Adding an Exchange Account Using a Configuration Profile

Perhaps, the easiest way to set up Exchange ActiveSync on your iPad or iPhone is by creating a payload in a configuration profile that you will use to load into your device. You can apply the configuration profile by using either a USB cable with the help of iPhone Configuration Utility or by distributing it to other users, for example, sending it via your email account which is already configured on the iPhone or by posting it to your website for everyone to access.

Creating an Exchange ActiveSync Payload for a Configuration Profile

You can follow these steps to create an Exchange ActiveSync payload that you can load into your iPhone or iPad.

Step 1: Launch “iPhone Configuration Utility” from the Dock or the Utilities folder on your Mac or from the Start Menu on Windows.

Step 2: Click the ‘Configuration Profiles‘ item in the Source list to display the list of all configuration profiles.

Step 3: You may choose and click the profile that you want to add the Exchange ActiveSync payload.

Step 4: In the Payloads list, click on the ‘Exchange ActiveSync‘ item to open the ‘Configure Exchange ActiveSync‘ pane.

Step 5: Now, click on the ‘Configure‘ button to display ‘Exchange ActiveSync‘ pane.

Now, let’s try to have a closer look on each field so that you’ll be able to understand it better.

Account Name - enter a descriptive name that best describes the account.

Exchange ActiveSync Host – usually, hostname is used in this field but you can also use the IP address of the Exchange server.

Use SSL – you can check this box to make the communications with Secure Sockets Layer more secure. This is recommended but not required.

Domain & User text boxes – you can leave these fields blank as the iPhone or iPad will prompt the user to enter the information during the installation of profile in the device. However, if you are setting up a specific account then enter the appropriate information.

Email Address & Password - you can leave these fields blank so that each user has to enter his/her address and password every time.

Step 6: To add a certificate to securely identify the user, click on the [+] button just beneath ‘Authentication Credential‘ text box. This will display the ‘Windows Security‘ dialog box wherein you can choose an identity you can use. Click on ‘OK‘ button if you have selected a certificate.

After creating an Exchange ActiveSync profile, you can deploy it to your devices, i.e. iPhone and iPad.

Step 7: Click on the device you want the profile deployed located in the left pane. Select on the profile and simply click on ‘Install‘ button.

Step 8: You will also be prompted by your iPhone about the profile installation together with other information that go with the profile. Tap on ‘Install‘ button to proceed, and tap ‘Done‘ when finished.

As far as installation of configuration profile is concerned, that’s how you do it.

Setting Up a Connection to an Exchange Server Manually

As much as others find it easier to use configuration profiles to setup Exchange ActiveSync, there will be others who prefer to set things up through their iPhone. Now, let’s try to quickly go through the steps on how to manually setup Exchange Server through your iPhone.

Step 1: Launch ‘Settings‘ app from the Springboard and choose ‘Mail, Contacts, Calendars‘.

Step 2: Tap on ‘Add Account‘, then choose ‘Microsoft Exchange‘.

Step 3: On the next screen, you will be prompted to enter your Email, Domain (optional), Username, Password, and Description. If you don’t know much about these information, you can ask your company’s Exchange Server administrator.

Step 4: Your iPhone will automatically locate and authenticate the Exchange settings with the use of Microsoft’s Autodiscovery service. Should it fails to locate the server, you will be brought to the same window with ‘Server‘ field added to the previous fields. And therein, you have to enter the complete address of your Exchange server; again, you can ask your server administrators for it.

Once your iPhone has successfully made a connection with your company’s Exchange server, you will be prompted to change your device’s passcode to match with all the policies set on Exchange server.

That’s it! You must be able to Send, Receive and Read your emails from your iPhone/iPad. There shouldn’t be any problem connecting your iDevices with your company’s Exchange server as long as you are allowed to. And if that’s the case, you or other employees should have been given the server settings and other information you need to connect, or you will be advised that you can ask your system administrators for it.

Well, I hope this tutorial would be a great resource for you. Don’t hesitate to leave comments, suggestions or reactions in the boxes provided below.

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Funambol is a free service that uses the open source model. It replicates the workings of Microsoft Exchange and offers free exchange style email to many mobile phone types, particularly Windows Mobile.

It’s a powerful tool that goes beyond over the air email synchronization – Funambol also offers calendar and contacts synchronization.

Sign-Up And Install Funambol

First of all, you need to visit my.funambol.com to setup an account and tell the system what type of phone you’re using.

Once complete, it is then time to tell Funambol your email details. It’s a good idea to give the email address and password of a rarely used account or one you’ve set up for testing this service. I haven’t come across any security concerns as yet however – Funambol requires the information in order to login to your email account and push the emails to your phone. It’s all completely carried out by automated software, with no human interaction with the systems except for technical support.

Next you’ll need to download the right version for your Windows Mobile device – go to the Funambol download page. Separate downloads for Smartphone and PocketPC models are available (if your phone has a hardware keyboard and is not touchscreen, you’ll need the Smartphone version).

Finally some general information needs to be confirmed, such as timezone and secondary email address.

How To Sync

Once downloaded and installed on your phone (Funambol sends a CAB file to your Windows Mobile device for over the air installation) it’s time to begin synching data.

The most obvious thing to try to sync is your email – however any contacts and calendar items currently held on your Windows Mobile device will be synchronized as ActiveSync sends your Pocket Outlook data to the Funambol open source exchange server.

What is and isn’t synced can be managed from your mobile Funambol client, while the myfunambol page allows you to alter calendar entries and add and delete duplicates.

The following Pocket Outlook data types can be synced or disabled:

• Email
• Contacts
• Calendar
• Tasks
• Notes
• Briefcase

Manage what items are synced by launching the Funambol client on your Windows Phone and saving your Sync Settings.

Email can be set to push, scheduled or manual synchronization with Funambol – to set this click on the Email Options link on the Sync Settings screen. There are no considerable differences between Push service and Scheduled synchronization, so to take advantage of this great service I would recommend setting your device to Push service.

Sending and Receiving Email

When you receive email with Funambol, the software will replicate the actions of an ActiveSync managed connection to a Microsoft Exchange server. The email received in your account will be collected by Funambol’s automated systems and pushed to your phone almost instantly. No other email address is used.

To reply to the email – carry on as normal! Funambol doesn’t utilise any new email addresses for relaying your message, so your intended recipient will have no idea you’re sending via a secure third party. There will be no unusual email addresses aliasing your own usual address, making the experience with Funambol a seamless and impressive one.

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