Sync issues with Exchange Server?

[cleon527]

I work for a large retailer and I found out today that I cannot get the Thunderbolt because it apparently has sync issues with our exchange server. Our IT guy said that in some versions of 2.2, there are active sync items that do not sync to the Exchange server. I asked if he knew how to correct this an he simply said no.

I called HTC and they were not aware of sync issues but offered to help. I have not gotten my IT guy to agree to work with HTC yet but does anyone have any thoughts on how to correct this issue?

 

[FrankXS]

I work for a large retailer and I found out today that I cannot get the Thunderbolt because it apparently has sync issues with our exchange server. Our IT guy said that in some versions of 2.2, there are active sync items that do not sync to the Exchange server. I asked if he knew how to correct this an he simply said no.

I called HTC and they were not aware of sync issues but offered to help. I have not gotten my IT guy to agree to work with HTC yet but does anyone have any thoughts on how to correct this issue?

Well, it's no secret that the ThunderBolt Active Sync does not sync MS Outlook/Exchange "Notes" and "Tasks". At least I believe that is true. Could be wrong, I use ActiveSync with Gmail and I know that's true of the Gmail Activesync. AFAIK it does sync everything else.

But there also may be some more subtle limitations. Limitations such as the Exchange method of being able to "recall" an email sent in error (like with the whole company's pay records, by name! ). Hehe, I've seen that happen.

Anyway, there are a number of these subtle things that MS Exchange/MS Outlook supports that some company's may absolutely rely on. Possibly mail "Form Templates" come to mind. These are the sorts of things that 98 percent of Exchange users never use and don't usually even know about. I can see why HTC/Google/Android implementation might not incorporate them. Unfortunately, oftentimes, it is the company execs who do use these subtle things.

I wouldn't put much faith in your "IT Guy". Odds are he isn't in the position to work on this highly specialized issue anyway.

Just my thoughts.

-Frank

 

[cleon527]

Would TouchDown fix the issue if I can get them to let me use it?

 

[FrankXS]

Would TouchDown fix the issue if I can get them to let me use it?

'Fraid I don't know. It seems like Web based access might fix it though. I mean, if you access it directly in a Web based envoirnment, it might, if they have that set up.

-Frank

 

[dhendriksen]

My Thunderbolt works great with my Exchange server.

Get someone you trust to let you try it in their Thunderbolt.

 

[tcapote]

I am using my TB with Exchange, works great! I used the built in app from HTC, but then went to Touchdown for more granular features. If you are using Exchange 2007 and 2010, it is a piece of cake to setup, since Exchange is configured by default to work with Activesync (unless IT did something). If you are using Exchange 2003, that would require some effort on IT's part, to configure exchange to support activesync.

 

[cleon527]

Do you know anything about the security features of the touchdown app?

 

[stvlg1]

We have an LG Ally here at work that I had to buy Touchdown for. Seems the Android system had a hard time pulling CC's from the exchange server. We use Exchange 2003. It only happens from certain emails that I think originate from over seas. Used my Winmo to test and it turned out to be a Android issue. Other than that, it work pretty well. Being able to Reply-All is a big deal for us and the reason we had to buy Touchdown.
I have not tried to recreate the issue on the TB yet. For what I do in IT, the TB works great.

 

[Drop-D]

Storm 2 user here who took the plunge to Tbolt. I have an IT department with techs who know Android inside and out. We used activesync and it went flawlessly, except it wouldn't sync Outlook Calendar. We worked our way through Verizon support, and after two hours, got to a very nice English gentlemen in HTC Tech Support. Of course, we went over and over all the hard resets, re-entering account b.s., exchange/domain addresses, etc (realizing all the time of course that these couldn't be the problem or we wouldn't have active sync on the mail). Come to find out, the version of activesync isn't fully compatible with Outlook 2010. I've seen other posts here with more specifics regarding the incompatible versions. The tech suggested Touchdown, for a workaround, which I used for several days. Keep in mind Touchdown has a free trial but costs $20 one time. It has several limitations, IMO, so I found a way to sync my Outlook Calendar with Google Calendar, and my phone to auto-sync to Google Calendar. There's a Google made sync program for Google-Outlook 2010 out there if you run a search for it.

 

[easyrun99]

I do know that Motoblur phones with 2.2 tend to have a very unfriendly relationship with Microsoft Exchange. I had to return both a Droid Pro and Droid X due to this issue. Both my Incredible and Thunderbolt have worked flawlessly...

 

[cleon527]

Storm 2 user here who took the plunge to Tbolt. I have an IT department with techs who know Android inside and out. We used activesync and it went flawlessly, except it wouldn't sync Outlook Calendar. We worked our way through Verizon support, and after two hours, got to a very nice English gentlemen in HTC Tech Support. Of course, we went over and over all the hard resets, re-entering account b.s., exchange/domain addresses, etc (realizing all the time of course that these couldn't be the problem or we wouldn't have active sync on the mail). Come to find out, the version of activesync isn't fully compatible with Outlook 2010. I've seen other posts here with more specifics regarding the incompatible versions. The tech suggested Touchdown, for a workaround, which I used for several days. Keep in mind Touchdown has a free trial but costs $20 one time. It has several limitations, IMO, so I found a way to sync my Outlook Calendar with Google Calendar, and my phone to auto-sync to Google Calendar. There's a Google made sync program for Google-Outlook 2010 out there if you run a search for it.

