How to read my Outlook on Pocket PC (from outside the network)?

[lesj1968]

Hi

I am on a network which has Exchange Server 2000. We want to trial the use of mobile devices with Pocket PC so we can access email from outside the network. At the moment we can synchronize our email by connecting directly to the computer. However we want to be able to do this OUTSIDE of the network using IMAP4 (which I believe is the protocol Pocket PC uses).

What settings do I need to imput into the mobile device and what do I need to do on our mail (Exchange) server? We have an ISA 2004 firewall which I have recently configured for Outlook Web Access which all works fine.

The mobile device is called an MPV 500 but I'm not sure this matters - the important thing is it has Pocket PC software on it so should be able to potentially do what we want.

Thank you very much for any help.

Les

 

[lesj1968]

How can I enable my Exchange to have IMAP working?

 

[tony72000]

A few things you need to check...

1) Check to see if your IMAP vertual server is active in the exchange system manager. (servers, protocols, IMAP4)

2) Check to see if the IP packet filter in ISA is enabled. (local port 143)

 

[lesj1968]

I think I've enabled the IMAP virtual server in the Exchange System Manager. There is an advanced button which shows it is using a default port of 443. In regards to ISA - I have ISA 2004 - so I an see the nodes for Packet filters as you can in 2000. What I have done is set up 2 mail server web publishing rules - one uses client access rules allowing standard RPC, IMAP, POP3 and SMTP. And the second mail server web publishing rule which uses Web Client Access: Outlook Web Access, Outlook Mobile Access, Exchange Server ActiveSync.

Not sure how to check what ports I am actually using on the ISA though - I believe the default IMAP ports are being used but I cannot see where to see what they actually are. Can anyone help with this?

Then I will be able to test I have done it correctly with a Pocket PC.

 

[lesj1968]

OK I seem to have set it all up... all apart from the Pocket PC. I need to ensure the email account is set up correctly. For incoming email would I have the following format: imap4.domain.com and would I have smtp.domain.com for outgoing mail?

 

[tony72000]

As long as you have set up your 'A' DNS records to point to your exchange servers IP address over the internet. If they both are the same exchange server oner the internet, you may as well set up one name (e.g. mail.domain.com).

 

[Zelandakh]

Personally, I'd say that was way too tough.

You have OWA. You have GPRS. All you need is

http://www.leederbyshire.com

and his OWA for PDA. "Install it, love it".

 

[lesj1968]

Thanks for your replies. Tony, please can you tell me (if you know) would an IP address suffice instead of a domain name? The IP address I have entered is without the "

https://"...

I have just entered the number. I have put the same IP address in both the incoming and outgoing mail fields.

I shouldn't have to enter any dns information into the mobile device should I - just the server IP (as above), incoming and outgoing IP address and network username and password?

 

[tony72000]

Yes, IP address is fine (+ username and password)

 

[lesj1968]

Thanks. I am using Exchange 2000. Does Exchange 2000 allow synchronisation with a mobile device?

 

[tony72000]

Only through Active-Sync. Pocket PC's email client does not have the Exchange add-in as Outlook (unless there is a third party application).

 

[lesj1968]

Can Exchange 2000 synchronise with a mobile device? Or does it have to be 2003?

 

[lesj1968]

Sorry I didn't realise I had posted already. Please ignore my duplicate message.

 

[lesj1968]

There is Activesync on the Pocket PC. However I cannot see any options withing Exchange 2000 for mobile access or options to enable Activesync on Exchange itself. Is there a way to do this?

Many thanks for your help.

 

[tony72000]

You have to use Active-Sync on the client machine (the one that has Outlook installed) to use Exchange synchronisation. Not sure if Exchange 2003 has it's own add-in for mobile devices.

As I've said in my prevouse post, Pocket PC will not sync directly with Exchange 2000. This has to be done through the Outlook and Active-Sync process.

Install Active-Syc on the desktop computer (the one with Outlook installed).

http://www.microsoft.com./downloads...21-8a85-45a2-8d13-653beb6cdddc&DisplayLang=en

 

[lesj1968]

Hi Tony. My desktop client has Active Sync installed on it already which enables me to synchronise the Pocket PC with Exchange but only if I directly link the mobile device to the desktop client with a USB cable. My issue is I need to do it remotely. The mobile device seems to connect using it's GPRS / WAP but says it cannot download any emails for some reason - which could be to do with the connection or the setting in the "incoming email" field.

How can I do this remotely?

Thank you for any help.

 

[tony72000]

You can not remotely synchronise with Exchange using pocket PC. This can only be done using Active-Sync on a desktop.

You can, of course, use POP3 or IMAP.

Which one have you set up on the Pocket-PC?

In Exchange, look at the properties for either the POP3 or IMAP4 virtual server and make sure the IP address on the general tab either shows your external adaptor address or 'All Unassigned'.

 

[lesj1968]

Hi

Ok I won't use Activesync. Thanks for the info. I wasn't sure if I could use that. Can Activesync only be used remotely if our Exchange is 2003?

I have tried connecting using IMAP and POP3. It seems to connect but eventually says "Messages cannot be downloaded to your mobile device. Make sure you are connected and that your email account settings are correct. Then try to download messages again."

Our normal email in the network uses POP3. I assume the POP3 and IMAP4 virtual servers are only used in cases where remote connection is required? If I change IP settings in the virtual server nodes will this affect the way emails are sent internally? I have set the IP address to the internal IP address of our mail server. Could this be the cause of my problem connecting to Exchange remotely? Should I instead use the external public IP address that I use to connect to our network remotely (for example, the same IP that I would type in a web browser at home to access Outlook Web Access)?

Thanks again for your help with this.

 

[tony72000]

Not sure about Exchange 2003. I have no experience with that version.

You need the virtual servers to use that service with Exchange. Either internally or externally.

If your IP address is only set to the internal address of your server, then that is why it you can not connect externally. As you are only listening on the internal adaptor. If you change this to the external address, then you will only be able to connect externally.

Change this to 'All Unassigned' and it will listen on all adaptors and should work internal and externally.

 

[lesj1968]

I will try this. In mobile device there are two fields called "incoming" and "outgoing" mail addresses. In both of these fields I have entered the external public IP... the same IP that is used to type into a web browswer to access Outlook Web Access or other network resources. Is this correct?

I have only entered the IP address on its own... I haven't added the path "/exchange" which is required in the web browswer, and nor have I entered "

https://"

which is also required in the web browswer. In the mobile device I have checked the box which says "secure SSL connection required".