Ok I got my Verizon Iphone on the 7th. So all week I have been trying to sort out this email Push issue out. I had a Blackberry so believe me I am equally frustrated but here is what I learned:
First the Iphone _*does not*_ "push" email unless it is coming from a "hosted exchange" email server. So those of you using a standard POP or IMAP account you will only get your email when you either click on the mail button at which point it will retrieve the mail or it will "fetch" the mail every 15 minutes (quickest setting). You can view this by simply going to "settings" > "mail, contacts, calendar" > "fetch new data" > "advanced" You will now see your email account(s) and how the email is getting to the phone. Note that your IMAP & POP email says "Fetch" not "Push" Bottom line: The IPhone 4 does NOT "Push" email like a Blackberry. Period!
Now how can you do a work around? This is what I have figured out. First, if you are using GMail you're in luck. Do
NOT set up your email on the phone using the "Gmail" tab when adding an email account, if you did delete it and follow these instructions: Set it up using "Exchange" Here is how:
http://www.google.com/support/mobile/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=138740 Now your calendar appointments and email will "push" to the phone and new appointments entered on the phone will update online. Here is the important trick: If you are using another email provider as I am you can "add" that POP or IMAP email account to your GMail account (in other words create a GMail account if you don't have one)now all your email accounts will push down to your phone. To sync your contacts simply use the I Tunes software under the phone > Info tab select "Gmail" as the sync option enter you Gmail info and it will upload the contacts to Gmail and now the exchange feature will auto sync your contacts. Get "Google calendar sync" if you are using Outlook and your appointments created in Outlook will sync to your Gmail calendar and the exchange will sync the appointments to your phone automatically.
Last the only other way to do this is to pay for an exchange hosted email account. Which, if you own a business with your own Domain with multiple email users as I do, it is a lot more expensive than POP or IMAP accounts. Google Business email will do it for $50 per user per year. Go Daddy was also the cheapest I saw. Look for "hosted exchange" email and your search will be over.
Enjoy or return to the Blackberry and eliminate this BS.
