Microsoft Push email

Microsoft has launched a new push email service, allowing you to work with mobile versions of Microsoft software that you already use on your desktop/laptop. You can set up your PDA to connect to the UWE network.

Version for Experienced Users

Settings for Push Email on Windows Mobile 5 PDAs

  • Backup PDA using a desktop running at least ActiveSync v4.2
  • Update firmware on PDA if any is available
  • Go to ActiveSync on PDA and find the Configure Server settings. Set the server address to owa.uwe.ac.uk
  • Enable SSL
  • Click Next and set your Username, Password and Domain
  • Click Next and Finish. Agree to the changes if asked – you may lose your contacts and settings that are on the PDA at this point.
  • Find the Schedule settings and set the device to receive email “As Items Arrive”. Decide on your preferred on/off -peak settings.
  • Reset Device
  • Perform manual sync to kick-start email checking

Version for Normal Users

Accessing Email from a Mobile Device using Push Email

Things you must have:

  • You must be using a Windows Mobile 5 device (the latest operating system for PDAs)
  • As a best practice, check with the manufacturer’s website that you have the latest firmware on the device. If there is a newer firmware then it is advisable to upgrade to it as this will often improve the performance of Push Email.
  • You must also have a contract with your mobile provider that allows for GPRS usage, and the GPRS must be enabled or activated. Contracts that allow for GPRS usage on mobile devices are often handed out with the GPRS disabled. You are best advised to call your service provider and ask them if GPRS is activated for your contract. If you discover that it is not, you will have saved yourself some hours of stress and torment!
  • Connect your device to your computer and perform a backup. Setting up Push Email is likely to wipe certain things on your PDA.

Setting up the device:

  • Push Email works through Microsoft’s “ActiveSync” system – go to the device’s start menu and find ActiveSync. If you cannot find it there, look in the Programs section for the green circle with two arrows inside it. Click the icon to access the program.
  • Click the “Menu” item at the bottom right, and choose “Configure Server…”
  • In the server address box type: owa.uwe.ac.uk (note that you do not require any http or https)
  • Make sure there is a tick in the check-box “This server requires an encrypted (SSL) connection”, if there isn’t, put a tick in it.
  • Click Next at the bottom right, and type in your username, password, and domain name. These are your usual log-in details for your work computer. The domain of course is CAMPUS.
  • Choose to save the password by ticking the box.
  • Click Next at the bottom right, ignore the next page and click Finish.
  • If you receive any warnings that your email or contacts will be overwritten, click to accept or agree to the changes. If you have any Contacts, emails or previous email settings on the PDA they will be deleted from it. Emails and contacts on the server will remain safe.

Your device now knows where to get email from, but we should now decide and set the device so it will work on a schedule or will automatically receive email when it arrives.

Setting the Schedule:

  • On the ActiveSync main pain, click Menu at the bottom right, and choose “Schedule”
  • In here, we can choose when the device will receive emails. Set the Peak Time setting to “As items arrive”, and the Off-peak times to “Manually”.
  • Un-check the box that says “Use above settings when roaming” and check the box that says “Send outgoing items immediately”
  • At the bottom of the page, click the small blue text that says “Peak Times” and set the days and times that you want your device to automatically receive emails; e.g. Monday to Friday, 09:00-18:00.
  • Finally, click OK at the top right, and then OK again.

You have now set-up your device to collect email as soon as it arrives during peak times, and not to collect email outside of office hours. If you want it to check emails on a repeating interval, return to the “Schedule” settings and change the Off-peak times to a setting of your choice.

Finishing and Testing

  • As a best practice, the next step should be to perform a soft reset of your PDA. However, this may not be necessary. Experience has shown that 9/10 times a soft reset resolves all problems with Push Email, so performing it right after setting up the PDA can go along the way to preventing any.
  • You can initiate your device to start checking for email by performing a single manual synchronisation. This can be done through ActiveSync on the PDA, by clicking Sync at the bottom left. Alternatively, you can open your email application and perform a send/receive.
  • Next, try sending an email through the Mobile Outlook application and check to see if it arrives, i.e. send it to someone nearby.
  • Finally, get a friend to email you and see if it arrives.
  • If one of the emails fails to arrive you may have problems. Try a soft reset of the device (see your manual for instructions on how to do this) and if that doesn’t help, check that you can browse the internet on your device. If you cannot browse the internet, it is likely that GPRS is not working and you should contact your contract provider for assistance.
  • If after checking GPRS is active and you have proved you can browse the internet, please contact the supplier of your equipment.