Database Users

Could push/ActiveSync Gmail be a possibility?

Hi everyone. I am sure I am not the first person to wonder about this. Microsoft’s “push” email technology that works with Exchange Server is entirely HTTP based. Obviously Microsoft wants this to work with only their server platform but couldn’t it be possible to use this with Gmail?
I can’t honestly see if being that difficult for the folks at Google to reverse engineer the exact format of the HTTP posts going back and forth between an Exchange server and a WM device. On top of this Gmail has Contacts and Calendar as well. If I could sync my WM device with Gmail I wouldn’t need Exchange anymore. I could even use Google Apps to get my email at my own domain name.
I tried setting up mail.google.com and also www.gmail.com as ‘exchange’ servers on my HTC Touch but it didn’t work :-(
The Fish.

thefish123 said:
Hi everyone. I am sure I am not the first person to wonder about this. Microsoft’s “push” email technology that works with Exchange Server is entirely HTTP based. Obviously Microsoft wants this to work with only their server platform but couldn’t it be possible to use this with Gmail?
I can’t honestly see if being that difficult for the folks at Google to reverse engineer the exact format of the HTTP posts going back and forth between an Exchange server and a WM device. On top of this Gmail has Contacts and Calendar as well. If I could sync my WM device with Gmail I wouldn’t need Exchange anymore. I could even use Google Apps to get my email at my own domain name.
I tried setting up mail.google.com and also www.gmail.com as ‘exchange’ servers on my HTC Touch but it didn’t work :-(
The Fish.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Option 1. forward your gmail account to mail2web or one of the other free services which is a free hosted exchange account (more or less).
Option 2. Set up your gmail for I-map and "idle" it. I know it can be done using flex mail, but not sure about idle in Pocket Outlook.
Option 3. Set up your device to check for mail every X minutes. You already new that one though.
Option 4. Set up to forward your mail to your device. IE: on cingular, it used to be you could forward it to "[email protected]" That one, you would need to check with your service provider.
hth

Hi ssschmidt,
I know there are ways I could forward my Gmail to another email service that is an Exchange Server and so does support Microsoft-style push email BUT I am wondering why Google doesn’t implement this themselves.
There are a tone of Windows Mobile devices out there AND Google is already offering Gmail at your own domain name with “Google Apps” service. If all of a sudden I could get true push Gmail with my own domain name (part of Google Apps) I think a lot of people might reconsider that upgrade to Exchange 2007.
Figuring out the exact format of the HTTP conversation between the WM device and the Exchange server couldn’t be that hard. Heck, I think I might be able to take a crack at it myself
In case anyone is wondering what happens is this. The WM device makes an HTTP request to the Exchange server and says “notify me if anything changes in these folders within the next X minutes”. The Exchange server the starts monitoring the folders in question for the specified period of time. If the folder “changes” (a message arrives, a contact is updated, an appointment re-scheduled) Exchange sends the changed items back as part of the HTTP response (the connection is left open and ‘hanging’ for the specified period of time). If nothing happens and the time period lapses the Exchange server sends an empty response and the HTTP connection is closed. The WM device then resumes the process over again by making another request. This it why it is called “client initiated ‘push’” because in reality the WM device is continually asking for changes. The constant back & forth acts as a kind of heartbeat so both ends of the connection (the WM device and the Exchange Server) know the other is still there (in case the WM device is out of service, turned off or otherwise off the grid).
I can see no reason why this HTTP conversation can’t be implemented (along with the correct URL’s) on a non-Exchange server such as Gmail. If Google decided to offer this I think it might be an Exchange killer. Currently I am thinking of ways I can get my own Exchange server. I have several customers with Exchange and a few of the might be willing to host my email for me. Currently I am using Google Apps which I absolutely LOVE but I would also love to be able to sync my plethora of contacts.
Maybe someone in Google reads these forums
The Fish

I'm sure Google will implement this with Android

berardi said:
I'm sure Google will implement this with Android
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I am sure your probably right. But if Google is interested in taking business away from Exchange (which I think they are judging by the Google Apps sign-up page) then it would make sense to provide this service to the thousands (if not millions) of WM users out there worldwide.
The Fish.

