Exchange FAQ, Solutions, and summary - Updated with 2.2 info
Android (and the droid) will not penetrate most corporate environments due to its limited exchange functionality. There are many threads already posted about exchange problems and questions. Hopefully this will centralize some of the info!
Android 2.2 has gone a long way to fix many of the initial issues!
What works:
Direct Push Calendar, Email, and Contacts
Accept/Decline invitations (Android 2.2)
Auto-signatures in email (Android 2.2)
Advanced security requirements: Remote wipe, PIN requirements (Android 2.2)
SSL (fixed in 2.01)
What doesn’t work:
No access to Tasks, Notes, Global Address Book
Push updates are sometimes delayed (especially calendar updates)
Subfolders do not automatically update
New mail in subfolders does not trigger new message indicators
FAQ
Do I need the $45 data plan to make it work? No! The $45 plan is not required. Use the $30 plan instead.Verizon's own explanation of the $45 wireless sync plan found here explains it as a software/service layer that either provides an exchange server for those who don't have one or it provides a software syncing layer for those who don't know how to set it up on their own sync.
HTML email does not show up properly.
This is a limitation of Exchange 2003, not the phone. You need Exchange 2007 or newer if you want to see HTML email.
I can’t connect to my exchange server (possibly with Authentication Errors) or I can't sync with (calendar, contacts, email).
Confirm with your IT dept that Security policies (PIN requirement, remote wipe) are not being enforced on your account.
In the “Domain\Username” setting try entering your username only without the domain (“\myusername”).
Try using variations on your Exchange Server address like “mail.myserver.com” or “myserver.com”. Never use the HTTP or https in the address.
Try connecting with and without the SSL options checked.
Confirm that your exchange server is set up properly at https://www.testexchangeconnectivity.com/Default.aspx
Delete the corporate account on your device and re-add it.
Can I just sync directly with Outlook?
Not at this time.
My Droid Force Closes when I click on an email in the Exchange App.
Go to Home > Settings > Applications > Manage Applications
Click the Menu button and select "Filter"
Select "Running"
Scroll down to the "Email" application.
Select "Clear Data (Thread here)
What you can do:
Install a ROM with enhanced email functions (like CyanogenMod)
Install a third party app (like touchdown).
Let google know that these issues are critical. Visit google's own issue list and promote these issues by following these links and clicking the star!
HTML email does not show up properly.
This is a limitation of Exchange 2003, not the phone. You need Exchange 2007 or newer if you want to see HTML email.
While this is true for Windows Mobile devices and apparently Android devices, this seems to be more tied to the way the ActiveSync client has been implemented. For whatever reason, an iPhone will actually support HTML e-mail through Exchange 2003. Considering I manage the Exchange 2003 servers for my company and support all the mobile devices (Blackberry, Palm, Windows Mobile, iPhone), well... just take my word for it.
Last edited by Blackforge; November 10th, 2009 at 06:07 PM.
The Following User Says Thank You to Blackforge For This Useful Post:
What about OWA (outlook web access) syncing with contacts/appts and emails?
Is there a howto? I keep seeing posts on the net that people ask and then later the are like nvm I figured it out.
OWA = Outlook Web Access
OWA is a browser-based email client (like gmail or hotmail). It does not provide any sync capability itself.
OMA = Outlook Mobile Access
This provides the ability for users to sync with mobile devices.
People typically mention OWA because if they can access OWA, it usually means they are also set up with proper permissions for active sync or Outlook Mobile Exchange.
Last edited by virtus; November 10th, 2009 at 06:12 PM.
Device(s): Samsung Galaxy Nexus
Verizon Wireless CDMA/LTE Version
Thanks: 134
Thanked 228 Times in 181 Posts
I asked about OWA, it's the only open thing without getting on vpn at my work, and we run exchange/outlook 2000, so native sync tools are full of fail.
Yup, just double checked, I typed OWA in my post above! TIA!
edit: I'll also add that some tools claim to be able to sync with OWA.
Last edited by syntrix; November 10th, 2009 at 06:36 PM.
Device(s): Samsung Galaxy Nexus
Verizon Wireless CDMA/LTE Version
Thanks: 134
Thanked 228 Times in 181 Posts
Quote:
Originally Posted by virtus
I'm curious now... does OWA work in the android's browser?
Haven't tried it! I'm more interested in syncing 2000's calendar and contacts Ok, I'll try it....
