Any Suggestions-I Can't get K-12 school '03 Outlook email to work on iPhone

Question

I’m a principal at a K-12 public school in Ohio. The IT department has tried to get my 2003 Outlook email account to work on my i Phone 3Gs. We’ve checked to make sure all ports are open and everything is typed in and spelled correctly. When I enter the information, and go through the appropriate steps, it shows that the account is verified, but when I go into that account no emails show up even though it says it was updated. When I try to send emails it tells me that an error occurred while delivering this message, but they will sometimes get sent an hour or two later when I change some of the settings or turn off the account. When I called Apple they told me this was a Microsoft (Outlook) problem, is it???? Has anyone else had the same trouble??? One of the biggest reason’s I got an i Phone was to check email and have my calendar on me when I’m out in classrooms, but so far I’m stuck. Any suggestions???

Answer 1

Although it is possible to access a POP account with more than one email client, a POP account is designed to be accessed with a single email client only.
The account's Inbox mailbox with a POP account is not kept synchronized with the server as with an IMAP account.
What is your account setting with Outlook for removing messages from the server when downloaded? Since you will be accessing the account with the iPhone's Mail client also, the account's setting with Outlook should be Never.
In addition, do you always keep Outlook on your PC launched and running actively checking the account for new messages? If so, you need to quit Outlook when using your iPhone to access the account. Since a POP account is designed to be accessed with a single email client only, if more than one email client tries to access the incoming mail server for the account at the same time, the incoming mail server will temporarily lock out the 2nd email client that is trying to access the incoming mail server at the same time. This includes if Outlook is downloading new messages received at the incoming mail server while the iPhone's Mail client attempts to check the incoming mail server for new messages. The incoming mail server will temporarily lock out the iPhone's Mail client, and vice-versa when in reverse.
Is the outgoing mail server or SMTP server for the account an authenticated SMTP server? If not, you will have problems sending messages with the account when connected to a wi-fi network away from school and when connected to the internet via AT&T's cellular network. Most internet service providers block the use of SMTP servers that are outside of their network or not provided by the internet service provider being used for your internet connection at the time unless the SMTP server is authenticated.
A Blackberry does not communicate direct with the incoming mail server for an email account. RIM provides a dedicated email delivery service for the Blackberry which is located in Canada. The iPhone's Mail client communicates direct with the incoming and outgoing mail server for an email account - the same when accessing an email account with an email client on your computer such as with Outlook.