Gmail via Activesync
thefish123 said:
Hi everyone. I am sure I am not the first person to wonder about this. Microsoft’s “push” email technology that works with Exchange Server is entirely HTTP based. Obviously Microsoft wants this to work with only their server platform but couldn’t it be possible to use this with Gmail?
I can’t honestly see if being that difficult for the folks at Google to reverse engineer the exact format of the HTTP posts going back and forth between an Exchange server and a WM device. On top of this Gmail has Contacts and Calendar as well. If I could sync my WM device with Gmail I wouldn’t need Exchange anymore. I could even use Google Apps to get my email at my own domain name.
I tried setting up mail.google.com and also www.gmail.com as ‘exchange’ servers on my HTC Touch but it didn’t work :-(
The Fish.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
From the posts in this thread, looks like nobody mentioned having tried MobiPush. Mobipush allows you to have your Gmail, Yahoo, or other IMAP or POP account email pushed to your WM 5/6 device using the device's Direct-Push Technology. I am currently using the service with my Gmail account and it works well. Sign up is free. You must setup your Gmail options to allow IMAP or POP access, then follow the instructions on MobiPush's site to setup your device. I also forgot to mention that it seems that only mail is sync'ed at this time (no contacts or calendar, or tasks.)
Here's the link:
www.mobipush.com

Windows Live Hotmail provides Direct Push
Another option is to register for a live hotmail account (mail.live.com) and forward your gmail to this account. You can configure your Touch for push email from live hotmail by following the instructions here: http://blogs.msdn.com/mayurk/archiv...dows-live-hotmail-and-windows-mobile-6-0.aspx

mindchill said:
Another option is to register for a live hotmail account (mail.live.com) and forward your gmail to this account. You can configure your Touch for push email from live hotmail by following the instructions here: http://blogs.msdn.com/mayurk/archiv...dows-live-hotmail-and-windows-mobile-6-0.aspx
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
However when you do this your reply comes from your Live/Hotmail account. Do you know if you can do this and have your reply come from your gmail account?
Thanks!

Apparently there are other companies/groups that have independently developed products that are compatible with Microsoft’s “DirectPush” technology. So the good news is we know it can be and has been done.
Check out this product http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kerio_MailServer
Hopefully Google will develop something that will allow Gmail to masquerade as an Exchange server to a Windows Mobile device. Imagine having push email as well as contact and calendar synchronization with Gmail?? on your WM device? All without any third-party connectors/forwarding/etc.
The Fish.
PS: thanks to everyone for all the suggestions...

www.nuevasync.com for contacts and calendar sync - imap sync is coming - but it's been "coming" for a long time so we can only hope...

try http://www.funambol.com
It will sync calendar, email and contacts.

gottago said:
try http://www.funambol.com
It will sync calendar, email and contacts.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i am currently using funambol with scheduleworld for my google calendar - are you using funambol by itself for your calendar?
thanks

nuevasync is great for syncing google contacts and calendar. No downloads everything works through activesync. Their blog says gmail is coming so for now I just use IMAP for gmail.

I simply use www.mobipush.com services, works great for emails.

thefish123 said:
Hi everyone. I am sure I am not the first person to wonder about this. Microsoft’s “push” email technology that works with Exchange Server is entirely HTTP based. Obviously Microsoft wants this to work with only their server platform but couldn’t it be possible to use this with Gmail?
I can’t honestly see if being that difficult for the folks at Google to reverse engineer the exact format of the HTTP posts going back and forth between an Exchange server and a WM device. On top of this Gmail has Contacts and Calendar as well. If I could sync my WM device with Gmail I wouldn’t need Exchange anymore. I could even use Google Apps to get my email at my own domain name.
I tried setting up mail.google.com and also www.gmail.com as ‘exchange’ servers on my HTC Touch but it didn’t work :-(
The Fish.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
First of all, you don't need MS Push because Google does have a mail push mechanism in place. It is called IMAP Idle. You can read it from here: http://www.isode.com/whitepapers/imap-idle.html. So all you need to do is setting up your IMAP IDLE compatible client to sync with gmail via IMAP instead of POP.
Now, you may also like to forward you mail to mail2web and take advantage of the push mail plus push calendar, contact and task. But you can also use OggSync and keep everything in Google.