Not promising on ssl connection. I get a Error:Access is Denied on the left "frame", but I can see and click on my emails. So at least there's access that way, but it's not idea at all!
freeze lock after phone use
I noticed that after I was on the phone for about 20 min (longest call so far with droid) my screen which blacked out, as it should would not turn back on even after trying all the usual buttons. I had to pull out the battery. How normal is this? How many times should I be willing to put up with it..Once seems too many already. Has this happened to anyone else with this phone?
Device(s): Samsung Galaxy Nexus
Verizon Wireless CDMA/LTE Version
Thanks: 134
Thanked 228 Times in 181 Posts
Quote:
Originally Posted by bossei
You're basically using the https protocol to connect to your exchange server. In Outlook you can do the same; it's referred to as https over RPC.
No, HTTPS to connect to OWA, then OWA interfaces with the exchange server.
But there's programs that allow you to sync through OWA to other devices. Does droid sync with OWA? If you don't know, then just say you don't know. But if you have tried, please share your experiences!
Here's one that supposedly can interface with OWA and then to other devices:
You're basically using the https protocol to connect to your exchange server. In Outlook you can do the same; it's referred to as https over RPC.
Not likely, RPC over HTTPS is actually using a lighter weight MAPI protocol, so its doubtful you'd be seeing this on anything outside of Microsoft. More than likely the alternate methods will be using either WebDAV on Exchange 2003 (Microsoft's earlier versions of Entourage 2004/2008 for Mac and Novell Evolution on Linux use this) or Exchange Web Services on Exchange 2007/2010 (EWS is required for the built-in Apple Mail client to work and of course Entourage 2008 EWS). If you see the requirement of the client requiring EWS, this is not backwards compatible with Exchange 2003.
Last edited by Blackforge; November 11th, 2009 at 10:06 AM.
No, HTTPS to connect to OWA, then OWA interfaces with the exchange server.
But there's programs that allow you to sync through OWA to other devices. Does droid sync with OWA? If you don't know, then just say you don't know. But if you have tried, please share your experiences!
Here's one that supposedly can interface with OWA and then to other devices:
I just tried companionlink and it works perfectly with Outlook 2000, yay!
All anyone needs to do to sync email with the corporate account is get the address for OWA (used so employee can check email when away from work) You walk through the email setup choosing exchange and enter the owa address in the server field. This works with no issue for email sync. I get emails within seconds of them being sent. My calander also syncs with no issues. Sure you can not accept meeting invite yet however when they are accepted on the computer they are then sent to the calendar on the droid.
All anyone needs to do to sync email with the corporate account is get the address for OWA (used so employee can check email when away from work) You walk through the email setup choosing exchange and enter the owa address in the server field. This works with no issue for email sync. I get emails within seconds of them being sent. My calander also syncs with no issues. Sure you can not accept meeting invite yet however when they are accepted on the computer they are then sent to the calendar on the droid.
While this works in many cases - it does not always work because there are separate settings on the server for OWA and OMA. So a company can choose to allow OWA, but have different login requirements for mobile devices or block them altogether.
While this works in many cases - it does not always work because there are separate settings on the server for OWA and OMA. So a company can choose to allow OWA, but have different login requirements for mobile devices or block them altogether.
I think you mean Activesync, not OMA. OMA is NOT activesync, it is a different mobile sync technology. OMA was removed from Exchange 2007 and is not coming back. To sync with Exchange 2007 (or the upcoming 2010), Activesync is the method. OMA is available in Exchange 2003, but because it was deprecated in newer versions, it is not recommended to base any new deployments on it.
Oops.. you are correct. I was off on an exchange 2003 tangent. Same principle applies - successful OWA access does not guarantee that you will have Activesync access on your mobile device.
Can anyone confirm that you don't need the 45 dollar data plan to get Corporate email through activesync and Exchange? When I was buying the phone Verizon has changed the data plan from BB data plan to smartphone and BB data plan. Also I have read about 6 different articles that contradict each other.
I love how that went from OWA to activesync :laugh:
So you can just put the address for OWA in as an account, and apparently this works? I will have to try this!
There's no harm in trying your OWA credentials on your droid. But keep in mind that success is not guaranteed. Our firm actually has different security policies for OWA and mobile devices so it is not that simple for us.
Oops.. you are correct. I was off on an exchange 2003 tangent. Same principle applies - successful OWA access does not guarantee that you will have Activesync access on your mobile device.
Thanks...
100% correct. Activesync != OWA. Two totally separate features, and enabling one does not mean the other is available.
It is a common deployment practice for people to use the same URLs (primarily to simplify client access), but it is distinctly possible that both are enabled and accessed via different URLs. As someone stated, no harm in trying the OWA URL, but even if that doesn't work, its not necessarily because Activesync isn't published to the interwebs.
