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By Chris De Herrera 
Copyright 1998-2007
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ActiveSync 3.x and 4.x Versions FAQ
By Chris De Herrera, Copyright 1999-2008
 Version 1.33  Revised 11/22/2008

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Synchronization Software

With the Handheld PC 1.0, the first Windows CE based device, Microsoft shipped H/PC Explorer 1.0.  Windows CE Services replaced H/PC Explorer with release 2.0 of the Handheld PC.   Windows CE Services 2.x and ActiveSync 3.0, 3.1, and 3.5 are compatible with all Windows CE 2.x and 3.x devices.  ActiveSync 3.6 only supports Windows CE 2.11 and 3.x devices.  Each newer release adds additional capabilities for synchronization - Windows CE Services 2.1 added Mobile Channels, 2.2 adds Pocket Access. ActiveSync 3.0 eliminated the need for RAS to be installed.   ActiveSync 3.1 expands on ActiveSync 3.0 by adding synchronization of notes into Outlook, built-in AvantGo, Favorites and Access Table Synchronization.  ActiveSync 3.1 works with all Windows CE 2.0 or later PC Companions.  ActiveSync 3.5 adds support for the Pocket PC 2002, Inbox folder sync, and network pass through (Pocket PC 2002 devices only).  ActiveSync 3.5 works for all Windows CE 2.0 or later devices. ActiveSync 3.6 adds support for the Smartphone.  ActiveSync 3.7 added support for the Windows Mobile 2003 Phone Edition. You can download both H/PC Explorer and latest version of ActiveSync from Microsoft's website.

