Question

I’ve a question regarding the over all design of push email and specifically the approach taken by Exchange ActiveSync.

As I understand there are two basic ways to get push email with the following architecture


Device <---> Push Email Server <---> Actual Email server


1. Keep a constant socket connection between Push email server and device. Push email server will inform device over the connection.
   • Related technology – IMAP IDLE
   • No sms gateway required
2. The Push email server will send a message (wap push, sms etc) to ask device to download new email.
   • Related technology- OMA-ENM
   • Needs a SMS gateway at Push email server

Considering this, what type of push email service does Exchange Activesync actually offer?

(AFAIK, white label push solution from Emoze/Synchronica uses the 1st approach – constant connection over something like IMAP-IDLE).

Answer 1

I think Exchange ActiveSync offers something similar to IMAP-IDLE, see below…

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa997252.aspx

If you’ve come to a different conclusion please post. Thanks!