Removing Passcode from IPhone when using Exchange e-mail

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Removing Passcode from IPhone when using Exchange e-mail

I have an I-Phone 3g with the current version of the software. I recently added my work's Exchange email accesss and when I did the Iphone required a passcode.

I went to SETTINGS - GENERAL - PASSCODE LOCK it shows it is on.

I hit the tab, enter my passcode, click OK and under REQUIRE PASSCODE it shows "Immediately". I can change the time to a longer period before is requests the passcode 1 min or 5 minutes - but I cannot disable it!

Nor can I remove the ERASE DATA ofter three successive trys.

To add insult to injury, I accidentally hit the "Emergency Call" button on the passcode screen, canceled it and when I entered my passcode it did not recognize it. I cleared out the old code, re-entered the correct code and it still did not recognize my passcode. Then it ERASED ALL MY DATA on the third unsuccessful attempt.

I restored from my December 31, backup on Itunes, (45 minutes later) I tried the same thing to see if it was recurring and it was. This time I did not try to enter the code a third time, I turned off the Iphone, and then restarted it.

Thankfully it "reset" the memory or something and the correct code (which I had been entering all along) was accepted. This is happening every time the "Emergency Call" button is pressed on the passcode screen. I have found a temporary workaround, but this needs to be fixed on about three levels.

FIRST - The passcode needs to work when returning from an "emergency call".
SECOND - We should be ale to decide if we want a passcode on our phone and not have it forced upon us.
THIRD - If this is for e-mail security, then the passcode should only be required when accessing the e-mail application not the entire phone.

So, comments suggestions, or any ideas are greatly appreciated, I want to remove that passcode.....help.

I want to remove the requirement for the passcode, but I can only change the passcode, nor disable it, any suggestions?

Windows XP Pro

Posted on Jan 2, 2009 9:29 AM

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Answer 1

Jan 2, 2009 10:36 AM in response to Viva0267

This is happening every time the "Emergency Call" button is pressed on the passcode screen

Then stop pressing that button.

SECOND - We should be ale to decide if we want a passcode on our phone and not have it forced upon us.

Talk to your mail server administrator. This policy is generally set on the Exchange server.

THIRD - If this is for e-mail security, then the passcode should only be required when accessing the e-mail application not the entire phone.

So if you lost or had your phone stolen, you would think it's okay to allow anyone to access the entire contents of your phone, except for your email?

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Answer 2

Viva0267 Author

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Jan 7, 2009 10:24 AM in response to Templeton Peck

I was seeing if it happned as a one-time thing or was a glitch. Most maunfactuers want to know if there are problems with their products.

As for changing the settings on the exchange server I cannot do that and I do not have admin rights to our server.

So basically, if I want my work email on my phone it will have to have a password.

<Edited by Moderator>

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Answer 3

Jan 7, 2009 10:29 AM in response to Viva0267

Viva0267 wrote:
So basically, if I want my work email on my phone it will have to have a password.

Correct. Apple's implementation of MS Exchange/ActiveSync access on the iPhone respects the security policies set on the Exchange server. Obviously, that's a requirement for the iPhone to be viable in a corporate environment.

One possibility is to use webmail (via the Safari browser) if your company uses Outlook Web Access, so you can delete the Exchange account from your iPhone but still access your work email.

By the way, just putting a password on Mail won't work, since the Exchange account can also sync calendar and contacts, which would also need to be secured. Additionally, many larger companies have internally developed apps distributed to employees through the Enterprise program. Thus, locking the whole phone is logical.

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