title: Recommended Exchange Server API for WP7 app
body: <p>I am investigating developing an app for Windows Phone 7 that requires access to email/calendar information from Exchange Server (read only).</p>
  
  <p>The way I see it there are 2 options EWS or ActiveSync.</p>
  
  <p>WP7 only supports Basic Authentication.</p>
  
  <p>By default on Exchange server installations the EWS virtual directory has Basic Authentication disabled meaning a configuration change of Exchange Server to allow EWS to be used.</p>
  
  <p>The ActiveSync protocol looks like it would take some time to get your head around and develop an implementation.</p>
  
  <p>The questions are
  1. How common is it for people to enable basic authentication for EWS? Is this something that most businesses are likely to not want to do?</p>
  
  <ol start="2">
  <li>How difficult is it to learn and use the ActiveSync protocol? Is it something that could be done in days, weeks or months?</li>
  </ol>