Problem with Alice Mail Synchronization - Network Error

[federacer]

Hi !

From 3/4 days I have the same problem that I had a year ago or months ago ! It happens out of the blue, without change any settings !

My address @alice.it has no problem under Wifi Connection, but under Mobile Data Connection (Specifically Vodafone 4G) it doesn't Sync or Update (it gives me "Email Synchronization Error: Network Error), while other @gmail.com accounts work without problems and, obviously, the mobile data work with other Apps and Browsers !

Hope that it will be solved soon with an unpdate or there is a solution !! Thank you very much !

[StR]

There was this 1.5-year-old thread that discussed the same problem with alice.it :
http://www.aqua-mail.com/forum/index.php?topic=3250.msg15864#msg15864
I assume, alice.it has some issues with access from mobile networks.

I hope that helps.

[federacer]

Yes ! It was my post ... I remember that the problem was solved by an update ! So I can't do anything to solve the problem myself !

[StR]

Oops, sorry, I didn't notice it was your post.
I don't know the details,  but based on Kostya's response there, I don't think it had anything to do with Aquamail. So, "solved by an update " was likely a coincidence.
I don't want to speak for Kostya, but I am guessing he would suggest the same as before: ask alice.it support what is the cause.

[StR]

I think that it's due to your settings, and without those detailed information I cannot try to help

Paris Geek: Since it had been working for a long period of time, and since it is still working on Wi-Fi, and none of the settings were changed (as reported by the OP), - it is highly unlikely that there is any problem in the settings.
... especially since it had happened 1+ ago and then went away by itself.
If you haven't done so yet, take a look at Kostya's response in the old thread that I linked.

Cheers!

[Kostya Vasilyev]

I believe alice.it / libero.it only allow connectivity from "apps" on WiFi -- don't know how they detect this, but...

And since you mention "all other apps and browsers" -- your network may be "mostly" fine, but something "strange" going on with "talking to" Alice / Libero specifically.

[federacer]

If needs, I write my settings, but like StR says, from one day to another synchronization stops working, I don't change anything!

My ALICE account is setting like that:

Incoming Server:
Server Type: POP3
Server Name: in.alice.it
Security Type: Not Encrypted
Server Port: 110
Authentication: Choose Automatically
Login: My Address @alice.it
Passwords: My Password

Outgoing Server:
SMTP Server: out.alice.it
Security Type: Not Encrypted
Server Port: 587
Authentication: Choose Automatically
Login: My Address @alice.it
Passwords: My Password

All it works untile some days ago ...

[Kostya Vasilyev]

Yes, those are the right settings, as far as I know (I'm quite far from Italy).

And there is no reason -- in terms of AquaMail -- why this should not work.

And I understand that it does when the phone is connected to WiFi.

There is nothing different in AquaMail for WiFi vs. mobile data -- so the actual difference is your mobile provider.

The only thing I can think of -- please check AquaMail settings -> network and make sure that the one that mentions "DNS" (second from the top) is *enabled*. But then it is enabled by default.

I'd maybe try an app like K9 Mail as a "sanity check"...

Oh and I'd also try these server names instead:

in.aliceposta.it and out.aliceposta.it (instead of *.alice.it), here is why:

$ dig in.alice.it
;; ANSWER SECTION:
in.alice.it.      4857   IN   CNAME   in.aliceposta.it.
in.aliceposta.it.   3367   IN   A   82.57.200.129

$ dig out.alice.it
;; ANSWER SECTION:
out.alice.it.      86245   IN   CNAME   out.aliceposta.it.
out.aliceposta.it.   3445   IN   A   82.57.200.132

Some phones / networks have trouble resolving DNS names when there is a CNAME redirection in the middle.

[StR]

None of  the listings for Alice.it settings that I saw indicated SSL to be enabled.

[Kostya Vasilyev]

Correct.

- No SSL

- Non-standard server names, in.alice.it and out.alice.it (instead of the more customary imap.domain.com / smtp.domain.com or mail.domain.com)

I don't think it's a settings issue -- as the OP wrote above, everything's just fine if the phone is connected to WiFi.

What I would do at this point is:

- Try in.alicemail.it and out.alicemail.it

(I've seen some phones, or rather some networks, not able to handle CNAME-s in DNS)

- Ask the mobile data provider to check if in.alice.it / out.alice.it / alicemail.it are reachable from their network

- Ask alice support if they do anything "special" for mobile data connections (I guess they could have checks based on IP addresses???)

- Oh and one other thing:

Please check your phone's "mobile data" settings -> APN, and make sure it's not set to a "WAP" type APN

None of the above is an AquaMail issue, by the way.

[federacer]

Hi ! Sorry for my late reply !

The "DNS" option in Settings -> Network is enabled by default like you said !

I tried to change in.alice.it and out.alice.it with in.aliceposta.it / out.aliceposta.it and in.alicemail.it / out.alicemail.it but nothing change !

I tried to change Pop3 to IMAP but I have the error: "NO IMAP 4 access not allowed" !

I tried Bluemail and K9 mail, but same problem, in Bluemail POP3 there is an error like Server Connection Problem (3011) !

I see the parameters for the android configuration on the site of Alice/TIM mail and they are correct !

My Mobile Data Setting is an APN: mobile.vodafone.it

How Can I do these things:

Correct.

- Ask the mobile data provider to check if in.alice.it / out.alice.it / alicemail.it are reachable from their network

- Ask alice support if they do anything "special" for mobile data connections (I guess they could have checks based on IP addresses???)

Maybe today I try to contact Alice, if there is a way ... and Ask them !

[StR]

Yes,, contact Alice. As you've confirmed,  this happens for different e-mail apps.
It's a clear indication that it is between Alice and you mobile provider.

[federacer]

Hi !

Finally I get a reply from Alice/TIM ... If you have TIM as your mobile operator, the mail works with apps like Aquamail or others ! If you have another mobile operator (I have Vodafone) the mail works only from browser (webmail) ! Very stupid thing !! 

Maybe do you know if there is a solution ? or it's time to change my main email provider from Alice/Tim to Gmail or similar ?

[Kostya Vasilyev]

If you have TIM as your mobile operator, the mail works with apps like Aquamail or others ! If you have another mobile operator (I have Vodafone) the mail works only from browser (webmail)

I guess this is how they *want* it to work, for whatever reason...

[federacer]

Yes ... I add the Alice account to Gmail account, so I can see all on Gmail ... the only problem is that I have account from hundreds of sites/Forums, all with @alice.it! If I want to change my main account I also have to change email address in every site/forum account ... It will be a nightmare, because I don't want to pay at least 50€ for a software like IMAPSYNC ! 

Thanks, like always, to Kostya Vasilyev who is always there when a user reports a bug !