Exchange 2007 & 2010: Current issues with Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync and Third Party Devices

The following is a list of current issues observed by Microsoft Support personnel for Exchange Server 2007 and Exchange Server 2010 with third-party vendor devices. If you are using Exchange Server 2007 SP3 or Exchange Server 2010 SP1 and you are experiencing an EAS issue not listed below, contact Microsoft Support Services to investigate the issue.

1. Automatic meeting processing

Issue 1.1 – Recurring meeting is removed from calendar when organizer cancels single occurrence

When you synchronize your iOS device by using Exchange ActiveSync on an Exchange Server 2007 mailbox, if the organizer cancels a single occurrence of a recurring meeting, the device may unexpectedly delete the entire recurring meeting.

Solution

There are two parts to this solution:

Install the Exchange Server 2007 Service Pack 3 (SP3) update rollup 4 (RU4). The problem details and the link to the update are documented in the following Microsoft Knowledge Base article:

2502276 A meeting request series are deleted unexpectedly from the calendar in an Exchange Server 2007 environment

Update the Apple iOS on your device to version 4.3 or later. For more details on the latest iOS version, click the following link:

http://www.apple.com/ios

Apple has documented the issue at the following web site:

http://support.apple.com/kb/ts3714

Issue 1.2 – Attendee becomes meeting organizer

When you synchronize your iOS or Android device by using Exchange ActiveSync on an Exchange Server 2007 mailbox, you may unexpectedly become the organizer for a meeting that you were invited to. This does not change the meeting for all attendees.

Solution

This can occur if you change the reminder for a single occurrence of a recurring meeting on an iOS or Android device. There may be other property changes to meeting items that may result in the same symptom.

This issue is resolved in Rollup Update 4 for Exchange Server 2007 Service Pack 3. See the KB article below for additional information.

2521063 You are incorrectly displayed as a meeting organizer after you synchronize the meeting by using your mobile device in an Exchange Server 2007 environment

Note Affected meetings must be deleted and replacement meetings must be created after the servers are patched.

Issue 1.3 – Your meeting response to the organizer appears to have been sent by someone else

When you respond to an Exchange ActiveSync (EAS) meeting invitation, the meeting originator may see someone else’s name displayed as having accepted the invitation instead of you.

Solution

Ensure the Apple iOS on your device is version 4.3 or later. For more details on the latest iOS version, click the following link:

http://www.apple.com/ios

This was fixed by Apple in iOS 3.1. For more details, visit the following Apple web site:

iPhone and iPod touch: My replies to Exchange ActiveSync invitations seem to come from someone else

http://support.apple.com/kb/TS2806

Issue 1.4 – All Day Flag is not set properly on Mobile devices when meeting is scheduled cross multiple days

Mobile device clients do not treat a meeting request as an all day event meeting request. Additionally, the All Day field is marked with "No".

Solution

This issue is resolved in Exchange 2007 Service Pack 3 Rollup 2. The problem is documented in the following articles from the Microsoft Knowledge Base online:

2201236  The "All Day" field is marked with "No" when you access a meeting request that has a duration time that is more than 24 hours by using a mobile client through ActiveSync in an Exchange Server 2007 environment

2201236  Description of Update Rollup 2 for Exchange Server 2007 Service Pack 3

Issue 1.5 – Recurring Exchange calendar events deleted

In some situations, recurring calendar events can be removed from both the iOS device and Exchange when the organizer cancels an event instance.

Solution

This issue is resolved by Apple iOS 4.3, and impacts only the 4.2.6 and earlier versions. Apple has documented the issue at the following web site:

iOS: Recurring Exchange calendar events deleted

https://support.apple.com/kb/ts3714

Issue 1.6 – Appointment exceeding 24 hours changed to multiple day All Day Event

When an appointment item’s duration exceeds 24 hours, but is not marked as an All Day Event, Exchange ActiveSync changes the item on the device to become a multi-day All Day Event. The next time that the device synchronizes with the mailbox, the change is propagated from the item on the device to the item on the Exchange Server 2010 mailbox.

Solution

Microsoft is investigating this issue. This problem can occur when using any ActiveSync device synchronizing with Exchange Server 2010.

2. Connectivity and synchronization failures

Issue 2.1 – Failures to Provision and Synchronize with Android OS

EAS policies can cause provisioning and synchronization to fail, when customized. Devices will not be provisioned if a policy is applied to the users of these devices that exceeds these limitations. This is discussed in comment 9 from the following post on Google’s Android forum:

http://code.google.com/p/android/issues/detail?id=9426

"We only support the basic (EAS 2.5) features in Froyo. So if your server requires, for example, password history or expiration, or complex characters, then it won’t be provisionable in Froyo. Our goal is to provide more policy support in future versions, but for now we support – password (PIN/alpha), minimum characters, max. fails to wipe, inactivity timeout, and remote wipe."