berardi said:
I'm sure Google will implement this with Android
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well, they already have the solution.

agentmikeyd said:
i am currently using funambol with scheduleworld for my google calendar - are you using funambol by itself for your calendar?
thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Actually I am only using/testing funambol on my gmail. I don't use a calendar as of yet, too little time to test on funambol. I do know that contacts synch via funambol does work. I guess you are calling me to task;-)

I know there are various ways using combinations of third party software and/or services and so forth of syncing email one way, calendar another, etc, etc. But imagine being able to sync EVERYTHING in Google Apps with their counterparts on your Windows Mobile device using the NATIVE built-in synchronization mechanism of that device.
If Google is serious about killing Exchange in the SMB market place they will implement this.
Currently I still sync my Vogue with my Exchange server even though I also use Google Apps.
The Fish

there is always this
http://www.codeplex.com/ImapPusherService
works well for me

Did I call it or what?!?!
OK, little brag moment there but!!! Have a look at this screen shot. I am not 100% sure when Google added this but this is EXACTLY what I was hoping for just over a year ago! Did I call it or what? I can't imagine Gmail/Google Apps being any cooler
The Fish

Anyone using Google Sync?

Just curious if anyone is using Google Sync. All my contacts and calendars I use are from my Google account. I am just wondering what the best way to continue to use them is.
thanks

I was
harsaphes said:
Just curious if anyone is using Google Sync. All my contacts and calendars I use are from my Google account. I am just wondering what the best way to continue to use them is.
thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
1. Go to Active sync
2. Tap Menu (lower right of screen)
3. Add Server Source( its going to ask you to put your e-mail address in)..Hit next after done
4. Enter User name (it is your e-mail address), Enter password... Hit next after that is done
5. The next page is Automatic Configuration (hit Skip quick)
6. Enter Server address for google.. its "m.google.com" (without these "").. Hit next
I think were done good luck

thankyou...just tried it out on my Ipod touch..works great.

also when you setup activesync, dont forget to uncheck Task and Emails, as they are not supported by GoogleSync yet.
Also, on Windows Mobile, you cannot sync multiple calendars (but it works on iPhone or Blackberry, which is a shame)

guigui42 said:
Also, on Windows Mobile, you cannot sync multiple calendars (but it works on iPhone or Blackberry, which is a shame)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nuevasync (http://www.nuevasync.com/) can synchronize multiple calendars. I had no problem with the free version.
Thierry

and the nuevasync push email is excellent for ~$25 a yar

google sync working with gmail now

Seven
I am using Seven Beta to do my sync. Calender and Push Email from Exchange (through active sync...I'm paranoid), Contacts and Push Email from GMail, Push email from Yahoo, Comcast and Hotmail. It works great and takes less battery then polling for all of these accounts.

thank you!

Sorry for the noob question: How to I sync my Contacts over from my Nexus?

I am sure it's been covered, but I can't sync this to get my Google contacts for anything. I keep getting error code: 0x80072ee7
This is my first WimMo phone so go easy!

go to your gmail on your pc, then you want to go to contacts, then export contacts, and save them as an outlook file...then you want to log into windows live (if you dont have an account, make one up, and you can still use another email (you dont have to use a hotmail account), then after loading your contact file into windows live on your pc via the web, then you want to open windows live on your phone, and log in, then your contacts will sync, and be saved, like google, on windows live....
your lucky i was in a helpful/good mood because i just picked up my HD2, this all is windows help search away...
although you might have done this, a bit more info on how you got the error would be good...

