Microsoft announces several new productivity features for Windows Phone Mango update

Microsoft shared even more details of the Windows Phone Mango update at the TechEd 2011 conference being held in Atlanta this week. A couple of the new productivity features are things I have been hoping for and again serve to convince me to stick with Windows Phone as my primary platform.

The upcoming features announced today include:

• Pinnable e-mail folders: Pin a folder to the start screen for quick access. This could be an email folder for a specific project, from a specific group or person (like your boss;), or an RSS feed you’ve set up in Outlook;
• Conversation view in e-mail: E-mails in your inbox are organized by conversation, bringing replies to a thread into a consolidated view so it’s faster and easier to stay on top of the conversation.
• Server search: Search your email server (e.g. Exchange Server) for older emails no longer stored on your phone, giving you ready access to all of your mail.
• Lync: Lync Mobile for Windows Phone will provide business Instant Messaging and presence so you can stay connected to your colleagues while on the go. The Lync app will be a free download from Windows Phone Marketplace with access to Lync services that are enabled by your organization.
• Complex password: Additional corporate compliance capabilities with support for alphanumeric passwords
• Information Rights Management: Support for protecting e-mails and Office documents
• Support for Hidden SSID: With support for access to hidden corporate Wi-Fi networks, IT organization can stay on top of their game providing access to information while meeting corporate requirements.

Conversation view is one reason I use an Android device with HTC Sense so I plan to use this all the time on my future Windows Phone device. Server search is also essential for my needs. Check out the Windows Phone Blog for more info and screenshots.