You can get Outlook in most, but not all, MS Office suites but it also used to come free with Exchange CALs. Probably not many noticed because folks who use Outlook generally use Office.

However, the free lunch ends with Exchange 2003. In Exchange 2008, one must not only buy the CAL, but also BUY an Outlook license unless one doesn't already have an Office suite that includes it.

When I was first told this, in response to a question I posed to MS, it made no sense at all. However, with Open Office getting better, it begins to make more sense: If I have to buy an Outlook license anyway, why not throw a few more bucks into the plate and get the whole suite?