Solution

Updates to the Android OS version appear to resolve this problem. We encourage device users to update to the latest version available from their provider and follow vendor forums on synchronization issues. If the decision is made to allow older devices in the organization, Administrators can canvass device users, or use tools Log Parser or Export-ActiveSyncLog, to ensure that such devices are identified in the organization. Users of older devices can be grouped into a policy that can work for them.

Issue 2.2 – Unable to connect using Exchange ActiveSync due to Exchange resource consumption

There are several symptoms and remediation methods for issues with resource depletion caused by devices connecting with Exchange ActiveSync.

Solution

Administrators should review the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base to determine if they are experiencing the same server symptoms:

2201236  Unable to connect using Exchange ActiveSync due to Exchange resource consumption

Note This article also describes a known issue with iOS 4.0, defined by user agent 801.293 – http://support.apple.com/kb/TS3398 and is discussed in Issue 2.5, below.

Issue 2.3 – "This message has not been downloaded from the server" error when trying to open a message

You synchronize your Exchange Server mailbox with your iOS device. When you try to open a message on the iOS device, the following error may be displayed:

This message has not been downloaded from the server

Solution

You must configure the Accepted Domain using Exchange Management Shell. Use the steps in item #7 in the following post from the Exchange Team Blog:

Exchange 2010 SP1 FAQ and Known Issues

http://blogs.technet.com/b/exchange/archive/2010/09/01/3410888.aspx

This issue is being reviewed by the Microsoft Exchange product team.

Issue 2.4- You receive a synchronization failed email message when you synchronize your mobile device

When you synchronize your mobile device by using ActiveSync on an Exchange Server 2010 mailbox, you receive a synchronization failed email message similar to the following:

From: Microsoft Exchange on Behalf of <user>

Sent: <date>

To: <other user>

Subject: Synchronization with your <ActiveSync device> failed for 1 items.

Synchronization with your <ActiveSync device> failed for 1 items.

Microsoft Exchange was unable to send the following items to your mobile device. These items have not been deleted. You should be able to access them using either Outlook or Outlook Web Access.

Item Folder: Inbox

Item Type: IPM.Schedule.Meeting.Resp.Pos

Solution

This issue is described in the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

2201236 You receive a synchronization failed email message when you synchronize your mobile device by using ActiveSync on an Exchange Server 2010 mailbox

To resolve this issue, install the following update rollup:

2201236 Description of Update Rollup 3 for Exchange Server 2010 Service Pack 1

Issue 2.5- Users are unable to synchronize Apple iPhone iOS 4.0 with the Exchange Server mailbox

Immediately after updating to iOS 4.0, some users may notice that Exchange ActiveSync Mail, Contacts, or Calendars do not sync, or sync very slowly. In addition, some Exchange Server administrators may notice their servers running slowly. This problem is also discussed in Issue 2.2, above.

Solution

Update the device to a later iOS version. Apple has documented the issue at the following web site:

iOS 4.0: Exchange Mail, Contacts, or Calendars may not sync after update

http://support.apple.com/kb/TS3398

Issue 2.6- ActiveSync does not work for mobile device users connecting to Exchange Server 2007 mailboxes after swapping URLs between Exchange Server 2010 and 2007

This problem occurs because the device is unable to properly redirect a user whose mailbox has been moved. The 451 redirect response to the device is not properly interpreted.

Solution

Typically, this issue is resolved by device updates to the latest operating system. Verify the following:

Verify that you have configured the LegacyURL for Exchange 2007 users. This will automatically switch the URL for the user to the appropriate target on the device. See the following blog topic:

http://blogs.technet.com/b/jribeiro/archive/2009/11/26/transitioning-from-an-exchange-2007-environment-to-exchange-2010.aspx

This has been reported for several device types, to include iOS and Android operating system. If the problem is noted with the latest version of the device operating system, and the LegacyURL is correctly established and working for other devices, consult with the device vendor’s technical support.

If you are using an Apple iOS device, update the device to the iOS version 4.3.2.

Note In migrations where the mailbox moves are between different forests, a 451 is not sent. The reason for this is that the old server does not know of the new endpoint for connectivity. In such circumstances, the device must be manually reconfigured.

Check: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2563324

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