iPhone POP3 protocol error

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iPhone POP3 protocol error

I'm an admin on a mail server running MailEnable. Most of my clients run MS Windows PC's with Outlook (various versions) using POP3. Many use various PDA type devices to access email via POP3 as well. I have 2 iPhone users whose phones fail to log out on the POP3 transaction, tying up the mailbox and locking out their Outlook. The server won't allow Outlook to access the mailbox because the iPhone hasn't logged out after it's transaction.

When will this error be fixed on the iPhone POP3 implementation? How do users get the fix?

Windows XP Pro

Posted on Sep 16, 2009 6:55 PM

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Answer 1

DaVBMan

Level 6

9,280 points

Sep 16, 2009 7:02 PM in response to ffitz2

Just my opinion, but sounds like maybe MailEnable doesn't follow the POP standards fully. As many know MS does make many of their products that work with standards but also they break standards and accept others that do too.

I hit three different POP servers, and two IMAP servers and all work fine with the iPhone and computers hitting same accounts with both Outlook (at work) and Express (at home).

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Answer 2

ffitz2 Author

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Sep 16, 2009 7:06 PM in response to DaVBMan

The only accounts having problems use iPhones, and the log files on mailenable show the iPhone doesn't close the transaction.

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Answer 3

DaVBMan

Level 6

9,280 points

Sep 16, 2009 7:09 PM in response to ffitz2

Oh I understand what you said. If only specific iPhones are the issue then maybe it could be those, but if all iPhones hitting MailEnable POP accounts have same issue, then it could be that the iPhone is talking to the POP protocol right, but the MailEnable did not follow standards and the iPhone (as with most things Apple) likes to follow the strict standards.

All I am saying is since the iPhone works on other POP servers, it could be the setup of yours (no offense) but also could just be those iPhones. Have you tried with more?

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Answer 4

ffitz2 Author

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Sep 16, 2009 7:24 PM in response to DaVBMan

I don't know if other users are using iPhones, but it might be so. We have users with Blackberries, Blackjacks, etc, along with some users accessing the same accounts with multiple PC's in different locations. The only reported problems have been with the 2 iPhone users. I don't have other iPhones at my disposal to test with.

I do know that the POP3 transactions from the suspect iPhones are not terminated correctly from the iPhone.

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Answer 5

rutrow1

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Sep 18, 2009 8:55 AM in response to ffitz2

I can confirm the same issue connecting to my POP3 server. The iPhone will login and retreive messages, but will not logout the current session until it tries to check messages again. At which point the new connection will still be left open, continuing the process. This leaves a lock file on the system, preventing a login using a different email client. Something is certainly wrong with the iPhone pop email client. I have tried various other email clients on various platforms and NONE have this problem.

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Answer 6

ffitz2 Author

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Sep 20, 2009 8:40 PM in response to rutrow1

Is this forum monitored by apple? This is a real bug on the iPhone. When will it be fixed? Expecting all your users who have pop3 accounts to go get a gmail mailbox and forward their email to it for the iPhone is a **** of a way to show how great your product quality is. How about fixing your bug?

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Answer 7

Sep 27, 2009 3:10 PM in response to ffitz2

I have Iphone 3G how do I get mailenable on my phone? I need the incoming and outgoing mail server info and do I use IMAP or POP?

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Answer 8

ffitz2 Author

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Sep 28, 2009 5:30 PM in response to Powertone80

To Powertone80:
I think you misunderstand these posts. Mailenable doesn't run on your iPhone. Your iPhone runs an email client program. That email client program communicates with an email server. The email server runs Mailenable or some other email hosting program for servers (there are many).

If you have email service, your email host can tell you what the IMAP or POP3 settings are. If you need email service, you can get a free mailbox from gmail.com

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Answer 9

edclange

Level 5

4,374 points

Sep 28, 2009 6:30 PM in response to ffitz2

Apple does not actively monitor these forums. Use the iPhone Feedback form or join ADC and file a bug report.

POP3 with mailbox locking is basically not a good idea for mobile devices. It's quite easy for a mobile device to lose its connection during a session, especially over the cellular data network. When that happens, the mailbox is locked until the session times out. If at all possible, convert the users to IMAP.

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Answer 10

ffitz2 Author

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Sep 29, 2009 6:34 AM in response to edclange

??? Everyone but iPhone users can do POP3 with no problem. You have a bug in the iPhone POP3 implementation. How about fixing it. I use a Samsung Blackjack II with POP3 with no problem. I have about 100 users with PDA type mobile devices that can to POP3 with no problem. Only iPhone users are complaining, and it because of the bug in the POP3 implementation on iPhone. Instead of making the user switch protocols (We don't offer IMAP on our server), how about fixing your bug?

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Answer 11

Sep 29, 2009 7:06 AM in response to ffitz2

Don't know if this helps, but, for what it's worth...

http://www.mailenable.com/kb/Content/Article.asp?ID=me020520

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Answer 12

edclange

Level 5

4,374 points

Sep 29, 2009 9:03 AM in response to ffitz2

You do realize that you're not talking to Apple here, right?

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Answer 13

DK1969

Level 1

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Dec 7, 2009 7:09 AM in response to DaVBMan

I also run many email services (POP, IMAP, EXCHANGE, Postmaster, Linux Pop3, and a few others...) and I can confirm the issue is with the iPhone all versions upto 3.1. The iPhone never issues a "Quit" command as defined in RFC 1939.

A protocol capture clearly shows that the iPhone does not issue the command and does not close the tcp port. I know the apple die hards will say that "IMAP doesn't have the problem" and "POP is not designed for multiple access" and they are partially correct. IMAP is designed for multiple access granted and POP is not designed for similtaneous multiple access but there is nothing preventing multiple clients reading the same POP3 account one at a time.

This of course relies on each client logging off correctly....APPLE GET YOUR ACT TOGETHER....READ the RFC and fix the problem there is no excuse.

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