How do I get push-imap with my own server and and iPhone?
September 25, 2007 12:24 PM Subscribe
Any suggestions on how I could get push-imap with my own IMAP server? I'm running cyrus-imap, and the client in question is an iPhone.
The iPhone (allegedly) supports push-imap (p-imap internet draft) with Yahoo mail. Is there some sort of proxy I could stick in front of my imap server to get the desired behavior? Maybe I should suck it up and implement it myself?
I've already verified that cyrus doesn't support it, and won't until it's actually a standards track protocol extension. (which is completely reasonable...)
The iPhone (allegedly) supports push-imap (p-imap internet draft) with Yahoo mail. Is there some sort of proxy I could stick in front of my imap server to get the desired behavior? Maybe I should suck it up and implement it myself?
I've already verified that cyrus doesn't support it, and won't until it's actually a standards track protocol extension. (which is completely reasonable...)
the iphone does only do push-imap with a yahoo account. but i would think it is possible to create a /etc/hosts file on the iphone (if you unlock the filesystem using jailbreak or whatever) that would say something like:
mail.yahoo.com <>
posted by kneelconqueso at 1:15 PM on September 25, 2007
mail.yahoo.com <>
posted by kneelconqueso at 1:15 PM on September 25, 2007
actually my reply was completely dumb. even if you installed a push-imap server, i think there would have to be a mechanism on the provider-side to signal your iphone to 'pick-up' the email, because the iphone doesnt seem to keep a 'constant' connection to the internet, and seems to disconnect when it is not actually in use.
posted by kneelconqueso at 1:27 PM on September 25, 2007
posted by kneelconqueso at 1:27 PM on September 25, 2007
Response by poster: Right... I was hoping there would be a way to implement the same service that yahoo provides, but I guess the iPhone still would only try to use the service if it thought it was yahoo mail. SIGH. Maybe the firmware update that bricks my phone will improve the pimap support?
posted by darkshade at 1:59 PM on September 25, 2007
posted by darkshade at 1:59 PM on September 25, 2007
Response by poster: Anyone know what mechanism yahoo mail uses for push imap?
posted by darkshade at 2:22 PM on September 25, 2007
posted by darkshade at 2:22 PM on September 25, 2007
Best answer: Info about Yahoo and what they're calling push IMAP (which isn't): http://blog.dave.cridland.net/?p=32. Executive summary: they're using a proprietary non-P-IMAP, non-Lemonade version of "push IMAP" that hasn't yet been determined. I haven't seen anything more recent that rebuts this...
posted by delfuego at 2:58 PM on September 25, 2007
posted by delfuego at 2:58 PM on September 25, 2007
Best answer: The best guess is that there is a special SMS message sent that triggers the iPhone to poll the IMAP server. I don't think anyone has figured out how to duplicate the behavior.
posted by Good Brain at 3:45 PM on September 25, 2007
posted by Good Brain at 3:45 PM on September 25, 2007
Maybe someone will develop an IMAP IDLE plugin for the iPhone.
posted by chunking express at 6:04 AM on September 26, 2007
posted by chunking express at 6:04 AM on September 26, 2007
This thread is closed to new comments.
My main email host has push-imap and it works delightfully on my Sony Ericsson phone. Since the iPhone isn't "listening" for the emails for the non-Yahoo accounts, it only fetches email on the "Auto-Check" schedule.
posted by birdherder at 12:36 PM on September 25, 2007