Mastering Mobile Device and Wireless Access Essentials

Exchange Server 2007 supports wireless access for users with many types of mobile devices, including browser-enabled cell phones and Windows Mobile–powered devices. Exchange Server 2007 uses Exchange ActiveSync to provide mobile access functionality. The version of Exchange ActiveSync included in Exchange Server 2007 integrates functionality previously provided separately with Outlook Mobile Access and Exchange ActiveSync.

When you install Exchange Server 2007, Exchange ActiveSync is automatically configured for use. As with Outlook Web Access, this makes Exchange ActiveSync fairly easy to manage, but there are still some essential concepts you should know to manage it more effectively. This section explains these concepts.

Tip 

As an Exchange administrator, there are many things you can do to fine-tune the mobile access configuration for your organization, as discussed in Chapter 16. At a minimum, you'll want to ensure the appropriate level of authentication is applied. You'll also want to create and apply Exchange ActiveSync Mailbox Policy.

Using Exchange ActiveSync

Using Exchange ActiveSync, users with mobile devices can access their e-mail, calendar, contacts, and scheduled tasks. Mobile access services have several key components:

• Wireless synchronization access With wireless synchronization access, users can synchronize their mobile devices with Exchange Server. Synchronizing a device to Exchange allows users to keep their Exchange data current without being constantly connected to a wireless network.

• Wireless browser access With wireless browsing, users connect to Exchange and browse their Exchange data using their mobile device. On the wireless device, browsing is enabled using the built-in Web browser. Users connect to the Internet using the services of their mobile device, and then browse Exchange using the Exchange ActiveSync URL, such as http://https://exchange.cpandl.com/Microsoft-Server-ActiveSync.

Both wireless access components are installed by default on Exchange Server 2007, and no installation is required. Exchange ActiveSync browsing is possible because of the HTTP virtual server that is installed with Exchange.

Managing Wireless Synchronization and Exchange Server ActiveSync

Using Exchange Server ActiveSync, users whose mobile devices have Windows Mobile 5.0 and the Messaging and Security Feature Pack (MSFP) and later versions of Windows Mobile software can initiate synchronization with Exchange to keep their data up-to-date and receive notices from Exchange that trigger synchronization through the Direct Push feature. Direct Push is a key feature that you probably want to know a bit more about. It works like this:

1. The user configures his or her mobile device to synchronize with Exchange, selecting specific Exchange folders that he or she wants to keep up-to-date.

2. When a new message arrives in a designated sync folder, a control message is sent to the mobile device.

3. The control message initiates a data synchronization session, and the device performs background synchronization with Exchange.

Users with third-party synchronization software for their mobile devices can also sync with Exchange, provided the software is compatible with Exchange Server ActiveSync.

After they are synchronized, users can then access their data while they are offline. In Exchange Server 2007, User Initiated Synchronization, Direct Push, and Synchronization Notification Receipt are all either enabled or disabled along with Exchange ActiveSync itself.

Exchange Server 2007 enables ActiveSync for each user by default. If necessary, you can disable ActiveSync for specific users. To do this, complete the following steps:

1. Start Exchange Management Console by clicking Start, clicking All Programs, clicking Microsoft Exchange Server 2007, and then selecting Exchange Management Console.

2. Expand Recipient Configuration, and then select Mailbox.

3. You should now see a list of users with Exchange mailboxes in the organization. Double-click the user's name to open the Properties dialog box for the user account.

4. On the Mailbox Features tab, the enabled mobile and Web access features for the user are displayed, as shown previously in Figure 4-2:

   • q To disable Exchange ActiveSync for this user, under Feature, select Exchange ActiveSync, and then click Disable.

   • q To enable Exchange ActiveSync for this user, under Feature, select Exchange ActiveSync, and then click Enable.

