Is Itunes Add-in necessary for Outlook?

In solving some Outlook lag and send issues, a tech helping me did something that eliminated the Outlook itunes add-in in Outlook 2010. The entry simply disappeared. But, I'm still able to sync Outlook with iphone despite the missing add-in. Thinking about all of this, I remembered that my university uses Google Mail for its email server. In effect, doesn't that make Gmail the university's exchange server, and if that is so, then I read somewhere that if you're using an exchange server the itunes plug-in is not necessary for Outlook. Do I have this correct, or should I try to shag the itunes add-in just to be safe.