Exchange ActiveSync Client Comparison Table

This Exchange Wiki page contains information about which Exchange ActiveSync (EAS) features are available in each Exchange Server version as well as which of these features are supported by Windows Mobile and other devices in the market.

 

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Table

Note
For additional details around which EAS policies and features are supported by Windows Phone 7 devices, see [[Exchange ActiveSync Considerations when using Windows Phone 7 Clients]].

Acronyms used:

WM = Windows Mobile

WP = Windows Phone

MFE = Mail For Exchange

Company	Microsoft			Apple	Nokia	Google	Nitrodesk	Notify Corp	Palm	MailSite Software	Thursby Software
Product	WM [1]	WM [2]	WP [3]	iOS [4]	MFE [5]	Android	Touch Down	Notify Sync [6]	Web OS [7]	AstraSync [8]	PKard Mail
Version	6.1	6.5	7.0	4.2	3.0.50	2.2	6.2	4.7	1.4.5	4.2	1.0
Exchange ActiveSync 2.5 - Exchange Server 2003 SP2
Features:
Direct Push	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Unknown
Email sync	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Unknown
Calendar sync	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes9	Yes	Unknown
Contacts sync	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Unknown
Tasks Sync	Yes	Yes	No	No	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Unknown
Remote wipe	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes11	Yes	Yes	Yes4	Yes	Yes	Unknown
Sync multiple folders	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Unknown
GAL lookup	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes2	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes8	Yes	Unknown
SSL encrypted transmission	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Unknown
Company	Microsoft			Apple	Nokia	Google	Nitrodesk	Notify Corp	Palm	MailSite Software	Unknown
Product	WM [1]	WM [2]	WP [3]	iOS [4]	MFE [5]	Android	Touch Down	Notify Sync [6]	Web OS [7]	AstraSync [8]	iOS
Version	6.1	6.5	7.0	4.2	3.0.50	2.2	6.2	4.7	1.4.5	4.2	6.1
Exchange ActiveSync 12.0 - Exchange Server 2007
Features:
User started remote wipe (server side)	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes11	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Unknown
Link Access	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	No	Yes	No	No	No	Unknown
HTML email	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Unknown
Server Search	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	No	No	Yes	No	No	No	Unknown
Set Out of Facility/Office (OOF)	Yes	Yes	No	No	Yes	No	Yes	No	No	No	Unknown
Follow-up flags	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes15	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Unknown
Meeting attendee information	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Unknown
PIN reset	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	No	Yes	No	No	No	Unknown
AutoDiscover	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Unknown
Bandwidth reduction	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Unknown
Policies:
Allow attachment download (client side)	Yes	Yes	No	No	No17	No		No	No	No	Unknown
Maximum attachment size	Yes	Yes	No	No	Yes	No		No	No	No	Unknown
Enable password recovery	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	No	Yes	No	No	No	Unknown
Allow simple password	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Unknown
Password expiration (days)	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Unknown
Enforce password history	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Unknown
Encrypt storage card	Yes	Yes	No	N/A	No	No	Yes18	No	No	No	Unknown
Company	Microsoft			Apple	Nokia	Google	Nitrodesk	Notify Corp	Palm	MailSite Software	Thursby Software
Product	WM [1]	WM [2]	WP [3]	iOS [4]	MFE [5]	Android	Touch Down	Notify Sync [6]	Web OS [7]	AstraSync [8]	PKard Mail
Version	6.1	6.5	7.0	4.2	3.0.50	2.2	6.2	4.7	1.4.5	4.2	1.0
Exchange ActiveSync 12.1 - Exchange Server 2007 SP1
Features:
Cancel remote wipe (server side)	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A		N/A	N/A	N/A	Unknown
Remote wipe confirmation	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A		N/A	N/A	N/A	Unknown
Default mobile policy (server side)	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A		N/A	N/A	N/A	Unknown
Bandwidth reductions (compressed/ removed  headers)	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	No		Yes	No	No	Unknown
S/MIME13	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	No		Yes5	No	Yes	Unknown
Policies:
Disable desktop ActiveSync	Yes	Yes	Yes	N/A	N/A	N/A		N/A	N/A	N/A	Unknown
Disable removable storage	Yes	Yes	Yes	N/A	N/A	No		No	N/A	No	Unknown
Disable camera	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	No	No		No	No	No	Unknown
Disable SMS text messaging	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	No		No	No	No	Unknown
Disable Wi-Fi	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	No		No	No	No	Unknown
