Jun
29
2009

iPhone 3.0 and Exchange Server- Better Than Ever

The much ballyhooed iPhone 3.0 update is here, and with it come a number of significant improvements in the way the iPhone integrates with Microsoft Exchange server. As a counter to the button down business oriented Blackberry, the iPhone has been seen as the ‘fun’ device, but when combined with Exchange server, the iPhone is a powerful business smart phone in its own right.

The iPhone has always been able to connect to Exchange servers via IMAP, and native support for ActiveSync and Exchange has been built in since release2.0. This gives administrators an alternative to the potential security risks associated with IMAP. Using ActiveSync to connect to Exchange server has additional benefits as well. IMAP is only designed to handle e-mail, but with ActiveSync users have full synchronization with their calendars and contacts in addition to e-mail.

iPhone 3.0 takes this synchronization feature a step further, allowing syncing with multiple calendars, both locally and from the Exchange server. Meeting invitations can now be created and sent from the phone, giving field reps and sales people added flexibility for appointment setting and client meetings. Like calendars, contact info can also be synced between local contact lists and contacts on the server. iPhone 3.0 supports both CalDev and ICS calendar protocols.
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