Smaller businesses typically start with POP email – the basic, no-frills email that has been common since the 1980s.
POP email is cheap, but offers none of Outlook-Exchange's advanced functionality, like calendars, task lists, file-sharing or contacts.
POP email is stored on your local PC, instead of on a central email server, so if you use different devices – like a desktop PC and a BlackBerry® – you will not see emails which came through to a different device.
Some businesses use an older product called Lotus Notes. This works more like Microsoft Exchange, but is lacking in ease-of-use and is not compatible with Microsoft Outlook.
Microsoft Outlook-Exchange is popular due to its user-friendliness and its advanced features, which boost productivity:
Microsoft Outlook-Exchange lets employees share information and work together productively, in a way that is otherwise impossible.