Disable Bluetooth	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	No		No	No	No	Unknown
Disable IrDA	Yes	Yes	Yes	N/A	No	No		No	N/A	No	Unknown
Allow internet sharing from device	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	No		No	No	No	Unknown
Allow desktop sharing from device	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	No		No	No	No	Unknown
Disable POP3/IMAP4 email	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	No		No	No	No	Unknown
Allow consumer email	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	No		No	No	No	Unknown
Allow browser	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	No	No		No	No	No	Unknown
Allow unsigned applications	Yes	Yes	No	N/A	N/A	N/A		N/A	N/A	N/A	Unknown
Allow unsigned CABs	Yes	Yes	No	N/A	N/A	N/A		N/A	N/A	N/A	Unknown
Application allow list	Yes	Yes	No	N/A	N/A	N/A		N/A	N/A	N/A	Unknown
Application block list	Yes	Yes	No	N/A	N/A	N/A		N/A	N/A	N/A	Unknown
Require signed S/MIME messages	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	No		No	No	No	Unknown
Require encrypted S/MIME messages	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	No		No	No	No	Unknown
Require signed S/MIME algorithm	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	No		No	No	No	Unknown
Require encrypted S/MIME algorithm	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	No		No	No	No	Unknown
Allow S/MIME encrypted algorithm negotiation	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	No		No	No	No	Unknown
Allow S/MIME SoftCerts	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	No		No	No	No	Unknown
Device encryption	Yes	Yes	No	Yes16	No	No		Yes6	No	Yes6	Unknown
Minimum number of complex characters	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No		No	No	Yes	Unknown
Configure message formats (HTML or plain text)	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	No		No7	No	Yes	Unknown
Include past email items (Days)	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	No		No7	No	Yes	Unknown
Email body truncation size (KB)	Yes	Yes	No	No	Yes	No		No	No	Yes	Unknown
HTML email body truncation size (KB)	Yes	Yes	No	No	Yes	No		No	No	Yes	Unknown
Include past calendar items (Days)	Yes	Yes	No	No	Yes	No		No	No	Yes	Unknown
Require manual sync while roaming	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	No		No	No	Yes	Unknown
Company	Microsoft			Apple	Nokia	Google	Nitrodesk	Notify Corp	Palm	MailSite Software	Thursby Software
Product	WM [1]	WM [2]	WP [3]	iOS [4]	MFE [5]	Android	Touch Down	Notify Sync [6]	Web OS [7]	AstraSync [8]	PKard Mail
Version	6.1	6.5	7.0	4.2	3.0.50	2.2	6.2	4.7	1.4.5	4.2	1.0
Exchange ActiveSync 14.0 - Exchange Server 2010
Features:
Conversation View	Yes1	Yes	No	No12	No	No		No	No	No	Unknown
Move always	Yes1	Yes	No	No	No	No		No	No	No	Unknown
Reply state	Yes1	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No		No	No	No	Unknown
UM card (client side only)	Yes1	Yes	No	No	No	No		No	No	No	Unknown
Free/Busy lookup	Yes1	Yes	No	No	No	No		No	No	No	Unknown
Nickname cache	Yes1	Yes	Yes	No	No	No		No	No	No	Unknown
SMS sync	Yes1	Yes1	No	No	No	No		No	No	No	Unknown
Downloadable client	Yes1	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	No		Yes3	No	Yes3	Unknown
Notes sync	No	No	No	No	No	No		No	No	No	Unknown
Policies:
Allow mobile OTA update	Yes1	Yes	Yes	N/A	N/A	N/A		N/A	N/A	N/A	Unknown
Mobile OTA update mode	Yes1	Yes	Yes	N/A	N/A	N/A		N/A	N/A	N/A	Unknown
Exchange ActiveSync 14.1 - Exchange Server 2010 SP1
Company	Microsoft			Apple	Nokia	Google	Nitrodesk	Notify Corp	Palm	MailSite Software	Thursby Software
Product	WM [1]	WM [2]	WP [3]	iOS [4]	MFE [5]	Android	Touch Down	Notify Sync [6]	Web OS [7]	AstraSync [8]	PKard Mail
Version	6.1	6.5	7.0	4.2	3.0.50	2.2	6.2	4.7	1.4.5	4.2	1.0
Features:
Conversation segments	Yes1	Yes1	No	No	No	No		No	No	No	Unknown
GAL photo	Yes1	Yes1	Yes	No	No	No		No	No	No	Unknown
IRM support	Yes1	Yes1	No	No	No	No		No	No	No	Unknown
Block/Allow/Quarantine List (device info)	Yes	Yes	No	No10	No10	No10		No10	No10	No10	Unknown
Allow attachment download (server side)	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A		N/A	N/A	N/A	Unknown
Policies:
Allow IRM over EAS	Yes1	Yes1	No	No	No	No		No	No	No	Unknown
Require Password						Yes					Unknown
Require Alphanumeric Password											Unknown
Enable Password Recovery											Unknown
Require Encryption on Device						Some Models19					Unknown
Require Encryption on Storage Card											Unknown
Allow Simple Password											Unknown
Number of Failed Attempts Allowed											Unknown
Minimum Password Length											Unknown
Time Without User Input Before Password must be Re-entered											Unknown
Password Expiration (days)											Unknown
Security
Support smart card authentication			Unknown	Unknown	Unknown	Unknown	Unknown	Unknown	Unknown	Unknown	Yes
FIPS 140-2 validated			Unknown	Unknown	Unknown	Unknown	Unknown	Unknown	Unknown	Unknown	Yes

