This article focuses on detailed information about what the Zimbra Connector for Outlook is and its functionality. If you are looking for instructions to setup the Zimbra Connector for Outlook, please refer to Zimbra Connector for Outlook (ZCO): Installation and Setup.

 

 

Why Should I Use the Zimbra Connector for Outlook (ZCO)?

• Redtail's email hosting services utilize the Zimbra Collaboration Suite that enables the seamless use of Microsoft Outlook as an email client while providing multiple connectivity options to the server, depending on the type of account setup you use.
  
  
• Zimbra Connector for Outlook (ZCO) was created by Zimbra to utilize the MAPI protocol commonly used with Microsoft Hosted Exchange accounts.
  
  
• ZCO leverages the MAPI interface to sync not just emails but also calendars and contacts. This functionality is not supported by IMAP or POP.

 

Below are some of the benefits of using ZCO and how they compare to the basic connections of POP and IMAP.

 

Offline Mode and Asynchronous Online Synchronization

The ZCO is intuitive in that it automatically detects online connections. As a result, the user is never required to wait for a server-side operation or synchronization process to complete. ZCO user interactions with Outlook are identical whether online or offline.

 

For users of POP and IMAP, Outlook constantly pops up dialog boxes which may require you to close and re-open Outlook. IMAP accounts will not display messages and/or folders when offline, creating more headaches for the end user. With the ZCO, data is accessed from a local data store in both online and offline environments. As a result, users have the advantage of working with the local data at all times.

 

Share and Delegate Access

When utilizing the ZCO, you have the option to share and delegate access to mailbox folders, calendars, and address books to internal and external users. This functionality is not available with other email protocols.

 

Stability

The performance of an IMAP connection may decline as your mailbox grows. IMAP accounts store their information within personal folders referred to as PST files. As PST files grow larger they become prone to corruption and reduce the quality of performance of your account within Outlook. You will experience latency when sending/receiving emails, the inability to connect to the server and random online/offline status changes. With the ZCO use of a data store and bi-directional syncing, these issues are behaviors that you will not experience.

 

Building on the flexibility of the Zimbra Connector for Outlook

Combining the ZCO with Redtail's proprietary sync client, Retriever for the Desktop, you sync your Redtail CRM contacts and calendar to your Outlook, which syncs to our mail servers. This data can then be synced over to a mobile device such as an iPhone, iPad, and Android devices by setting up an ActiveSync account. The ActiveSync on your mobile device pulls down the contacts and calendar from the mail server over the air without having to be tethered.

 

 

How does the Zimbra Connector for Outlook work? 

Below is a diagram explaining the process of how Zimbra Connector for Outlook functions:

• Utilizing the Retriever for the Desktop sync client, conatcts and calendar data from the Redtail CRM are synced to your Outlook.
  
  
• From Zimbra Connector for Outlook (ZCO), you sync your Contacts and Calendars that reside in Outlook over to your Webmail Client.
  
  
• When combined, the Retriever for the Desktop and ZCO presents your contacts and calendars in the webmail client.
  
  
• To retrieve the data synced with the webmail client on your mobile device, you would setup an ActiveSync account.

 

 

Important Resources

• iPhone/iPad: Redtail-hosted Email Setup (Syncs Email, Calendar & Contacts (MAPI))
• Setting up an Email Account as a MAPI (Exchange) Account on Android Devices
• Download and Usage of Retriever for Tailwag