Microsoft Office Professional 2010 Step by Step eBook

630 Chapter 21 Send and Receive E-Mail Messages

Viewing Message Participant Information

After you receive a message (or after Outlook validates a recipient’s name in a message

that you’re sending), you can easily display contact information and a history of your

communications with that person.

Presence Icons

If presence information is available, a square presence icon appears to the left of each

message participant’s name. The presence icon (more casually referred to as a jelly bean)

is color-coded to indicate the availability or online status of the message participant,

as follows:

● Green indicates that the message recipient is available.

● Red indicates that the message recipient is busy.

● Orange indicates that the message recipient is away.

● White indicates that the message recipient is offline.

Tip This set of presence icons is used in Outlook, Windows Live Messenger, and Microsoft

Office Communicator to provide a consistent user experience.

Depending on the environment, Outlook uses presence information from Office

Communications Server or from Windows Live Messenger.

Contact Cards.

Pointing to a presence icon displays an interactive contact card of information that

includes options for contacting the person by e-mail, instant message, or telephone;

for scheduling a meeting; and for working with the person’s contact record.

Presence icons

Communications options Pin Contact Card

Expand Contact Card

Pinning the contact card keeps it open even if you send or close the e-mail message.