Outlook.com

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JGoodish

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JGoodish
Is anyone using Microsoft's Outlook.com service for email? I'm looking for a push email service that actually syncs properly with mobile devices, and supports IMAP for desktop clients.

I have all iOS devices and Macs, and am happy with Apple's iCloud service except for the email, which will push email but not status changes (like read status). It also won't let me log in to the web interface from a mobile device.


JKG
 
I use Office365 - small monthly fee, but works great. (I think outlook.com is the consumer/free version). You just want something that supports ActiveSync.
 
I use google apps heavily and would suggest it.
 
Google apps also requires a fee for ActiveSync access, right?
 
jesse said:
I use google apps heavily and would suggest it.
Click to expand...

I have Google Apps for my work account, and it is just okay. Google has a crappy implementation of the backend protocols which causes problems with forwarded calendar invites and email message status flags. Those problems don't exist in native Exchange or with Apple's standards-compliant iCloud systems, although the latter isn't intended for business use.

I also have a personal Gmail account, but Google ended availability for ActiveSync for the free accounts. I could use IMAP fetch, but that would negatively impact battery life and delay delivery and syncing of incoming messages.

At least with Microsoft, I can use their free service without them selling the contents of my email, and pay to get rid of advertising entirely without having to go to Office 365. However, their web interface isn't as nice as Google's (or, frankly, Apple's), they still seem to have some "Hotmail stigma," and I've heard of some issues with IMAP syncing on third party desktop clients (like Mac OS X Mail.)


JKG
 
Gmail and IMAP for me, works fine...


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
 
IMAP, POP, and SMTP can be troublesome for the average consumer.
 
dans2992 said:
IMAP, POP, and SMTP can be troublesome for the average consumer.
Click to expand...

There's nothing difficult about them as long as you know the configuration information to plug into the client. In fairness to Microsoft, I haven't yet tried their service with IMAP, so I can't comment from personal experience. I am more curious about long-term reliability of the Outlook.com service.


JKG
 
When ISPs start blocking port 25, and the device is portable, it gets difficult.
 
dans2992 said:
When ISPs start blocking port 25, and the device is portable, it gets difficult.
Click to expand...

Most SMTP servers seem to expect client connections on other ports these days, which are typically easily configured if you know the port.


JKG
 
It is, but I've run into some ISPs that only accept on port 25. It's a PITA...
 
dans2992 said:
It is, but I've run into some ISPs that only accept on port 25. It's a PITA...
Click to expand...

That would be a PITA, though I can't say that I've encountered that particular issue. However, most of the time I'm using cellular data, either natively on a mobile device or through a WiFi hotspot provided by a mobile device. I've found that method to generally provide more reliable connectivity.


JKG
 
Our CEO uses some ancient account from an old "Bell" company for his personal email. They only use port 25. Agreed that it is unusual, but I have to work with it. :)
 
dans2992 said:
Our CEO uses some ancient account from an old "Bell" company for his personal email. They only use port 25. Agreed that it is unusual, but I have to work with it. :)
Click to expand...

I have an "ancient" account also, which I'd like to consolidate into one account that isn't connected with an ISP. I thought that might be Google until they yanked ActiveSync support. Now it seems like it's down to Apple or Microsoft for big stable players, both of which have been in the email business longer than Google. I just don't know much about the reliability of the Outlook.com service. I understand the reliability of Office 365 is quite good.


JKG
 
Outlook.com or Office365 email will work fine. They are essentially Hosted Exchange. Google Apps will also work fine. If you want to use Outlook (the email client) on a computer, then the Microsoft products work better (Google Apps Sync is quirky and Microsoft and Google seem to take a long time working out differences).

You can control it, but you'll also be syncing calendar and contacts.
 
CT4ME said:
Outlook.com or Office365 email will work fine. They are essentially Hosted Exchange. Google Apps will also work fine. If you want to use Outlook (the email client) on a computer, then the Microsoft products work better (Google Apps Sync is quirky and Microsoft and Google seem to take a long time working out differences).