There was a good thread about this in the HD2 General forum, unfortunately I can't remember the title. You can probably find it with a good search. It's within the last few days.
Basically.. in Settings -> Data Services -> ActiveSync, you can set up an email account that links to your gmail account and syncs the contacts. The account type should be Exchange. That's as much as I can remember. Just do a thread search, you'll find it.

if your contacts are on your gmail account, you can install SEVEN from here (You have to join their beta program and once you do, you can click on the "download software" link. Please select the consumer edition, and agree to the terms (read them carefully first, the reason is explained below). When you do you will be presented with the choice to receive a text message on your phone or other download options, select other download options, select HTC as the manufacturer and select either the P3450 or the T8282 as your model (the HD2 is not officially supported, but it works well at least on mine) and then you can download the cab.
The catch with SEVEN is that when you set up your account, it will send a text message to a number in the UK, they do that to register your phone on their system, and they only do it once per email account, although if you flash your phone and reinstall SEVEN, it will send the message again when you add your account again.
When you set up your account, you will be able to sync your email, your contacts and your calendar, and it will be setup as push. You can do this with gmail, AOL, yahoo, hotmail, and even custom accounts.
Hope this helps.

Phone the sound of it, you already set up an activesync to get your gmail email/contacts/calendar. I'm guessing you didn't unselect 'tasks.' If that is the case, then just go to activesync and in options, unselect 'tasks.' This should fix your problem (google doesn't support tasks so you can't sync them).
You can also deselect the tasks in data settings in the settings tab.

Google Sync: Setting Up Your Windows Mobile Phone for Google Sync - http://www.google.com/support/mobile/bin/answer.py?answer=138636&topic=14299
To set up Google Sync on your Windows Mobile device, please follow the steps below.
Important Note: Make sure that you have backed up any Contacts and Calendars from your phone to your computer before proceeding.
Getting Started
1. Open the Active Sync application on your device's home screen.
2. Click Set up your device to sync with it.
3. Enter m.google.com as the server address.
4. Ensure that the SSL option is selected.
Google sync windows mobile Google sync windows mobile server settings
Sign In to Your Google Account
5. Click Next.
6. Enter your full Google Account email address as the User name.
7. Enter your Google Account password as the Password.
8. Leave the Domain field empty. If your device requires you to enter a domain name, enter google.
9. Click Next.
10. Check Contacts, Calendar, or Email, depending on which you'd like to sync. (Tasks is not supported and will lead to an error if checked.)
11. Click Finish.
Google sync windows mobile mail Google sync windows mobile data to sync
12. Press the Sync softkey on the left to synchronize.
Google sync windows mobile
You've now set up Google Sync for your Windows Mobile device.
Tip: If your business, school, or organization uses Google Apps, your administrator will first need to enable ActiveSync before you can take advantage of this feature.

[GUIDE]How to Sync Windows Calendar and Contacts to Google Sync

VERY HANDY FOR ANDROID TESTERS
NOW THAT THE CURRENT BUILDS ARE STABLE FOR DAILY USE
So every time you test a build you can easily sync your contacts/calendars
to your Android run HD2.
Google Sync: Setting Up Your Windows Mobile Phone for Google Sync
doing these steps will sync your windows calendar and contacts to google sync
this is how i managed to do it:
Getting Started
1. Open the Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync application on your device's
home screen.
2. Click Set up your device to sync with it.
3. Enter m.google.com as the server address.
4. Ensure that the SSL option is selected.
Sign In to Your Google Account
5. Click Next.
6. Enter your full Google Account email address as the User name.
7. Enter your Google Account password as the Password.
8. Leave the Domain field empty. If your device requires you to enter a domain name, enter google.
9. Click Next.
10. Check Contacts, Calendar, or Email, depending on which you'd like to sync. (Tasks is not supported and will lead to an error if checked.)
11. Click Finish.
You've now set up Google Sync for your Windows Mobile device
for screen shots here is (Google) the link

The title of the thread is incorrect. I thought it was a solution to sync my Windows Contacts to my Google account. This syncs the Windows Mobile Contacts. (Mobile not PC)

z_rudy said:
The title of the thread is incorrect. I thought it was a solution to sync my Windows Contacts to my Google account. This syncs the Windows Mobile Contacts. (Mobile not PC)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Also that works,just do it this way:
Boot windows mobile,sync with outlook (2007 for me)
Install google sync on pc,sync what you need,in adroid make a gmail account and sync,voila,cotacts,calender etc

Very handy! Wish this was here when we all started this long strange trip lol. Had to google the hard way.

