EXPERT RESPONSE
I've never done this personally, but I'm happy to hear that you are headed in the right direction. I believe MDaemon might have an implementation option where all your users could have local .PST files. If the data is sitting locally then you need to create Active Directory (AD) and Exchange accounts for everyone and then update their client desktops. Once they connect to the newly created mailbox, it will be empty. You can either drag and drop the contents of the .PST files into the Exchange store or collect them centrally and import them for all your users. You should consider looking at the Exchange Server Mailbox Merge Wizard (ExMerge) tool.
Since you are new to Exchange, you should consider migrating to Exchange Serever 2007. This will make the client updating easier as Microsoft has a new deployment feature called Autodiscover feature that works with Microsoft Outlook 2007 and Exchange 2007.
Do you have comments on this Ask the Expert Q&A? Let us know.
Related information from SearchExchange.com:
Expert Advice: Leaving Exchange for MDaemon
Exchange Admin 101: Migrating from a third-party mail system
Free Download: Exchange Server Mailbox Merge Wizard (ExMerge)
Reference Center: Exchange Server deployment and migration advice
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