Is Exchange/ActiveSync Password Lock Mandatory

[Noah]

I have seen some users says that password lock is mandatory if the screen lock is activated since Exchange/ActiveSync is setup with 2.0 software. But I would like to ask certain questions regarding iPhone 3G which comes with Exchange.

1. Do you have the same password for both the iPhone and your Exchange, or does iPhone has its own unique password?
2. I have heard that the password lock comes into picture each time your iPhone screen gets locked; so does that mean you could not have the iPhone controls until you enter the correct password?
3. Is there any way to disable the password? How?

[Deep23]

I am unsure about what you are saying. I am using Exchange for work and my personal gmail account and the passcode lock is optional in it. I recently revisited it before posting here so that I am sure about what I am posting.

And for your question if the passcode can be bypass or is related to your Exchange then I would like clear it to that its not the case. In generally, the password that you need to type in each time your iPhone recovers from sleep mode or starts and that consists of just 4 digits.

[Halina]

The things or settings that you are talking about are basically setup by the administrators; these are done to secure your Exchange implementation which forces ActiveSync users to set the 5 digit password. The same settings can be implemented to your iPhone if Exchange is configured on it. This then forces you to re-enter the password if it finds 15 min of inactivity. You can change this settings anytime, if you want, by going into the Settings and changing it to at the max. 1 hr. Please note that you could not remove the password request feature from iPhone unless and until Exchange is running on it. However if you want then there is a hack available which allows you to do this by it can only be implemented on Windows mobile.

[Wiro]

I too believe in Noah words. I know the security risk involved in this and I respect the locking system but it irritates a lot when it asks to enter the password to access every features of iPhone. I have Exchange on my iPhone and it asked me to set the password and I was given the option to set the timeframe for password request but there were only 3 options (1, 5, 15). I have noticed that whatever I do on my iPhone, I have to enter the alpha numeric characters password. This frustrates you a lot when you are in hurry.

[Halina]

Wiro, that's because of how Exchange is basically configured. Apple iPhone has nothing to do in this matter. Exchange locks your phone completely unless the password is entered. Apple is simply following the security standards that Exchange/ActiveSync is configured to. And as you say that you are not able to see 1 hour time interval, I think your Exchange might be configured in that way by someone for security issues. Apple has nothing to do in this matter, its related to the person who has done the Exchange configuration at your end.