5. Click OK.

Real World ActiveSync notifications are sent over wireless networks using the Internet. To take advantage of these services, users must subscribe to the Internet services of a wireless carrier. The actual process of receiving synchronization requests and sending synchronization notifications is handled through the HTTP virtual server configured for use with Exchange. Exchange ActiveSync is, in fact, configured as an ASP.NET application on the HTTP virtual server. For Exchange Server ActiveSync to work properly, the HTTP virtual server must be configured properly, as discussed in Chapter 16. If you want to learn more about Internet Information Services (IIS) and ASP.NET, I recommend Microsoft IIS 7.0 Administrator's Pocket Consultant (Microsoft Press, 2007).

Managing Wireless Browsing on Mobile Devices

Wireless browsing allows users to access their Exchange e-mail, calendar, contacts, and scheduled tasks using the built-in Web browser of their mobile devices. To browse Exchange, users must subscribe to the Internet services of a wireless carrier and then access Exchange using the ActiveSync Access URL, such as http://https://exchange.cpandl.com/Microsoft-Server-ActiveSync.

Wireless browsing is designed to be used with devices running Windows Mobile software. If unsupported devices are allowed in ActiveSync policy, any device with a wireless browser can be used to browse Exchange. However, because of some technology incompatibilities with carrier gateways that alter the markup contained in message data sent between Exchange and wireless devices, wireless browsing is supported only with the following:

• HTML devices, such as Pocket PC 2002 or later and smart phones

• Extensible Hypertext Markup Language (XHTML) devices, such as cell phones, that use Wireless Application Protocol (WAP) 2.0 or later

• Compact Hypertext Markup Language (CHTML) devices, such as cell phones, that use iMode.

In addition, the wireless device must be with a wireless carrier whose network uses Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM), General Packet Radio Service (GPRS), or Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA). With these supported devices running on a supported network, you can be sure that a user's wireless browsing experience is consistent from device to device.

When users access Exchange in their mobile browser, they'll have these key options:

• Inbox Read, reply to, forward, or flag e-mail messages.

• Calendar View calendar and scheduling information, such as meetings and appointments.

• Contacts Find important contacts with their address, e-mail, and telephone information, or create new contacts.

• Tasks Browse current tasks or create new ones.

• Find Someone Find information on someone in Exchange's global address list.

• Compose New Create new e-mail messages.

• Preferences Configure Outlook Web Access preferences.

Note 

With Exchange, Outlook Mobile Access is configured as an ASP.NET application on an HTTP virtual server being used with Exchange. For Outlook Mobile Access to work properly, the HTTP virtual server must be configured properly, as discussed in Chapter 16.

A user's mobile browsing capability is controlled by enabling or disabling his or her mailbox for use with Exchange ActiveSync. To enable mobile browsing for the organization, you must set an external browsing URL. You should also be sure to configure security and authentication options appropriately.

Configuring Mobile Device Access and Wireless Browsing

Configuring mobile devices to access Exchange is a multipart process. First, users need to subscribe to the Internet service offered by their wireless carrier and configure their mobile devices to use the service. Then they need to configure their device for synchronization, browsing, or both.

With a Pocket PC, the process of configuration synchronization works like this:

1. After you configure the mobile device to use the Internet service provided by the user's wireless carrier, on the Today screen, tap Start, and then tap ActiveSync. This displays the ActiveSync screen.

2. Tap Menu, and then tap Configure Server.

3. Tap anywhere within the address bar, and then type the Exchange ActiveSync URL, such as http://https://exchange.microsoft.com/mobile. Select This Server Requires An Encrypted (SSL) Connection.

4. Click Next. When prompted, enter your user name, password, and domain information.

5. Select the Save Password check box, and then click Next.

6. Select the types of information you want to sync with the server, such as inbox, calendar, and contacts, and then click Finish.

With a Pocket PC, the process of mobile browsing works like this:

1. After you configure the mobile device to use the Internet service provided by the user's wireless carrier, on the Today screen, tap Start, and then tap Internet Explorer. This displays the Internet Explorer screen.

2. Tap View, and then tap Address Bar to display the address bar in the browser window.

3. Tap anywhere within the address bar, and then type the Exchange ActiveSync URL, such as http://https://exchange.microsoft.com/mobile. You should automatically connect. If you don't, you might have to connect manually.

4. When prompted, provide your user name, password, and domain information.