What limitations did you find? Our IT issue seems to be more security related.

 

[KarbonKopy]

There seems to be a big issue with Exchange 2010 and syncing the calender. It won't work for a lot of people, but oddly will work for some. HTC claims they don't support Exchange 2010 yet. Pretty odd because my EVO and Incredible work just fine. I have pegged it as a Sense 2.0 email app issue and hopefully the next TB update will solve the issue. Here is a few links to threads.

HTC Thunderbolt Sync to Exchange 2010; Calendar Error "Synchronization is experiencing problems" - Google Mobile Help

http://forum.androidcentral.com/htc-thunderbolt/69523-tb-not-syncing-calender-through-exchange-2010-sp1.html

 

[FrankXS]

...so I found a way to sync my Outlook Calendar with Google Calendar, and my phone to auto-sync to Google Calendar. There's a Google made sync program for Google-Outlook 2010 out there if you run a search for it.

Just to add one thing here... I was using that Google Calendar sync app and was working, sorta... kept getting time zone issues. Very weird, sync once the appointment would be one hour off, sync the second time and it would correct itself - sometimes. Sometimes not. Very weird. It was always correct between my phone and Google.

So, here's what I did...

I went into my MS Outlook and chose to "create a new calendar" of the "Internet" type. Then, after sharing my calendar on Google, I copied the "Private Sharing" link for ICAL (which is available on Google) pasted it into MS Outlook and now my MS Outlook calendar syncs with my Google calendar every time I check my mail in MS Outlook, automagically. Way, way better than that stooopid sync tool. That sync tool has more bugs than... well, I dunno...

-Frank

 

[mtbvert]

Anyone have any luck on a solution? My TB as been syncing with no problem from when i got it this past Sunday, until sometime after 11pm last night.

The phone is telling me it can't sync with Mail, Contacts, or Calendar.

Update, the Bolt started syncing again on its own about 745 this morning, but then had another time between 830-845 where it couldn't sync again.

Grrr.......

IT said there were no outages or problems on their end, running Exchange 2007.

 

[KarbonKopy]

Mine (and many others) have issues with it syncing the calender, but it would sync contacts and mail just fine. There are tons of threads about it all over, but it seems to be isolated to Exchange 2010 from what I heard.

 

[sfm1017]

I keep getting cannot connect to server. This is very frustrating.

 

[swieder]

I just got my Bolt last week. I am seeing issues with the calendar on my phone not matching the calendar in Outlook. I am going to delete the phone database and try synching it again.

Does upgrading the ROM to 2.3.x improve the EAS support?

 

[bjboucher]

Just to add one thing here... I was using that Google Calendar sync app and was working, sorta... kept getting time zone issues. Very weird, sync once the appointment would be one hour off, sync the second time and it would correct itself - sometimes. Sometimes not. Very weird. It was always correct between my phone and Google.

So, here's what I did...

I went into my MS Outlook and chose to "create a new calendar" of the "Internet" type. Then, after sharing my calendar on Google, I copied the "Private Sharing" link for ICAL (which is available on Google) pasted it into MS Outlook and now my MS Outlook calendar syncs with my Google calendar every time I check my mail in MS Outlook, automagically. Way, way better than that stooopid sync tool. That sync tool has more bugs than... well, I dunno...

-Frank

Frank, are you able to create calendar events in your Outlook though? I have it set up, but its "read only" on my computer. I don't like that. The only problem I am having with Google Calendar Sync is its not syncing from Google to my computer, even though I have it set to sync both ways. It seems to work really well going from computer to google to my phone though.

 

[FrankXS]

Frank, are you able to create calendar events in your Outlook though? I have it set up, but its "read only" on my computer. I don't like that. The only problem I am having with Google Calendar Sync is its not syncing from Google to my computer, even though I have it set to sync both ways. It seems to work really well going from computer to google to my phone though.

No, using my method all changes have to be done on the phone (or on Google Calendar on a PC). For my purposes this is fine. I like to be able to see my calendar in MS Outlook, but I always make changes via my phone.

As for Googles Outlook calendar sync tool... it's just plain fulla bugs. It'll work, sorta, then not. Never the same bug twice. I just got fed up with it.

-Frank

 

[bjboucher]

No, using my method all changes have to be done on the phone (or on Google Calendar on a PC). For my purposes this is fine. I like to be able to see my calendar in MS Outlook, but I always make changes via my phone.

As for Googles Outlook calendar sync tool... it's just plain fulla bugs. It'll work, sorta, then not. Never the same bug twice. I just got fed up with it.

-Frank

Ah damn, you had me excited for a minute there. I wish they'd come out with a decent tool that would let you edit the calendar on the phone, computer and web. Maybe someday. Thanks!