Wrong forum (but) Outlook tasks sync iphone MS conn vs hosted exchange

markg2 · 18 May 2012

I'm posting here after giving up finding the answer either from Apple, limited use experience or search since in this forum are found folks frequently knowledgeable across silos (I've first tried the MS Office forum to no avail)

Given: MS Outlook '07 + iPhone.

Problem: To sync Outlook Tasks to the phone maintaining the sort order of my desktop Outlook. If you sync using Apple's iCloud tasks are placed in the reminder app which does not allow for custom sort and seemingly sorts by the least reasonable measure.

I could get tasks to sync using Outlook Connector and (opening an account with) Hotmail. However I can't find a current straight answer as to whether that option falls under $ subscription. Further, even if I did sync this way I don't know if the tasks would still be rearranged by the phone or whether it was the iCloud that rearranged them when I attempted that route.

Lastly, I could (for $10/mo) just have my entire Outlook sync through Rack Space's Hosted Exchange. Apart from getting tasks to the phone this does have another important benefit that might also be achieved using Connector. But if I'm going to pay for this, even if the $10 is double a MS charge, I'd prefer going with Exchange. But the core question remains the same (which I cannot get from RS either). Will the tasks on the phone, after sync, maintain 'my' sort order from Outlook.

Anyone got an idea it's surely welcome.

Mark

2xg · 20 May 2012

Hello,

First, I don't own an IPhone but a Droid, but I've synced and configured Iphones at work thru our Exchange Server. Syncing works very well with the email, calendar and all the Tasks goes under Reminders in IPhone and the sort order in Outlook stays the same as far as I know if not I'd hear complaints from the Users.

But, with the hosted Exchange solution I don't know if it will make any difference. Best thing to do is give it a try for a few days and see if it works for you. Most of the hosted exchange providers should have a free trial.

Have you tried iMExchange App on your phone to sort your Tasks in the Reminders App?

markg2 · 20 May 2012

You would have to have Exchange to use your suggested app and I do not. That's why I'm considering hosted exchange. I'm dragging my foot on this since the primary reason for same (and $10/mo) is to have my tasks on the phone--which in itself doesn't make a ton of $ sense. The other reason is to have the complex of sub-inbox folders easily synced which the phone will not do with the Outlook POP account nor will Apple's cloud do it. Other than the hosted exchange, from what I gather I could also (and without a monthly charge but a one time consultant's charge to do the setup) achieve the syncing of folders by using an IMAP account such as Gmail and letting same (from what I vaguely understand) use my domain so email from the Gmail account wouldn't look like Gmail. Every time I discuss this mess I back away due to perceived complexity and cost.

Nonetheless, I do appreciate the confirmation on task sorting.

Don't know why I didn't come across the apps my last search but did find 2 apps this go round that sync tasks not with reminders but with the app on the phone.

Mark

2xg · 20 May 2012

With my experience working with Exchange Server and MS Outlook 2003 and 2007, they sync up well with Smart phones (IPhones and Droids with Androids) but there are still some glitches sometimes not able to sync up info that are manually keyed in from an IPhone/Droids. It's best for you to do the data input in MS Outloook especially if there's a massive information that need to be entered to guarantee that those info will sync up well with your IPhones and Droids. We've had this issue at work so I'm just sharing my experience.

I'm just gonna throw this in and may not be relevant to your issue but for the sake of other readers.....Smart Phone Users that are not familiar with Blackberry Server and BB phones, the entire MS Outlook (2003 and above versions) syncs very well with BB phones for business use, they are far more reliable than Smart phones in terms of syncing the entire Ms Outlook bec I deal with blackberry as well.

Glad to hear. :)

Don't know why I didn't come across the apps my last search but did find 2 apps this go round that sync tasks not with reminders but with the app on the phone.