Synchronization Software Compatible Devices Features Desktop OS Supported Outlook / Schedule + Version
H/PC Explorer 1.0 Handheld PC 1.0 Initial Version Supports Windows 95 Windows 95 Schedule + 7.0
H/PC Explorer 1.1 Handheld PC 1.0 Adds Windows NT Support, more stable Windows 95, NT Schedule + 7.0, Outlook  97
Windows CE Services 2.0 Handheld PC 2.0 Replaced H/PC Explorer Windows 95, 98 and NT Schedule + 7.0a, Outlook 97
Windows CE Services 2.1 Handheld PC 2.0, Palm-size PC 1.0 Adds Mobile Channels. Windows 95, 98 and NT Schedule + 7.0a, Outlook 97, 98
Windows CE Services 2.2 Handheld PC 2.0, Handheld PC Professional Edition 2.11, Palm-size PC 1.0 Adds ability to synchronize Access Tables. Windows 95, 98 and NT Schedule + 7.0a, Outlook 97, 98
ActiveSync 3.0 Released 8/17/1999 Handheld PC 2.0, Handheld PC Professional Edition 2.11, Handheld PC 2000, Palm-size PC 1.0, Palm-size PC 1.1 Replaces Windows CE Services - No longer requires RAS to be installed on the PC. Windows 95, 98 and NT Schedule + 7.0a, Outlook 97, 98, 2000
ActiveSync 3.1
Builds 9386, 9349, 9587
Handheld PC 2.0, Handheld PC Professional Edition 2.11, Handheld PC 2000, Palm-size PC 1.0, Palm-size PC 1.1, Pocket PC 2000 Adds support for the Pocket PC, Pocket Money, and AvantGo Windows 95, 98, ME, NT, 2000 Outlook 97, 98, 2000 (Schedule + no longer supported)
ActiveSync 3.5
Build 1176, 12007
Handheld PC 2.0, Handheld PC Professional Edition 2.11, Handheld PC 2000, Palm-size PC 1.0, Palm-size PC 1.1, Pocket PC 2000, Pocket PC 2002, Pocket PC 2002, Phone Edition Adds support for Pocket PC 2002 to sync Inbox folders, and network pass through Windows 98, ME, 2000, XP (Windows 95 and NT no longer supported) Outlook 98, 2000, 2002, (Schedule +, Outlook 97 no longer supported)
ActiveSync 3.6
Build 2148
Handheld PC Professional Edition 2.11, Handheld PC 2000, Palm-size PC 1.1, Pocket PC 2000, Pocket PC 2002, Pocket PC 2002, Phone Edition, SmartPhone 2002 Adds support for the SmartPhone Windows 98, ME, NT, 2000, XP (Windows 95 no longer supported) Outlook 98, 2000, 2002, (Schedule +, Outlook 97 no longer supported)
ActiveSync 3.7
Build 3208
Handheld PC Professional Edition 2.11, Handheld PC 2000, Palm-size PC 1.1, Pocket PC 2000, Pocket PC 2002, Pocket PC 2002, Phone Edition, SmartPhone 2002, Windows Mobile 2003 Pocket PC Adds support for the Windows Mobile 2003 Pocket PC and Smartphone. Provides a fix for a buffer overflow vulnerability and other small fixes. Windows 98, ME, NT, 2000, XP (Windows 95 no longer supported) Outlook 98, 2000, 2002, 2003, (Schedule +, Outlook 97 no longer supported)
ActiveSync 3.7.1
Build 3244, 4034
Handheld PC Professional Edition 2.11, Handheld PC 2000, Palm-size PC 1.1, Pocket PC 2000, Pocket PC 2002, Pocket PC 2002, Phone Edition, SmartPhone 2002, Windows Mobile 2003 Pocket PC Microsoft focused on fixing some problems Outlook 98, 2000, XP including the stability of ActiveSync, USB issues, Guest issues with this release.  Added support for Windows Mobile 2003 Second Edition Windows 98, ME, NT, 2000, XP (Windows 95 no longer supported) Outlook 98, 2000, 2002, 2003 (Schedule +, Outlook 97 no longer supported)
ActiveSync 3.8
Build 5004
Handheld PC Professional Edition 2.11, Handheld PC 2000, Palm-size PC 1.1, Pocket PC 2000, Pocket PC 2002, Pocket PC 2002, Phone Edition, SmartPhone 2002, Windows Mobile 2003 Pocket PC, Windows Mobile 2003 Second Edition Microsoft focused on security changes for Windows XP Service Pack 2.  Also, they changed the default for network access  to be disabled. Windows 98, ME, NT, 2000, XP (Windows 95 no longer supported) Outlook 98, 2000, 2002, 2003 (Schedule +, Outlook 97 no longer supported)
ActiveSync 4.0
Build 4343
Pocket PC 2002, Pocket PC 2002, Phone Edition, SmartPhone 2002, Windows Mobile 2003 Pocket PC, Windows Mobile 2003 Second Edition, Windows Mobile 5 Added Support for Windows Mobile 5.0 Windows 2000 (SP4), Windows XP (SP2), Windows Server 2003 (SP1) Outlook 2000, 2002, 2003
ActiveSync 4.1
Build 4841
Pocket PC 2002, Pocket PC 2002, Phone Edition, SmartPhone 2002, Windows Mobile 2003 Pocket PC, Windows Mobile 2003 Second Edition, Windows Mobile 5 improved compatibility for Windows Mobile 5.0 synchronization and certain VPN, firewalls and parental controls. Windows 2000 (SP4), Windows XP (SP2), Windows Server 2003 (SP1) Outlook 2000, 2002, 2003
ActiveSync 4.2
Build 4855
Pocket PC 2002, Pocket PC 2002, Phone Edition, SmartPhone 2002, Windows Mobile 2003 Pocket PC, Windows Mobile 2003 Second Edition, Windows Mobile 5 Improved handling errors.  An integrated troubleshooter utility is included. Windows 2000 (SP4), Windows XP (SP2), Windows Server 2003 (SP1) Outlook 2000, 2002, 2003
ActiveSync 4.5
Build 5096
Pocket PC 2002, Pocket PC 2002, Phone Edition, SmartPhone 2002, Windows Mobile 2003 Pocket PC, Windows Mobile 2003 Second Edition, Windows Mobile 5, Windows Mobile 6, Windows Mobile 6.1, Windows Mobile 6.1.4, Windows Mobile 6.5 Added support for Windows Mobile 6 and Office 2007.  A device can stay connected to cellular and wireless networks while also connected to PC. Integrated Information Rights Management (IRM) activation is available from the PC. Windows 2000 (SP4), Windows XP (SP2), Windows Server 2003 (SP1) Outlook 2002, 2003, 2007
(Outlook 2000 no longer supported)

I hope this clarifies the different versions of ActiveSync. You can read about the capabilities on Microsoft's website.

Discuss your Pocket PC, Smartphone, Handheld PC or Palm-size PC needs at the Pocket PC FAQ Forums.

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