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NOTES

¹ Requires free Outlook Mobile update
² Only finds email address, no additional info
³ 3rd party downloadable client available for purchase for RIM BlackBerry devices
⁴ Because this is an application, a remote wipe wipes all data in the application but not the entire device
⁵ S/MIME performance depends on how S/MIME is used
⁶ Encryption is for the applications memory and not the entire device
⁷ Policy is available but is client-side only and thus does not respond to server-side policy settings
⁸ Phone number and email address only
⁹ can only create personal calendar entry, no meeting requests
¹⁰ Info is derived from other info sent from the device as opposed to sent in the protocol
¹¹ E series devices do a full wipe while N series devices only do a wipe of the Exchange data
¹² Some devices have a conversation view which is simply grouped by subject and is not the EAS based conversation view feature
¹³ S/MIME was not included in EAS 12.0 so it was added back at this point (it had been in EAS 2.5)
¹⁴ Information in this chart is additive. This means that information that is listed for a later version of Exchange ActiveSync does not list the features of the previous version but the product does include them. Compatibility in an earlier version indicates compatibility in the later version unless otherwise noted.
¹⁵ Follow-up flags are implemented as "stars" on the device.
¹⁶ Device encryption is only supported on iPhone 3GS hardware and later. These devices are encrypted by default, therefore this setting is only used to check the devices status if the 'Allow non-Provisional Devices' policy is set. If this is set earlier devices report back that they do not support device encryption and access to Exchange will be blocked.
¹⁷ N900 is a non-provisionable device and does not support any policies. However, attachment downloading is always possible.
¹⁸ TouchDown honors SD card encryption by encrypting the attachments downloaded to the SD card using 3DES encryption.
¹⁹ Some Android models support this feature others do not and will report that they cannot connect due to not meeting the security requirerments.  The following support the feature: Droid Pro; The following do not support the feature: HTC G2.

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See also

• [[Exchange ActiveSync Overview]]

• [[Exchange ActiveSync Considerations When Using Windows Phone 7 Clients]]

• AD RMS Portal

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References

1. "Understanding Exchange ActiveSync" 
2. "Understanding Exchange ActiveSync"
3. "Exchange ActiveSync Considerations When Using Windows Phone 7 Clients"
4. "iPhone in Business - Exchange ActiveSync"
5. "Mail for Exchange for Nokia devices with Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync"
6. "Features of NotifySync 4.7"
7. "WebOS Support for Exchange ActiveSync policies and remote wipe"
8. "AstraSync - BlackBerry ActiveSync Compatibility "
9. "Receiving signed and/or encrypted emails and attachments with NotifySync"
10. "Device Encryption on Apple iPhones"

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External links

• Understanding Exchange ActiveSync
• Understanding Exchange ActiveSync Mailbox Policies
• How to Securely Deploy iPhones With Exchange ActiveSync in the Enterprise - The Complete Cookbook
• How the iPhone OS 4.0 behaves when implementing Exchange ActiveSync Policies and what really works
• Android and iPhone Exchange ActiveSync Policies

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