Mail with NHS.net

Dear all

Am in the UK. Work for National Health Service (along with another 1.4 million so not a small entity!)

In its wisdom the mail system that many of us use is changing to MS web Outlook.

Under the old system I could get messages via POP3 or IMAP onto both my MacBook Pro and iPhone. Worked great.

Post migration there's been a major step back. Things will work if logged in via the secure separate NHS N3 network but not via the internet unless using windows and internet explorer. Only possible Apple option is a cut down web version.

I have found that I can however access it using iPhone (with appropriate security) using MS Exchange server. Works fine.

Can't do the same even with same settings using MBP.

Why would one work and not the other?

Any suggestions?

Many thanks

Dermot

MacBook Pro, Mac OS X (10.5.6)

Posted on Jan 26, 2009 11:51 AM

Top-ranking reply

mjtlee

Level 1

39 points

Posted on Mar 1, 2009 7:28 AM

I hope this might help some people. I have an NHSmail account and have just been migrated. I am an Apple user at home, and a Nokia E71 user. This is how I sorted my life out after the migration. It took a long time for me to figure it all out.

Using a full Office for Mac 2008 (not the student teacher edition because this does not support Exchange 2007, but the full one available through the NHS discount) you must update to v 12.1.5.

After you have registered at www.connect.microsoft.com apply for the Entourage Beta here http://www.microsoft.com/mac/itpros/entourage-ews.mspx It takes around 48 hours for them to approve you. I have the dmg file. I am sure you can find it on the internet.

Make sure you check that you are using Entourage with Exchange server SP1 or later on the application form (which you are with NHSmail), and the full version of Office for Mac. I said 'don't know' the first time and had to reregister with a different address to get approved.

48 hours later you will be okayed for the trial and download the new Entourage. It will autodetect all your NHSmail settings with just your email address and password. Now you have a Mac that runs a full mail programme with your NHSmail. You can add as many IMAP mail accoounts as you like. You DO NOT have to synchronise your address book and calendars. I hear that Mail may support Exchange 2007 in its next incarnation and many of our problems will have improved solutions.

For a Nokia S60 phone e.g. E71, you can use RoadSync (DataViz software, a respectable company) which is an Symbian Exchange client. You DO NOT have to synchronise your calendar, tasks and contacts so you can keep your NHS calendar, tasks and addresses separate and have both private and NHS worlds on the same device.

Of course you can just use Exchange for your calendar, contacts and tasks if you want to. Many people who like Apple Macs will not want to do that! We prefer a world with iCal, Addressbook and Mail

View in context

46 replies

Mar 17, 2009 3:59 PM in response to eHealth

Might as well add my experience, as it may reflect the position a lot of people are in. I've not been an Entourage user, instead favouring Apple Mail and iCal. If you've never used Entourage, setting up NHS mail is completely trouble-free using the Beta release. I have added in my other IMAP accounts, and will hopefully complete the process by importing my calendars. My eventual aim is to move my iCal calendars onto the NHS.net server, which may be a little trickier. No problems to report so far though...

lrk0

Level 1

0 points

Mar 19, 2009 3:18 AM in response to stevenjrowan

Yes, that would work, but I have multiple POP/IMAP/Exchange email accounts all handled in Entourage along with various folders, contacts, rules, filters, etc and I need my nhs.net email to be in the same place!

The beta works a treat...many thanks to all the helpful comments on this thread 🙂

Mar 23, 2009 2:20 PM in response to stevenjrowan

Hi Steven,
Access to NHS.net email via entourage is only possible via an NHS.net connection and then you will be limited to IMAP/POP connections. The big leap forward to Outlook Web has been a giant leap backwards for me as it has cut off both my mac and my blackberry. I'm contemplating forming a pressure group pushing for better access to the service.
Best wishes
Sam

Mar 31, 2009 5:46 AM in response to vegasbaby

i have managed to access my nhs email via entourage following the instructions in this thread (many thanks for all the useful comments)

However, I dont seem to be able to access the global address book which is visible when i am in outlook at work - i can only see my own personal contacts in entourage. i have changed the port to 636 as described above, but to no avail.

Am I missing something - if someone could email me the settings for the directory I would be very grateful
regards
steven

mjtlee

Level 1

39 points

Apr 16, 2009 6:58 AM in response to Dermot O'Riordan

I had an email from Microsoft yesterday advising me not to use Microsoft AutoUpdate for Office products if I was using the Entourage Beta. I guess it might break something. I have truned AutoUpdat off by opening an Office programme/Help/Updates and switched Auto Update to Manual.

John

Apr 28, 2009 6:00 AM in response to vegasbaby

i would very much value any extra instructions on how to publish my ical calanders to nhs mail if possible

do changes made in ical dynamically change the respective calander on nhs net?

many thanks in anticipation
steven

Apr 28, 2009 6:02 AM in response to Bengarnz

I have managed to access my nhs email via entourage following the instructions in this thread

However, I dont seem to be able to access the global address book which is visible when i am in outlook at work - i can only see my own personal contacts in entourage. i have changed the port to 636 as described above, but to no avail.

Am I missing something - if you could email me the settings for the directory I would be very grateful
regards
steven

steven

Feb 2, 2009 11:34 AM in response to adamb529

Mail in Leopard supports Exchange Account as an account type -- why you do you say it does not?

Ernie

Feb 4, 2009 5:42 AM in response to Ernie Stamper

thanks ernie - profile is out of date - should be corrected now! (I am on the latest update of the OS)

SJR

Feb 6, 2009 10:17 AM in response to Gordon Hay

Hi, I have tried this process with mine and keeps coming up with wrong password, do you have any ideas or how yours was set up.

Regards

Feb 21, 2009 1:56 AM in response to Bengarnz

many thanks for the reply - I tried to set this up, but it seems that i have the home-student edition of mac-office 2008 which doesn't seem to allow using the beta

Mar 1, 2009 2:10 AM in response to Bengarnz

Yes but there seems to be a block on signing up for the Entourage beta. As I have said above, I have applied but my status has been stuck on "pending" for more than a week.

TomTomS

Level 1

0 points

Mar 15, 2009 8:10 AM in response to lrk0

Thanks - that's got it working. I'm very grateful.

Tom

Apr 10, 2009 8:21 AM in response to Dermot O'Riordan

It seems they have all the people using the beta that they require and are not permitting any further downloads. Is there any other way of obtaining this?

Donald

Apr 16, 2009 6:39 AM in response to dmcgeachy

It can be found in the usual places...

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Mail with NHS.net