Zimbra Desktop is an advanced email client that includes collaboration features. The program´s interface is quite similar to those of other clients, such as Outlook and Thunderbird. In fact, it also looks extremely alike Zimbra Webmail’s interface. So, if you are already familiar with one of these, it is unlikely that you find any kind of difficulty to use Zimbra Desktop.
The tool allows easy configuration of various email services, like Zimbra (of course!), Gmail, Hotmail and Exchange, which just requires providing the email address and the server name. Moreover, it supports practically any other POP or IMAP server; yet, this might require entering a few additional data.
One of the advantages of Zimbra Desktop is that you can choose to combine various accounts in a single inbox. Likewise, it allows displaying messages separately or as conversation threads. It is excellent that you can organize your messages in many ways, such as creating folders or using tags. This is complemented with advanced search features.
Like most modern email clients, Zimbra Desktop comes with several collaboration features. There is, for example, the possibility of creating various calendars. Likewise, you can set the appointments and tasks you create to be stored locally or on the network. Unfortunately, I could not find a way by which several people can share the same task. However, it is good that the tool supports sharing files via the briefcase.
All in all, Zimbra Desktops is probably one of the best email clients available out there. It has most of what is necessary to communicate and work in teams. What is more, its functionalities can be expanded with Zimlets (plugins), which can be downloaded from the developer’s site or created by the users themselves. One of its few downsides is that it is difficult to import email data from other clients. Fortunately, the product is open-source and, therefore, it costs nothing to use.
v7.1 [Aug 29, 2011]
Zimbra Desktop is upgraded with the feature set and skin plus features many significant enhancements such as the ability to schedule regular backups of all accounts locally as well as “send-to-recipient” from within Microsoft Office applications.
Email Features :
- GAL People Search. A new search option called People Search lets users search the Global Address List (GAL) for people within their organization and see detailed information including phone numbers, office location and the contact’s photo. The search autocompletes as the user types, and works with both GAL and personal Address Book contacts.
- Restore previously deleted email messages. Users can now self-restore previously deleted email messages from their email Trash folders. They right-click on the email Trash folder and select Recover Deleted Items. This feature is enabled by the administrator.
- Undo Action. Mail and Contacts actions (including delete, move and mark messages as Spam) can be undone using the “undo” dialog that displays when an action is performed.
- Send Email Later. A user can delay delivery of an email message and specify the date and time to deliver the message from the Send dropdown menu and selecting Send later. The message is saved in the drafts folder until it is sent. This feature is enabled by the administrator.
Calendar Features :
- Scheduling Wizard. The Scheduling Wizard Suggested Times feature has been changed. Organizers can now request a list of available locations without adding attendees.
- Email and SMS Notifications. Users can now configure email addresses and SMS numbers to receive task and appointment reminders. This can be done either from the task or appointment, or from the Preferences>Notifications page.
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