Is Exchange ActiveSync enabled by user? device? device type or OS?

Question

Is Exchange ActiveSync enabled by user? device? device type or device OS?

I'm asking because I'm going to an employer who said they only support Exchange corporate email on Blackberry or iPhone. I just purchased a Samsung Epic Android phone under Sprint. As far as I now there is no Enterprise email plan for that phone. But it does run ActiveSync.

Why would an employer limit the devices allowed to access email and can they really enforce that? Is the limitation usually a function of what devices can run Active Sync?

Also, if they do allow my Android, what beyond entering the the user, pw and exchange server do they need to do on my phone? Can they put a policy on my personal phone?

Thanks.

Answer 1

That definitely depends on your employer. Android phones running Froyo (2.2) do support Exchange ActiveSync. They can put password enforcement policies onto your phone, yes. They may have just not tested it on Android yet, so they won't officially support it yet. You should talk to the IT department, maybe bring in the phone and let them try it out if they've got an open mind for it.