I think the problem you are experiencing is related to running the automation server-side. Are you using impersonation? Your ASP.NET application needs sufficient rights to use Outlook. Here is a KB article that discusses the issues with using office automation server-side:

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=KB;EN-US;257757


>Can anyone point me to a reference for creating an Outlook Automation object in my Web Service? I haven't been able to find anything that works.
>
>I have the following code in an .asmx page:
>

>        Dim OutlookApp As Outlook.Application = New Outlook.Application()
>        Dim OutlookNamespace As Outlook.NameSpace = OutlookApp.GetNamespace("MAPI")
>        Dim OutlookContacts As Outlook.MAPIFolder
>        Dim OutlookContact As Outlook.ContactItem
>

>
>Unfortunately, the code comes to a screetching halt on the very first line. I don't get any specific errors, only a HTTP 500. FYI Outlook has been added to the project references and I can see the properties and methods while typing code.