Exchange ActiveSync notification bug

[Makatech]

Hello,

I have a Sony Xperia Z3 with Android 4.4.4 experiencing a serious Exchange ActiveSync bug with sporadic notification lag for Automatic (push) setting. I have no energy saving features enabled on my phone.

Since Microsoft Exchange is one of most common mail servers in the world this could be a showstopper for a lot of companies?

This is year 2014 and automatic notification for emails is a must otherwise the phone can't be trusted as a working tool? I don't want to login to my phone everytime I need to check if I have a received a new email.

This is being highlighted at official "Android Open Source Project - Issue Tracker" as well.

Issue 73691: Push notifications significantly delayed on stock email app

I assume this bug has highest priority, when will it be fixed?

[Rickard]

Sorry to hear that you're having issues with delayed notifications.
It's not any issue i'm familiar with. Does this happen both over mobile data and WiFi and how much delayed are the notifications? If there's an issue with the data connection you may not get a notification until the next heartbeat.

[Makatech]

Hmmm, I have mostly been connected to Wifi so far, hence difficult to answer.

As you can see in above link to official "Android Open Source Project - Issue Tracker" I'm not alone.

[Rickard]

Could you perhaps see if the same thing happens over mobile data?

If the same thing also happens over mobile data, could you also try this with another server? You can for example test ActiveSync with an account at hotmail.com or outlook.com.

In my experience, issues with push is often related to the data connection. Push works by having an idle connection to a server. Some operators and firewalls may close idle connections after a certain time and then push doesn't work. At certain time intervals there's a hearbeat to check that the connection is still there. If the connection is dropped you will not get any notification until the next hearbeat. There are some articles on the internet about certain routers doing this like http://www.digitalinternals.com/mobile/fix-wifi-push-notifications-delay-android/361/

While i can't say for sure, it seems strange that this would be an general issue for Android when there's so few reports of it and push works fine for me.

[renaudc]

This answer does not seem to correspond to what I experience with my brand new Xperia Z3 D6633 (dual).

The issue seems to be rather linked to the native email app of the phone.

Downloaded CloudMagic app, configured as push, and emails are arriving on the phone almost instantly.

Where the native email app does not receive them. I have to open the app and manually ask for update to get the inbox updated.

This is an Exchange ActiveSync account too.

The best option I have for now to use the native email application, is to configure it for synchronization every 5 minutes, which is the shortest refresh rate.

Thus, I agree with initial problem statement and I am asking for a solution too. 

[Novapix]

When you are within the email client ( Native app) , if you drag down to refresh,, does it tell you that " mailxx requires that you update your security settings" ?? I am getting this after the latest Sony firmare update. And as per the latest update release notes: " Improved Exchange ActiveSync performance".

I think its a bug within the latest firmware because neither my manager or myself ( both own Xpera Z3's) had problems before.

For your info.. I had deleted the Exchange account and rebooted the phone, and re-added the account.

Have also changed the sec PIN and changed from PIN to Password. Makes no diff.

Hopes it gets fixed soon,, very anoying.

I still get emails, but they are very delayed.

[Rickard]

Sorry to hear that you have issues with push as well.

@renaudc

Have you tried this on both WiFi and mobile data?

Is STAMINA enabled under Settings -> Power management?

Which version of Microsoft Exchange are you connected to?

Have you installed any task killers, cache cleaners, battery savers or similar?

@Novapix

Could you please ask your IT-department if "Allow simple password" is enabled on your server and let me know if it's enabled or disabled?

[renaudc]

@novapix

No I don't have this "Security settings" message, the update works well without warning. I had this message only once, when I initially configured my exchange account. I accepted the change and it worked well. It could be the root cause indeed.

@Rickard

Thank you for your quick reply, I truly appreciate.

I just redid the tests with both wifi and mobile data, sending twice an email on each case:

in both situation, I got immediate notification through the BlueMail app (which is the one I finally chose for now, even it is not bug-free) and nothing came through the native app, even after opening it, I had to manually refresh it to get the email. I double-check before doing the tests that both apps were configured in push mode.

Everything is Off in the Power Management screen, I tested stamina some time ago but I had quickly deactivated it when I realized it was preventing some background actions, like email refresh.

The version of the Microsoft Exchange Server I am connected to is 8.3.330.0, which corresponds to 2007 version.

I did not install any task killer, cache cleaner, neither battery saver or equivalent. brand new phone with a much better battery than my former iphone5, I did not feel the need.

I had AVG Antivirus Pro installed. I uninstalled it, redid the test, same results.

[Novapix]

Hi @Rickard

Thanks for your reply.

I have not asked IT just yet but I have changed my Phone passcode to match my Windows/NT password instead, which is quite strong and this message still pops up when I pull down the screen to refresh.

"Co. requires that you update your security settings"

[Novapix]

Just to add,,, I have reached out to my IT dept.

Exchange server is 2007 and Policy restrictions enforce that you have a PIN 5 digit long or a passcode of 6 characters long with at least 1 number.

I have tried different combinations with same out come --->

"Co. requires that you update your security settings"

I am contemplating of possibly wiping my phone , setting back to factory settings and start all over again.