You can control it, but you'll also be syncing calendar and contacts.
Click to expand...

As I've mentioned, Google Apps won't work for my personal email since I don't have my own domain. For some reason, Google seems to force that as a requirement in order to pay for their service, which is the only way to get ActiveSync support for mobile devices.

In my experience, I would agree that Google Sync is "quirky."

Google also doesn't handle forwarded calendar invites properly, and doesn't appear to sync message status flags for email, both of which are big deals; the latter more so, since it's impossible to tell if an email has been replied to or forwarded without searching for the actual sent email.


JKG
 
Outlook.com is hotmail rewarmed.

I use tuffmail.net. This has a very nice configurable spam filter and a real nice pre filter that allows you to siphon off some mail you do want but not in your inbox into separate folders. They support IMAP and have a half a dozen or so different webmail clients. I've nothing but good things to say about them.
 
For the OP - if you get your own domain name, you can switch services at will without changing your email address. That's what I did.
 
Yes, I have my own domain name as well. Give me portability but I've been with tuff mail for almost a decade now I think.
 
dans2992 said:
For the OP - if you get your own domain name, you can switch services at will without changing your email address. That's what I did.
Click to expand...

I've thought about that, but it's just something else to maintain that I don't really necessarily need. Since it's a pain to keep switching email providers, I trying to find one that Incan stick with for a while. For the past 10 years at least, I've just been using my ISP (Comcast), but I'd kind of like to break the link there at some point.

Do any of the third party providers (Tuffmail, Fastmail, etc.) provide a push email service? Again, I don't really NEED my email to push, but I've heard that push is easier on mobile device battery life than a scheduled fetch. I'm not sure whether that's true or not.


JKG
 
I think the battery life question depends on how much email you receive and how often your scheduled "fetch" is.

Are you looking for something free?
 
dans2992 said:
I think the battery life question depends on how much email you receive and how often your scheduled "fetch" is.

Are you looking for something free?
Click to expand...

Nope, doesn't have to be free, as I'm under no illusion that anything is "free." I don't get that much personal email, and I kind of like the push feature, which the smaller third parties don't seem to provide. Apple's iCloud email provides push for IMAP email, but it only pushes new messages and not other mailbox updates. That may be as good as I am going to get short of a service that uses ActiveSync.


JKG
 
dans2992 said:
Our CEO uses some ancient account from an old "Bell" company for his personal email. They only use port 25. Agreed that it is unusual, but I have to work with it. :)
Click to expand...


He shouldn't be receiving company mail at a personal address. Doesn't matter if his title is CEO or janitor.
 
denverpilot said:
He shouldn't be receiving company mail at a personal address. Doesn't matter if his title is CEO or janitor.
Click to expand...

Hey, if it's good enough for Lisa Jacks... er, "Richard Windsor," it should be good enough for anybody!

I suspect in Dan's case, his CEO is receiving personal email at a personal address and company email at a company address, both on the same device(s). That in and of itself can be problematic, though CEOs usually get what they want regardless of what constraints are placed on everyone else.


JKG
 
JGoodish said:
Hey, if it's good enough for Lisa Jacks... er, "Richard Windsor," it should be good enough for anybody!



I suspect in Dan's case, his CEO is receiving personal email at a personal address and company email at a company address, both on the same device(s). That in and of itself can be problematic, though CEOs usually get what they want regardless of what constraints are placed on everyone else.
Click to expand...


And yet they want secured appropriately operated systems. Oh yes, I know.

I also remember which CxO likes porn on his company laptop. And which one triggered the virus scanner at a rate 100x more than the staff because they spend time on said questionable websites. Thankfully the main culprit has moved on.

I know all about executive privilege. So does every other sysadmin on the staff. Doesn't change my stated professional opinion above.

Even if they can't be convinced to be professionals, I still have a responsibility to be one.

I doubt we are talking about a mobile device, since the topic is Outlook/Exchange. But I guess it could be a stupid Slate 2 which I consider just another form of tiny laptop and should be under the same rules as one.
 
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