tinuz97 said:
Also that works,just do it this way:
Boot windows mobile,sync with outlook (2007 for me)
Install google sync on pc,sync what you need,in adroid make a gmail account and sync,voila,cotacts,calender etc
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Google Sync on PC only syncs the calendar items with Outlook. Unfortunately, this means that if I add a new contact using Android, it won't be on my Outlook. I will have to boot into Windows Mobile, allow WM to sync with Gmail (MS Exchange), then sync WM with my PC's Outlook. This is counter-productive lol

z_rudy said:
The title of the thread is incorrect. I thought it was a solution to sync my Windows Contacts to my Google account. This syncs the Windows Mobile Contacts. (Mobile not PC)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
what? you forgot this is a Mobile Forum?
the Title is correct.

Activesync don't work on Seven / Vista !

[q] want to migrate to android, but want to keep hotmail (full html) please help!!!

I am tires of WINMO 6.5, and WP7 is not what I want. The only thing is that I can't give up my hotmail, and NO I don't want POP3 version, and the exchange trick won't show me attachments..... not html etc.
I want hotmail to behave like any an regular email client.
As of now this is how I am setup on winmo 6.5:
1. PH#s (contacts with PH#s) + Calendar = Gmail, synced via microsoft exchange (I do this because I use Google voice)
2. Email (Hotmail) + Email contacts - synced via windows live email client
Any advise will be greatly appreciated. Also... I would like to combine somehow all my contacts in one directory that will be synced somehow between gmail (for google voice texts and calls) and hotmail (since I use this all over my PC's and add contacts from different locations. Can I do all this and use ANDROID?? Please help!! Thank you!!! - Peter

lol you already have the right parts. Just finish adding your contacts to Gmail. Sign in to your Gmail account as your Google account on your Android phone and you can automatically sync your Google calendar and Google contacts. You can even auto sync your contacts so that as soon as they're in your phone they'll be added to your contacts. If you're worried about all your email only contacts showing up in your dialer, then you usually have the option to only show contacts with phone numbers.
Gmail (as with most e-mail clients) supports HTML.
You've just reminded me what a PITA WM6.5 was. It was workaround after workaround to get the last workaround to work. There's a reason Microsoft dumped the old "Windows Mobile" name and start fresh. 6.5 compared to ANY modern smartphone software is just dumb. Sorry for the rant, I think I was getting flashbacks @[email protected]

In Gmail you can add your hotmail, yahoo and others through an interface(PC only). When you have your gmail account open in a browser(PC) click the gear in the upper right corner and select mail settings. Then select accounts and imports tab and it's the second option. Super easy as I have done it. As for mail, there is a @mail app built into android. Just google hotmail android and you'll find pop3/imap/exchange settings everywhere. And I do believe that @email android app is HTML viewable.
There is no reason at this point to keep that old 6.5 phone, jump over to Android and you'll totally forget you ever had a lesser phone.

But.. still if I add Hotmail via exchange, it wont let me view attachments... Pop3 is not the way to go, since is not a complete sync with the server (I check Hotmail from different PC's and add/remove contacts constantly. Pop3 won't sync that)

reddragon72 said:
In Gmail you can add your hotmail, yahoo and others through an interface(PC only). When you have your gmail account open in a browser(PC) click the gear in the upper right corner and select mail settings. Then select accounts and imports tab and it's the second option. Super easy as I have done it. As for mail, there is a @mail app built into android. Just google hotmail android and you'll find pop3/imap/exchange settings everywhere. And I do believe that @email android app is HTML viewable.
There is no reason at this point to keep that old 6.5 phone, jump over to Android and you'll totally forget you ever had a lesser phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So does this mean I will switch from Hotmail? And when I reply to an email received at hotmail will show my gmail as sender? Again, I don't want to switch from hotmail. All I want is an "email client" for android that fully suports hotmail with 2 way sync. I hope you understand.
P.S. looks like my post shows up twice. How do I delete the other one?
Thank you you guys for your help!!!

I believe "Enhanced Email" for Android does what you're looking for. It can use Exchange ActiveSync and has an option for HTML email.
Also, if you want to sync Gmail and Hotmail contacts, try Soocial.