Can anyone confirm that you don't need the 45 dollar data plan to get Corporate email through activesync and Exchange? When I was buying the phone Verizon has changed the data plan from BB data plan to smartphone and BB data plan. Also I have read about 6 different articles that contradict each other.
It is true - you don't need the $45 plan. The $30 plan will work just fine and you are not operating in any kind of shady area by using it.
Verizon's own explanation of the $45 wireless sync plan found here explains it as a software/service layer that either provides an exchange server for those who don't have one or provides a software syncing layer for those who don't know how to set it up on their own. I'll agree that it is a bit sketchy but you clearly do not need the $45 plan.
Has anyone noticed that starring a message on the phone doesn't flag the message when looking at it in Outlook? Is this the way it is supposed to work?
Hey guys. Is there a way to syncronize stuff older than one month? I have my exchange account set up with a couple folders that have emails with application serial numbers and whatnot so I always have access to them. Everything else gets pulled down to a pst file on my desktop after a month.
I had no luck setting up email sync with our Exchange 2003, due to authentication setup. I've now had great success with Touchdown (from NitroDesk $10). Might want to peek at it if you are banging your head against the wall. Does contacts and calendar, too.
Also - K-9 mail does just the emai sync and is easy to setup. No calendar or contacts though.
I've tried everything to include the OWA address in the server name and nothing is working.
We have an issue with our cert on the Exchange server. Is it possible that is the cause of why I can't connect to the exchange server? I've tried all the SSL options and every variation of them but nothing is working.
Your trouble sounds like mine. You might try the Touchdown app - you get a 5 day trial. The guy who does the app seems to be quite responsive (but I only have 36 hours experience with it so far).
I just downloaded it. Unless I'm really missing something, it is just a GUI for the account already on your phone (that doesn't work). Looks like a pretty slick app though and even had a tasks selection.
I've tried everything to include the OWA address in the server name and nothing is working.
We have an issue with our cert on the Exchange server. Is it possible that is the cause of why I can't connect to the exchange server? I've tried all the SSL options and every variation of them but nothing is working.
Thanks
Certificate issues will cause problems with your connection. Is your firm using self-signed certs? Does your IT dept require SSL?
I just downloaded it. Unless I'm really missing something, it is just a GUI for the account already on your phone (that doesn't work). Looks like a pretty slick app though and even had a tasks selection.
All anyone needs to do to sync email with the corporate account is get the address for OWA (used so employee can check email when away from work) You walk through the email setup choosing exchange and enter the owa address in the server field. This works with no issue for email sync. I get emails within seconds of them being sent. My calander also syncs with no issues. Sure you can not accept meeting invite yet however when they are accepted on the computer they are then sent to the calendar on the droid.
Thanks! Just what I was looking for... Works great now. Don't know why this isn't mentioned many places. I had been trying to use the "real" exchange server.
Curious if anyone can describe the touchdown experience. how well integrated with the phone is it? from looking at the feature set, it seems to bidirectionally sync with the onboard contacts app (making its seperate data set mostly seamless). How about calendaring - meeting invites (creation/accept/decline/updates), reminders, etc. I'm hoping touchdown can fill the gap, but am leery.
more questions about exchange, verizon, touchdown ....
Hey everyone,
First off, thank you so much for this great information. You've all been super helpful and I *really* appreciate it. I finally was able to set up one of my exchange work accounts (after 3 days of back and forth with Verizon tech people in store and over the phone who were all useless...). So Big thanks!
So now my questions:
1) Just like avaleri510, I am in search of verification that you do not need the $45 plan to access exchange email. I went to the link provided by virtus at Verizon Wireless Sync | WSYNC.COM and clicked on "pricing" for wireless sync but it still advertises it as $45. Can someone please give me the specific URL which lists the fine print stating that $45 is for the "software/service layer that either provides an exchange server for those who don't have one or provides a software syncing layer for those who don't know how to set it up on their own"?
2) This may be more of a Verizon question, but maybe someone would know. If I don't sign up for the $45 data plan but am using Exchange mail, will Verizon suddenly slap a surcharge on my bill? They can't really detect that I'm using Exchange mail, or can they?
3) Many of you praised the app Touchdown. If I'm using it for Exchange mail, can I still stay on the $30 plan? Are there other apps that are similar to Touchdown but free (I know about the 5-day trial and it's only 10$, but I'm a poor grad student!)?
