Dear all,

From my own experiences gained getting Windows push mail to work on my own rw6818, I am in the process of writing a comprehensive guide to Windows Mobile 5.0/Exchange 2003 and Direct Push.

Have just completed the introduction; would welcome feedback and comments on my personal blog at http://littlesandpit.blogspot.com. Direct link [here]

Regards,
Paul Mah.

afaik, the latest pushmail is still known as autd (maybe autd2) ... and default heartbeat interval is 1 hour if i am not wrong.

but nevertheless, good write up.

Moderator's Note:

Thread moved to Tips and Tricks

Hi,

Yes, you are right in that the earlier version of "semi-push" mail with Windows Mobile devices (2003/2003 SE) features Auto-Up-To-Date (AUTD) in which the server will send an SMS to the mobile device to tell it to do a synchronization upon the arrival of a new mail (at the server end).

The current version of push mail which Windows Mobile 5.0 with Messenging and Security Feature Pack (MSFP) supports is called "Direct Push". Direct Push, incidentally is also a component of the Adaptation Kit Upgrade version 2.0, or AKU2. In fact, MSFP is a sub-set of AKU2 and above.

The current AKU version released to manufacturers is 3.0 and devices with it should be coming out around now till the end of 2006. However, in practice, most Windows Mobile devices on the market at the moment are either running on vanilla 5.0, with MSFP or AKU 2/AKU 2.2

Hope this clarifies the confusing picture somewhat. (Actually it drove me nuts in the beginning)

Regards,
Paul Mah.

MSFP is a function that's packed in AKU2 and above. AUTD if I am not wrong is at the exchange server end. If you go to exchange server SP2 configuration, you still see AUTD (always up to date) as the configuration name.

Yes, MSFP is one of the features in AKU2. If you have MSFP, you have Direct Push. If you have AKU2, you also have Direct Push. What MSFP or AKU x.x refers to is the Windows Mobile 5.0 firmware on your handheld/device.

On the server side, Microsoft Exchange 2003 SP2 supports BOTH AUTD and Direct Push. You are free to enable either AUTD or Direct Push or even both at the same time. The vanilla Microsoft Exchange 2003 on the other hand, only supports AUTD.

Below is a screenshot of my personal MS Exchange 2003 SP2 at the exact configuration screen for AUTD and Direct Push.



Regards,
Paul Mah.

thanks for the screen shot. I stand corrected, must have recalled wrongly.

Hi,

Did an almost total revamp of my Direct Push Guide. Have broken down the original guide into separate sections, and almost tripled the information in the meantime. There is now an index page that can be found here. It should stay the same this time round.

Have also added in a new section pitting Direct Push with the Blackberry here.

As usual, feedback is welcomed. Happy reading.

Regards,
Paul Mah.

Can check with all of you using PDA to receive mail messages, is there a way to
store the received messages on the miniSD. Internal memory on HP6818 seems
limited. Another question is if I deleted those messages on my PDA, will those
messages in the Exchange Server mailbox be deleted as well when doing update
or syn? Thanks.

Hi Cybertech,

There might be a registry hack to point all your mails to the miniSD card, but I'm not sure about that honestly.

A possible alternative would be to store all your Email attachments (Which really is the main cuprit in terms of taking up your memory) on your miniSD card instead. Under "Messenging" -> Menu -> Tools -> Options -> Storage. Select "Store attachments on storage card".

As a rule, whatever changes you do on your Pocket PC has the same effect as doing it on an Outlook client that is linked to MS Exchange. i.e. It will be synchronized, including deletion of mails. Having said that, "deleted" mails are really moved to the "Deleted" folder just like on Outlook. Under the same option settings as above, simply select "Manually" under "Empty deleted items" to ensure that you have a chance to vet through the deleted folder before it is cleared for good.

Regards,
Paul Mah.

Hi all,

I recently enabled MS Direct Push in my Dopod 838 Pro and I have the following question to ask:

Q1: It seems that ActiveSync will send a heart beat signal to the MS Exchange Server at certain interval (every 1 hour?). Is this correct? Anyway to prevent or disable this from happening?

Q2: Everytime I received an email from my Exchange Server, the UMTS/GPRS connection turn on automatically. But after downloading the mail, the UMTS/GPRS connection stays on permanently. Anyway to configure this to automatically disconnect after the mail is downloaded?

Q3: After I configure Direct Push on my PDA, the device Lock function (under Settings->Lock) seems to be enabled automatically after the configuration process. Anyway to disable this? Because right now, even I do a soft reset, the device will be locked and requires my password to unlock it. Very troublesome.

Thanks.

Hi,

Q1:
The default is actually 480 seconds, or 8 minutes. Unless you opt for polling "Check every x minutes" or "Manually", there is no way to disable this. Of course, checking your mail every x minutes as well as manually is not push mail are not considered any form of push mail at all. Bottomline: If there is no heartbeat, "push" mail won't work.

