As the release of iPhone OS 3.0 nears, I set out to discover how the new OS changes the iPhone’s ability to synchronize data with Microsoft Exchange servers using ActiveSync. What follows here is my deductions so far, and is of course subject to change when the new OS is released!
New ActiveSync Features
- iPhone OS 3.0 allows users to create meeting invitations! Finally, right from the phone, you will be able to set up meetings, select invitees, and send invitations. Initial reports are that this functionality is definite and fairly complete.
- Enhanced mail search includes contacts, messages, and even mail still on the Exchange server! This is a huge and welcome addition. No longer will you be frustrated that the iPhone didn’t download that one important message from last month, and no longer will you have to scroll around trying to locate it! This is integrated into the new Spotlight screen: Flick left from the home screen and you’ll be able to search email, contacts, calendars, and all other phone content! But Spotlight only searches message metadata, not message content.
New Related Features
- The calendar app supports CalDAV and ICS calendars as well as ActiveSync, making it much easier to use Google, Yahoo, and TripIt calendars. But these probably will not be integrated and synchronized with the ActiveSync calendar, leaving you in multiple-calendar hell.
- Peer-to-peer contact exchange using BlueTooth seems certain. Since the iPhone gracefully integrates on-phone changes with ActiveSync contacts already, this will be a welcome way to build out one’s Exchange address book.
- Cut, copy, and paste are definitely in, and will work in the mail, contacts, and calendar apps!
- The mail app now supports landscape mode, with its larger keyboard.
- A new API for email within applications would be compatible with Exchange, allowing a new family of corporate apps and possibly mitigating some of the missing features. I can imagine someone developing a far more feature-packed email client which embeds the native email client and extends its support to public folders, for example.
- iPhones running 3.0 appear to allow automatic on-demand connections to VPNs. Again, not specifically an ActiveSync feature, but this would make the process of accessing a firewalled Exchange server more friendly.
- OS 3.0 supports LDAP servers. Although this is not an ActiveSync issue per se, it could allow a workaround for the single-ActiveSync issue (which remains). LDAP contacts would make the basic IMAP email connection with a second Exchange server somewhat more tolerable. But it’s not yet clear if LDAP contacts are all that functional in 3.0, or whether they’ll make the cut at all.
Bad News
- The iPhone will remain limited to full ActiveSync with a single Exchange server. Although you are free to establish as many IMAP connections as you like, including connecting to Exchange with IMAP, you cannot use more than one ActiveSync service. However, as noted above, 3.0 does include LDAP support so at least the contacts from your second Exchange server might be accessible.
- Still no notes sync (with Exchange). Although iPhone OS 3.0 does allow synchronization of notes with Apple Mail for Mac users, it does not appear to support Exchange or Apple’s own MobileMe over-the-air services.
- Spotlight does not include full-text search of mail messages. Although it’s nice to be able to search through everything on the iPhone, and even content on the Exchange server, you still have to remember the sender, subject, etc.
- Battery life is poor with Exchange ActiveSync push and the new push notifications enabled. iPhone push battery life has been a problem for quite a while.
As the iPhone OS 3.0 release nears, I will keep my eyes open for enterprise Exchange ActiveSync features and post them here. Subscribe to my Apple feed for up-to-date details!
Do you know if 3.0 will allow ActiveSync using Client Certificate Authenication?
jason
The one Exchange server is a limitation that applies to all devices that support Exchange/ActiveSync, not just the iPhone.
The fact that battery life is affected by ActiveSync is really an ActiveSync issue.
If you compare to MobieMe that offers the same service there is a great difference.
I have performed traces of this, and the ActiveSync looks to have to do a KeepAlive very often. Form 5 mns to 15 mns but no longer.
In addition the Keepalive are very long, somewhat hard to say as all is encrypted but the trafic with ActiveSync when not receiving any emails is about 10-15 HTTPS message every 5 to 16 mns. It is documented in Microsoft documentation that you have to set 15mns keep alive and if it does not work you have to restart with 4mns then if it works 8 mns, etc.
A real battery killer process.
If you compare MobileMe behaviour, that uses IMAP push, the activity is much lower. IMAP push says in RFC2077 (If I recall well) that you have a keep alive procedure every half an hour. Much better. However Apple looks to went beyound that as on my trace I have seen this Keep Alive only once (after going out of Airplane Mode) an never after. The device was sitting there without any traffic for several hours. Some peoples may think push was overn but not, I sent a mail and 20 seconds later the iPhone was receiving it.
In addition the Keep alive is only 4 messages apparently.
So the issue is more a ActiveSync generic issue, and any ActiveSync Phone I have observed is having a lot of activity even when not receiving email, apparently for this keep alive story.
@jason
authenticating with a client certificate already worked with OS 2.x. However, i am struggling achieving the same with 3.0 beta5 (my bug report is still open).
ActiveSync also allows 30 minute intervals, unless any server between your device and exchange closes the connection earlier. Push is actually just a very long pull request that is repeated every 30 minutes (if not answered or closed earlier).
There is a Microsoft Knowledge Base article that recommends to set the connection timeout to 30′ on any firewall in between: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/905013
Hi,
i’m still struggling to get client-certs working with 2.2. Dod you see any “how-tos” on the net for this? Only things i googled where “no-go”-comments.
Michael
I am glad the calendar will be supported better. I am assuming since notes aren’t getting sync’d neither are tasks? Any chance they allowed mulitple signatures? Last thing I can think of is when you send a new messages to someone is it in html or still text?
currently I use a smartphone and sync directly with my outlook via usb cable ( company security issues) exchange server is not available. I would love to move to an Iphone. Will
os3.0 allow me to sync an Iphone with outlook directly on my pc?
Aaaarrrrggg! WE need encryption already!!!
@martini,
Can you please elaborate on your comment “authenticating with a client certificate already worked with OS 2.x…”
After participating in the 2.x beta, Apple still claimed the client-certificate could not be used with the Active-Sync features since the enrollment methods do not support the installation and presentation of the certificate to the external ISA web-listener for Active-Sync for authentication.
If you have done this, please share 🙂
Regards, M. Alexander
Great blog Stephen…I am finally getting answers to so many questions after months of browsing the net for answers. I was in the same situation where I have a mac at home but use PC at work; I have to use a Berry by default because did not know how to set up the iphone apps; think i have a better idea now.
Sure the battery on iPhone 3G is not that great, but what can we do? We want small size phones, powerful features and lengthy battery life.
Just get a backup battery. I got mine from iPhoneck brands. Their new 3G backup battery is probably one of the better looking products in the market.
Sure the battery on iPhone 3G is not that great, but what can we do? We want small size phones, powerful features and lengthy battery life.
Just get a backup battery. I got mine from iPhoneck brands. Their new 3G backup battery is probably one of the better looking products in the market.
Ever get an answer for this? I’m in the same sitation