migrating email accounts

I have two email accounts I would like to migrate to a new MS exchange service host. One is a regular email account on my ISP that I access via outlook (IMAP), and the other is an exchange account on a third party host. Both use the same domain.

Once I open new exchange account, is it straightforward to migrate? Do I simply open the outlook client I use to access those accounts and "export" each to a pst (and then import those psts to the new account)? Does exporting work for exchange accounts or is it more complicated than that? Is there a better way to migrate?

And I asked this in another thread (apologies for the duplication), but is microsoft itself a good place to host an exchange account or is there a reason to think that a third party host (e.g. rackspace or godaddy) might provide more dependable or secure service or better customer support?

I apologize if bumping my own post is against the rules (is it?), but any thoughts on these questions?

Many thanks.

Thanks for the response. I don't want to keep my email accounts on multiple hosts...I was hoping to move everything to one new host (with several exchange accounts, one for each mail address). Does this work?:

- For my existing exchange account, I would use the outlook export feature to export the data to a new .pst file. Then I would open an exchange account at my new host and use the outlook import feature to import that new .pst file into that account.

- For my existing non-exchange account (which I currently access via IMAP), I would do the same thing: use the outlook export feature to export the data to a new .pst file and then open another exchange account at my new host and use the outlook import feature to import that new .pst file in that account.

This is what I meant by "migrating" the accounts. Does that work? Is there a better way to do this?

And what recommendation do you have on exchange account hosts? Is microsoft itself a good place to host an exchange account or is there a reason to think that a third party host (e.g. rackspace or godaddy) might provide more dependable or secure service or better customer support?

Thanks. I think we’re saying the same thing (though I realize I may not be using the right nomenclature). For both of my current accounts (the non-exchange account and the exchange account), I would make backups (that’s just exporting to pst files, right?). Then I would open new accounts at the new host and import those pst files. Sounds like that’s the best way to do this, correct?

Any advice on exchange host providers?