Sorry if these questions are rather elementary. I just converted from the Tmobile BB curve to this Droid beauty (and yes, I am a girl obsessing over the Droid!) so I'm still learning all there is to learn about the wonderful Android 2.0.
Can anyone confirm that you don't need the 45 dollar data plan to get Corporate email through activesync and Exchange? When I was buying the phone Verizon has changed the data plan from BB data plan to smartphone and BB data plan. Also I have read about 6 different articles that contradict each other.
I had the same concern... What I was told is that if you use OWA then you can use the $30 plan but if you have to connect directly to your exchange server (I don't know what they were talking about) then you need the $45 plan. I switched to the $30 plan a few months back and it still works great.
If for some reason it doesn't work for you, then change back, nothing lost.
All anyone needs to do to sync email with the corporate account is get the address for OWA (used so employee can check email when away from work) You walk through the email setup choosing exchange and enter the owa address in the server field. This works with no issue for email sync. I get emails within seconds of them being sent. My calander also syncs with no issues. Sure you can not accept meeting invite yet however when they are accepted on the computer they are then sent to the calendar on the droid.
One caveat...if your company has security on OWA access outside the firewall this won't work. Ask me how I know...
My company requires a security USB key w/certificate (aka digital badge) attached to the PC for access to OWA from outside the firewall...so for me this isn't working...
You don't need to pay an additional $15 for exchange access unless you have a corporate phone (provided to you by your company)...this is from Verizon directly...
Personal Droid Data Will Cost $30, Even With Exchange
Okay. There's a lot of confusion going on around the Internet about the Motorola Droid's service plans. Some people are saying that if you want to connect to a Microsoft Exchange account, data will cost $45 a month instead of $30.
This is wrong.
I checked with Verizon Wireless HQ and got the official response from spokeswoman Brenda Raney. First of all, the Droid uses the exact same data plans as every Windows Mobile phone on Verizon. There is no special Droid data plan.
Second, whether you pay $30 or $45 doesn't depend on what you're doing with the phone. You can hit Exchange email on the $30 plan just fine. It depends on what kind of Verizon Wireless account you have.
If you have a personal account or family plan, your data will cost $30/month. It doesn't matter if you're using Microsoft Exchange, Facebook, Gmail, or whatever - it's $30. This is the same for all Verizon Windows Mobile and Android phones.
Data on business accounts - "corporate liable," multiple lines, purchased through business sales, usually mediated by an IT department - costs $45/month. Once again, this is the same for every Windows Mobile and Android phone.
The same goes for AT&T's iPhones, by the way. Thousands if not millions of people access Microsoft Exchange email on personal, $30/month iPhone data plans, blissfully unaware that if they were a corporate-liable business account their data plan would cost $45. Once again, it's not down to the kind of e-mail you're accessing, it's down to whether you are classed as an "individual" or a "business" in the carrier's system.
So where's the confusion been coming from? Carrier definitions of "business" and normal human definitions of "business" are different. For carriers, it doesn't matter if you're doing business. They only care if you are a business. Are you a rogue operator, a lone wolf, using a personal credit card to activate your single line of service? Then plow right ahead with your Exchange email on the $30 plan - with your Droid or your iPhone.
I just wanted to add that you can Accept or Decline but from within the calendar. If your Calendar is syncing then you just have to select the event in blue. It opens the event and allows you to send a response.
You don't need to pay an additional $15 for exchange access unless you have a corporate phone (provided to you by your company)...this is from Verizon directly...
Thank you for answering this. I've found a lot of conflicting answers about this on other sites as well as from Verizon directly.
I want to share the experience I had last night when trying to switch to the $30 plan. When I called into Verizon's customer service and asked to be switched, the agent said any phones released after November 10th weren't eligible for this plan. I asked her to explain and she said it is because the Droids are more advanced and use more kilobytes. The conversation went on for about 10 minutes (I'll spare you the details).
Bottom line is it was obvious this person didn't know what she was talking about. After insisting she switch me to the $30 plan, she put me on hold for a few minutes. When she came back on the line she apologized for "misleading" me and told me I am eligible for the $30 plan (she wasn't able to offer an intelligible response when I asked her the difference between the $30 and $45 plans). She also admitted to me that the caller she had just before me had also requested the $30 plan and she had given them the same misinformation.
If anyone is given push-back when trying to switch to the $30 plan, just be persistent because apparently this is an area of tremendous confusion even for Verizon...
When I look at my account online it has unlimited data usage for $45 and email and web smartphones for $30. Are they saying that the $30 doesn't have unlimited data usage?
