iPhone email sub folders do not sync with Push feature

Apple licensed ActiveSync from Microsoft for access with an Exchange account via the iPhone to provide for over the air syncing for contact info, calendar events, and Push access with an Exchange account.

Do the lots of other phones you have connected access the Exchange Server via ActiveSync?

Just wondering if this is supported by ActiveSync (which it probably does) and if so, it seems Apple has included just the account's Inbox mailbox only for Push access.

I heard somewhere that Apple only supports push to the INBOX. If that is true, when will Apple fix it so the phone can be used in the Enterprise?

The iPhone is being used in the Enterprise by many, but it may not meet everyone's needs and expectations which may or may not be the same as yours.

This is a user to user help forum only that is provided and moderated by Apple. Apple does not provide direct support nor answers such questions here.

You can use this link to provide Apple your feedback.

http://www.apple.com/feedback/iphone.html

i am very eager to hear the solution to this problem. has anyone figure this out yet?

On a related note, I've not able to sync my sent items via Exchange either. Has anyone else had this problem?

Although Apple did license the ActiveSync technology, they only implemented some of it. On other AS smartphones, the user has the ability to pick which folders and sub folders are synchronized. Apple chose only to push to the inbox, all other folders are only synchronized when you open them.

There are other features that inlclude Notes, Tasks, and Calendar sync that are not implemented either. Time of day sync schedule is one option i sorely miss.

All we can do is let Apple know and hope that deeper Enterprise support will come in the next major update.

You're welcome.

I understand what the other phones do in this regard. My question was do all these other phones you use or have used run Windows Mobile using ActiveSync for Push access with the Exchange account and syncing over the air for contact info and calendar events with the Exchange Server?

I understand what you want and what you expect, I'm just trying to determine if you are comparing Apples to Apples - no pun intended. 😉

The only thing you can do is use the iPhone feedback link that I provided with my previous post. Apple has a priority list established to be included with future firmware updates, which Apple doesn't publish, and which probably changes somewhat or gets adjusted between firmware updates. I don't access an Exchange account, so what I'd like to see included and pushed up higher on Apple's priority list is different from yours, but I certainly understand the importance of this.

I could not agree more - a bunch of guys moved from Blackberry to the IPHONE.

But now we see a lot of things worked much better.
Like the SYNCH of the SUBFOLDER.

Another one is - you can not INVITE anyone to an EVENT ( you can see invitations ) but not create some.

I think the people around Steve Jobs are still teenager and have still IPOD customers in mind.

The big commitment to EXCHANGE for IPHONE seems to be real.
I bunch of us is considering to move to the BLACKBERRY again....

Since we never hear any reponse to our feedback forms...

Joachim Grafe

Unfortunately this is a comparison of equals. Apple has chosen to implement only a subset of ActiveSync features for reasons only known to Apple. ActiveSync does support configuration of which folders to sync, what time of day, KB size limits on downloads and more.

Hopefully, Apple will include more "business" features in an upcoming release.

yes, no one in our organization can get consistent syncs of sent items. can anyone help here?

To all,

After reading your posts, i can definitly relate to the frustration of using the iphone in an enterprise environment. i have to agree that the Blackberry functionality compared to the iphones is day and night. meaning, the blackberry has always geared itself towards corporate america. where in the iphone's case, it's a device made to look pretty and have some positive enterprise add-ons. however, it still remains a "consumer" mobile device.

After upgrading the iphone os, i saw that they have addressed the issue with "sub-folder sync". for many of us, that recieve tons of emails a day, its a given that we need to stay organized, otherwise there would be email chaos.

here is the steps to set auto push to your sub-folders...

1. Settings
2. Mail, Contacts, Calendars
3. Click on your corp mail account.
4. Click "Mail folders to push"

at this point you can choose the folders that are currently setup in exchange.

there is still a minor bug to this fix, even though you will be notify via chime of a new email in your folder, there wont be an indicator on the email icon on the main page indicating a 1 or 2 or 3 emails you might have. Once you are in the email account and see your folder structure, there will be a number indicating new emails.

final thoughts... they are getting there. im really hoping the new 3gs address all the issues relating to enterprise environment.

Careful with subscribing to more subfolders with "Push" on 3.0 right now. A lot of threads are converged on the conjecture that Push is to blame for poor battery life. In most cases batteries only last 3-5 hours and the phone is constantly warm.

ActiveSync works by having a TCP request with a very long time to live (TTL) left without response until a change is made. Then the TCP packet is acknowledged which then causes a resync and download (simulating a "push"). I am not sure if multiple listening connections are required for multiple folders. [I hope not! I don't feel like re-reading the ActiveSync whitepaper again.]

In either case, increased 3G or wifi traffic would cause battery problems and this seems a reasonable hypothesis for the battery drain. We'll see what the official answer from Apple is soon I hope.

Good day all,

I actually have an oddity within the push and folder sync function. Even though I only check on specific folders and sub-folders to sync for my Exchange account, it will still continue to sync everything.

Thanks for any assistance or guidance provided!