.

JPL's Outlook Web Access (OWA) is available at https://ums.jpl.nasa.gov

OWA Premium

To use OWA Premium, you must be working in Internet Explorer, version 6 or higher.

OWA Features:

General

  • Spell checker
  • Right click drag and drop
  • Can wipe mobile devices remotely, in case mobile device is lost

Navigation

  • Navigation in OWA resembles navigation in Microsoft Office 2007
  • Customizable navigation
  • Search capability in mail and task folders

Out of Office Assistant

  • Can schedule Out of Office messages in advance
  • Can customize separate Out of Office messages for internal and external email senders

Mail

  • Message views are always up to date and email appears automatically
  • Can compose messages with HTML format options (bold, italics, etc.)
  • Customizable reading pane

Calendar

  • Fully functional calendar with day and week views
  • Scheduling Assistant available to find times and resources for meetings
  • Search capability in mail and task folders

Contacts

  • Contacts are in sync with Exchange

OWA Web Access Light (OWA Light)

If you are unable to use Microsoft Internet Explorer 6 or higher, or if you are working in an unsecure work environment, you will need to use OWA Light. This light version also works in lock-down browser modes, such as internet kiosks and environments with strict pop-up blocking policies.

OWA Light works with a wide range of operating systems (Vista, Windows XP, Windows 2000, Windows ME, Windows 98, Mac OSX, and Linux) and is compatible with a number of browsers (Firefox, Safari, Opera, Netscape, Internet Explorer 5.5 - 7.0, and Internet Explorer 5.01 and 5.2 on a Mac).

OWA Light Features:
  • Create, read, reply and forward email messages
  • Navigate through mail folders
  • Search through mailbox
  • Fully functional daily Calendar
  • Out of Office notification

Comparison of OWA Premium and Light

 OWA LightOWA Premium
Web BrowserFirefox, Internet Explorer 5.5+,
Netscape, Opera, Safari, etc.		Internet Explorer 6+ Only
Spelling CheckerNot availableAvailable
Reading PaneNot availableAvailable
Accessibility for Blind and Low Vision UsersAvailableNot available
Notifications
and Reminders		Not availableAvailable
Weekly Calendar ViewsNot availableAvailable
Windows SharePoint Services and Windows file share IntegrationNot availableAvailable
Compose Messages
by Using HTML		Plain-text OnlyAvailable
Calendar Options Limited to the following features: Show week numbers Set the first day of the week Select days of the week Set day start and end times Available
Arrange ByLimited to a subset of choices, depending on the folder typeAvailable
Right-Click MenuNot availableAvailable
Drag-and-DropNot availableAvailable
Explicit LogonNot availableAvailable
Type-down SearchNot availableAvailable
Resource Mailbox ManagementNot availableAvailable
Appearance
(Color Scheme)		Not availableAvailable
Voice Mail OptionsNot availableAvailable


JPL IT
Comments, concerns, or questions: AskIT@jpl.nasa.gov
Last Updated: 11/05/2009
Page URL: http://ocio.jpl.nasa.gov/ums/webmail-owa.php