OK I answered my own question; they both have unlimited data and yes you DO NOT need the $45 plan. Only if you're using it for business purposes. I just got mine changed. The lady stated it correctly and it was hassle free.
New user here. I've looked through the FAQs and this thread. My situation seems to be a little different than others I've seen here. Perhaps someone can tell me why this is happening.
I just received the Motorola Droid yesterday. I’ve been setting it up. It works OK w/ Gmail and Verizon. I have been partially successful getting it to sync w/ my company’s exchange server. Here’s what I’ve determined so far:
I can successfully compose and send email from the Droid Corporate Email app through my work email account. However I see none of my work email on the Droid (it doesn't seem to be being pushed to the Droid). Navigating to where it should be gives me a blank screen. In the email screen where I see the Verizon and work accounts, there is a check to the right of the Verizon band but not to the right of the work email band. Others in this company can access the Exchange server from iPhones and Blackberries.
From the Droid I have successfully gone to the company’s OWA web site and read and sent mail, though it seems to be acting flakey today.
The calendar syncs fine. On the Droid I can see items on the exchange server. Items I enter from the Droid show up in my work calendar.
I’ve told it to sync contacts from my work account but none of them appear in my Droid contacts.
Does this particular combination of symptoms/circumstances suggest what's going on, and a possible cure?
I just turned mine back in for this same reason. My IT guy just told me to get the Touch Pro 2 as it runs Windows OS and will easily work with exchange/outlook. I'm fed up with trying to fix the problem you've encountered as well. Verizon is not helpful at all. My IT guy is stumped. And everyone here has been EXTREMELY helpful but I have not found a fix yet. I need mobile email ASAP. I cannot wait any longer.
Good luck. I'd love to know the fix if you find it.
However I see none of my work email on the Droid (it doesn't seem to be being pushed to the Droid). Navigating to where it should be gives me a blank screen. In the email screen where I see the Verizon and work accounts, there is a check to the right of the Verizon band but not to the right of the work email band. Others in this company can access the Exchange server from iPhones and Blackberries.
If you need rock-solid Exchange sync, the Droid is not the ideal device. It cannot sync notes or tasks, does not support anything more than basic security, does not allow you to accept/reject items, does not sync subfolders, and can't do auto-signatures. To most corporate users, the lack of these features is a deal breaker.
You can buy the Touchdown app and gain some features, but it still lags behind a true windows mobile phone or a blackberry.
The TouchPro2 is 100 times better in a corp environment. You will also find that the keyboard and tilting screen are a dream to use and the inclusion of MS Office makes the TP2 a much better corporate phone.
This is the home page for the company that hosts my corp email. Notice, that I can connect to it via Microsoft Outlook Web.
I called the IT people to ask how I could set up to push my corp mail to my Droid. They told me that I might be able to set it up as a POP3 account, and gave me the incoming and outgoing server names.
I have tried for hours to get this thing to work. I can get the incoming server to "go through" but the outgoing says that it cannot connect.
So I turn to you all, the holders of knowledge, to help me figure out if I can in fact get this thing working so that I receive my corp email on my Droid, WITHOUT paying an extra monthly fee.
Thank you so much
This is all the information I've received from the IT people...copied from their email
Try entering in your full email address for the Username to see if that helps. Unless ports are block by the carrier you should be able to use port 25. Port 587 is a new port that many carriers are going to so you may want to check with them which one to use.
For the incoming server use: pop.ans-online.net and for outgoing you will use: smtp.ans-online.net. There can be issues with using POP and mobile devices which is why it isn't fully supported by our technical staff. This falls outside the scope of support since it doesn't tie in directly with Exchange but it won't hurt to test it to see if it works for you. I hope this helps. "
Last edited by Nidisa; November 19th, 2009 at 09:00 AM.
Reason: Added information
3) Many of you praised the app Touchdown. If I'm using it for Exchange mail, can I still stay on the $30 plan? Are there other apps that are similar to Touchdown but free (I know about the 5-day trial and it's only 10$, but I'm a poor grad student!)?
Thanks so much in advance!!!
Grace
Grace - you definitely DO NOT need to upgrade your data plan for Touchdown to work. As for a free app, try K-9, but it won't do calendar and tasks - just mail.
Touchdown is doing a fine job for me for all Outlook needs.
The Motorola Droid - the first ever Verizon Android Phone - exploded onto the mobile market with an incredibly successful ad campaign that brough Android to the masses. With a huge and vibrant touchscreen, solid metal body, full QWERTY keyboard, 5M... Read More
Exchange FAQ, Solutions, and summary - Updated with 2.2 info
