SharePoint sites are great for storing information such as event calendars, contacts, Web links, discussions, issues lists, and announcements. In addition to using the rich set of built-in lists, you can create custom lists in your team site that meet your team's specific information-sharing needs.

Use a contacts list to communicate with the people with whom you work. You can enter names and contact information (such as telephone number, e-mail address, and street address) so that everyone on your team can use this information.

You can use links lists to post hyperlinks to Web pages of interest to your team.

Windows SharePoint Services provides your team site with document storage and retrieval, with check-in and check-out functionality, version history, custom properties, and flexible, customizable views. Your team members can easily find and share documents and other files.

Document libraries are collections of files that you share with team members. For example, you can create a library of documents for a specific project. You can store any type of file in a document library.

Picture libraries provide a simple way to share and organize digital pictures. For example, an organization could create a picture library for marketing graphics — providing a single location for team members to view, share, edit, and download corporate logos or other marketing material.

Your team can take collaboration to a new level with Windows SharePoint Services. Team members can easily create collaborative workspace sites to share and manage their team information. Threaded discussions, surveys, shared calendars, task lists and other collaboration features help keep you and your teammates connected and productive.

Team sites based on Windows SharePoint Services are useful right out of the box. However, if you are a member of the Web Designer or Administrator site groups, you can customize your site, changing its appearance and adding functionality without using other applications or doing any programming.

Deep integration with Office 2003 programs lets your team members collaborate by using the familiar tools they use every day. Here are some of the ways you can use Office 2003 programs with your team site:

• Save documents to document libraries from Office Excel 2003, Office Outlook 2003, Microsoft Office PowerPoint® 2003, Microsoft Office Visio® 2003, or Office Word 2003.
• Use Microsoft Office Access 2003 or Office Excel 2003 to view and edit data stored in lists on your team site.
• Synchronize your Office Outlook 2003 calendar and contact lists with your team site.
• Create a Document Workspace site from Office Word 2003.