Microsoft released some updates for Outlook app for Android and iOS to be able to configure the app to connect to an on-premises Exchange server.

Microsoft released two articles regarding this

 

I encountered some issues with the article and it does not describes all steps in detail, this guide will guide you how to configure the Outlook app (until you migrated all you mailboxes to Exchange online 🙂 )

 

In general this is quite easy task, and here I will walk you through the tasks needed

  1. Deploy and assign the Outlook app
  2. Create, configure and assign an Outlook app configuration

 

Deploy Outlook App

In this article I cannot include all ways of deploying an app (Apple VPP, Android for Word, Apple Store etc.), so here is a guide how to deploy Outlook with Android for Work.

  1. First logon to Android for Work webpage: https://play.google.com/work
  2. Search for the Microsoft Outlook app and press Approve
    image
  3. Head over to the Azure portal, and the Intune blade, Mobile Apps and Android for Work.
    Press Sync to synchronize Android for Work apps into Intune
    image
  4. From the Mobile Apps and Apps list, make sure the Outlook app is listed
    image
  5. Do not assign the app to your users or devices yet, wait until the configuration is done

 

Create App Configuration

Now its time to perform the actual app configuration, and this differs between Android and iOS. Lets start with Android.

Android app configuration

Android is a bit easier than iOS since Intune will help you with keys and variables in the portal.

    1. In the Intune blade, enter Mobile Apps, and App Configuration policies and press Add
      image
    2. Enter a Name and Description. Set Device enrollment type to Managed devices, and Platform to Android for Work.
      Press Associated app and search for Microsoft Outlook in the list, and press OK
      image
    3. No the configuration, press Configuration settings.
      Select Enter JSON data and start to fill in the values. This will load a predefined JSON file, where you can fill in your data, either string values or expandable values, such as {{mail}} to get certain attributes from the user
      image
      Example JSON

{
“kind”: “androidenterprise#managedConfiguration”,
“productId”: “app:com.microsoft.office.outlook”,
“managedProperty”: [
{
“key”: “com.outlook.username”,
“valueString”: “{{userprincipalname}}”
},
{
“key”: “com.outlook.emailServer”,
“valueString”: “exchange.domain.com”
},
{
“key”: “com.outlook.accountName”,
“valueString”: “{{userid}}”
},
{
“key”: “com.outlook.emailAddress”,
“valueString”: “{{mail}}”
}
]

}

  1. Or choose the easy way out and choose Use configuration designer, you can choose from predefined Keys by pressing the Add button.
    image
    Now you can choose either string value type to enter a static value or choose variable to enter a predefined expandable variable.
    image
  2. Now you can deploy the app and app configuration to your users

 

iOS app configuration

The iOS app configuration is slightly more tricky.

    1. In the Intune blade, enter Mobile Apps, and App Configuration policies and press Add
    2. Enter a Name and Description. Set Device enrollment type to Managed devices, and Platform to iOS.
      Press Associated app and search for Microsoft Outlook in the list, and press OK
    3. Now select Configuration settings, similar to Android you can select either Use configuration designer or Enter XML data.
      Note that iOS configuration does not offer the same functionality as Android for Work with predefined Keys or variables. You have to know the Configuration Key, and there is a list further down
      image
      If you choose the Enter XML data, you have
      image
      Example XML

<dict>
<key>com.outlook.accountName</key>
<string>{{username}}</string>
<key>com.outlook.emailAddress</key>
<string>{{mail}}</string>
<key>com.outlook.username</key>
<string>{{userprincipalname}}</string>
<key>com.outlook.emailServer</key>
<string>outlook.domain.com</string>

</dict>

  1. Now you can deploy the app and app configuration to your users

 

Outlook Keys

The following keys used when configuring Microsoft Outlook app for Android and iOS

com.outlook.emailAddress string
com.outlook.accountName string
com.outlook.emailServer string
com.outlook.domain string
com.outlook.username string
com.outlook.serverAuthentication string

 

Intune variables

With Microsoft Intune it is possible to not only enter static values, but also enter expandable variables.

Watch the list here

  • {{userprincipalname}} expands to user@domain.com
  • {{mail}} expands to first.last@domain.com
  • {{partialupn}} expands to first.last
  • {{accountid}} expands to dc0e44be-a405-4110-a184-122466d642ba
  • {{deviceid}} expands to 428a05f3-da2b-4e8f-948e-00dfed3d7960
  • {{userid}} expands to d2e64546-af6b-4296-881e-828a1cde1200
  • {{username}} expands to UserName
  • {{serialnumber}} expands to F4KE55ERI4A1 (for iOS devices)
  • {{serialnumberlast4digits}} expands to I4A1 (for iOS devices)

 

End user experience

When not using any app configuration the first time experience with Outlook looks similar to this

AfW Outlook First Start wo Config

 

When the app configuration is successfully deployed it looks like this

AfW Outlook First Start w ConfigAfW Outlook First Start w Config (2)

Sources

https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/mt829322%28v=exchg.150%29.aspx

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/intune/app-configuration-policies-use-ios

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/intune/app-configuration-policies-use-android

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