Connect from iPhone - POP3 shows no email - IMAP wont auto-check

[bence8810]

Hi

I have an exchange server 2003, all patched up, SP2, etc, and I am experimenting with it, trying to give access to users who have iPhones.

We have a strict VPN structure, so this server is outside, and corporate emails are being forwarded here, and the users pick it up with POP3 or IMAP.

It turns out that POP3 access to the Exchange server doesnt work from the iPhone. It "seemingly" logs in, but never downloads any emails. No error on the iPhone side though. If I do the same with Outlook, or any other PC client, it gets the emails nicely.

If I connect through IMAP, it works, however, the strange thing is the following. When I set the iPhone to auto-check for emails, it wont do it, unless I am on a WiFi network with it. (WiFi anywhere, server doesnt need to be on same LAN)

When I have WiFi on, it auto-polls the server just fine. When I am on EDGE (GSM), it wont.

The strange thing is that it works with other IMAP server, non-exchange based.

Anyone has any experience with iPhone to Exchange connections? Anything would help, going pretty desperate here.

Thanks

Ben

 

[MarkArnold]

I don't understand. You say you have a strict VPN and yet you put an Exchange server outside of it? Might be worth mentioning a little more about your infrastructure.

As far as I was aware the iPhone is IMAPv4 only. Did something change with the recent update?

Did I also miss the part where direct-push was enabled for the iPhone over telephony?

Hmm, I'm going to do some research on this and blog a "score so far" type post.

 

[bence8810]

Hi

We do have a strict VPN infrastructure, and that is why we cannot have direct access to our exchange server. There is another Exchange on our DMZ only for this purpose. The emails from the "strict" environment have Forward contacts, and the emails from inside are forwarded to an outside domain, lets say it a 2ndary domain. This domain is the one we use for picking up emails wirelessly. This have Activesync for the WM devices, and POP and IMAP for the iPhone, and others.

iPhone supports IMAP and POP3. I use it with a POP3 on a linux box, but thats a personal account. Works like a charm. I use the IMAP or POP3 (later doesnt download emails) for the Corporate emails. The only strange thing is that the phone wont auto poll for the emails through IMAP over Exchange if I am on an EDGE network, but when I am nearby a WiFi spot, it will gather the emails automatically. If I do it manually over EDGE it works like a charm. This is a mystery to me.

There is no direct push on the iPhone yet.

Thanks for any suggestions,

Ben

 

[bence8810]

Hi

Actually at this point, any experience with Exchange and iPhone would be great.

Thanks

Ben