Q2:
That's how push mail works. Basically the entire connection has to be kept open. i.e. When new mail arrives, the Exchange sends a byte of data back through the existing (open) connection to tell your handheld that there's new mails/items that just came in.

Without the open connection, there is no way for Exchange to tell your handheld about the arrival of new mail/items. There are other technical reasons why an open connection is needed and logical, but you can read my Direct Push Guide on that :)

But you don't have to worry really; the open connection doesn't utilize any traffic at all - you will not be charged for it. You are only charged for when there is data transferred (The activesync icon is moving).

Q3:
A picture speaks a thousand words. You can either disable "Enforce password on device" or add your own Active Directory name for your mailbox under "Exceptions".

Exchange Systems Manager -> Mobile Services -> Mobile Service Properties -> Device Security Settings.




Regards,
Paul Mah.

Hi Paul,

For answer to Q1, I am baffled. Why does the PDA client need to send a heartbeat signal to the server for push mail to work for Microsoft Direct Push? Is this the case for RIM's implementation as well? Shouldn't there be a mechanism where my cellphone number is co-related with my exchange server email address. So that when the server end detects a mail coming into my mail box, it will establish a data connection (GPRS/UMTS) to my PDA using my cell number, sends the mail across using my email address and my PDA will terminate the call after receiving it. And when I reply the email, the reverse would happen? In this case, this will truely be "Push" mail. Right now, Microsoft Direct Push appears to be Pseudo-Pushmail.

For answer to Q2, it's not the connection charges I am concerned about. I am more concerned about the battery life of my device. With GPRS/UMTS turned on perpetually, my Dopod 838Pro can barely last half a day. It will not do any good at all. I will end up having the capability to check mail on the move but without the actual possibility of staying away for long without a power source!

For answer to Q3, my System Admin use to enable the "Enforce password on device" option. Since then, he has disabled it. But my device is still password locked. Anyways for me to disable this password lock? Thanks.

Sigh... What a trouble to do Push Mail on Microsoft. It's totally half baked!!!

H there,

For Q1, basically, your WM 5.0 (With MSFP) pocket pc connects to your exchange through port 80 or 443 (HTTP or HTTPS, depending on whether encryption option is selected). By making use of fully standard TCP/IP services, it allows Microsoft push mail (or Direct Push) to work regardless of telco firewall settings if any. i.e. It will work even if the telco doesn't give you a public IP as it is the device that initiates the connection. Also, it also means that you do not need to be on a 'blackberry' enabled network to enjoy push mail. Any telco who can give you a standard gprs/edge/3g network will work fine.

RIM's implementation, on the other hand, requires that the telco provision for the service. This is due to the non tcp/ip signalling to achieve the same heartbeat effect. Hence, it is possible for you to visit a country and not be able to have blackberry service. Think about it; occasionally you might have read about RIM announcing 'Blackberry partners with so-and-so telco to bring the blackberry to so and so country'.

Admittedly, with the popularity of the Blackberry, it is unlikely that you end up in a country with gprs telco providers, but no Blackberry. However, the fact remains in that it is entirely possible.

Also, with certain providers like Starhub, you mighit notice that for their non-unlimited data plan; the plain gprs service is actually cheaper than the blackberry one by a significant margin. This is the blackberry licensing at work here as an appropriate server needs to be run to give you the service. There is no such issue with Direct Push.

For Q2, my possible recommendation is that you can try purchasing a 2nd battery... I personally have no such problem, but maybe its because I don't use my PDA phone as a primary source of calls (I carry another phone for voice).

Q3 ah... try to 'delete' the exchange server and 'add' it again. That might resolve it. Do this when connected via usb cable to your desktop/laptop. Your Internet connectivity will be utilized by default instead of gprs data... :)

I personally consider Direct Push to be more elegant and technically superior to the Blackberry's implementation. But I do feel too that the overal 'experience' is still not comparable to the Blackberry. I say it from a position of having used both Blackberry and Direct Push for about a heavy half a year (real life) usage of each.

Regards,
Paul Mah.

I do have same problem when turn on UMTS with Directpush, battery maximun half day, try few units seem same, but if turn off using GPRS, it can last atleast 1 1/2 days. :(

Hi guys,

Just a note that my Direct Push Guide has been moved over to www.techatplay.com. You can access the direct link here.

Regards,
Paul Mah.

Paul, this all is very good advice.

Sadly I think all the telco operator cannot advice on this matter at all. I've been to all and this matter is getting on my nerves of the kind of advice you do receive.

I've been looking for the right tips and just found you to handle this matter with ease. Thanks alot. I'll use most of your information first and will further ask your advice as soon as I bump into a barrier.

Hi there,

Sure thing. Do feel free to drop me a line via the contact form (no choice, have to protect against SPAM) if you have any queries. Actually, I don't believe I mentioned it before; but I live in Singapore (too), so can always manage a direct line as necessary. :)

Regards,
Paul Mah.