[HTC One X] weatheryoko:
MODS: This is my first post on "how to fix something". If I've done anything wrong, please correct me (and the post).

I (and a lot of other people) started having problems with Exchange ActiveSync with Hotmail around the mid-to-end of Jun 2012.

The symptoms on HTC Sense 4.0 phones include the error message "Sync is currently experiencing problems. It will be back shortly" when you try to sync with your Hotmail account.

On searching for a solution, I've found this is a known problem affecting multiple OS platforms (AOSP Devices, iPhones, BB’s, etc). Microsoft is updating their Hotmail servers with a newer version of the protocol, and this is breaking ActiveSync with Hotmail on many devices.

At some point in the future, many people expect that HTC will need to update their client software to support this new protocol. Until they do, I think that I’ve discovered a solution that may fix problems people have been having with syncing with their Hotmail accounts (and getting the "Sync is currently experiencing problems. It will be back shortly" errors.).

I make no promises that this will fix your problem (it worked for me). I only have one phone (to test with) and no friends (who could help with testing). The solution I’m recommending will cost you $3.00 so if you don’t want to initially spend the money on an application, then I’d recommend waiting for a few other users (who will hopefully report back) on whether or not this fixed they EAS issue with Hotmail.

I’ve applied this change and I’ve been able to successfully (manually) sync with my Hotmail Account successfully for the past 24 hours. I have not tested this with Contacts, Calendars, Tasks or with Push Mail (if this method allows for the successful sync of any/all those fields, please report back). I’ve been successfully syncing over WiFi and via my cellular connection.

Assumptions:

1) OS is ICS and you’re using the HTC Mail.apk (default HTC Mail Application) to sync with Hotmail.

2) Your phone is rooted.

3) You have SuperSU intstalled from Play Store: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=eu.chainfire.supersu

4) You’re willing to spend $3.00 to buy SQLite Editor. (If someone know of a free version, please let me know and I’ll update the post).

Steps:

1) Create your EAS Hotmail Account just like you normally would: Settings->Accounts & Sync->Add->Exchange ActiveSync

2) Once you’ve completed your Account configuration, go to the Play Store and buy (sorry) SQLite Editor: https://play.google.com/store/search?q=sqlite+editor . It’ll cost you 3 bucks and it’s a great program (I’m not associated with the program at all (no conflicting interest)).

3) Launch SQLite Editor (once installed). It will ask for SU permissions the first time you launch it: Please allow SU access.

4) After a few minutes of scrubbing your phone’s databases, you’ll see a list. Scroll down to the one titled “Mail” (in smaller print right below the title “Mail”, you should see “com.htc.android.mail”). Tap on “Mail”->”mail.db”->”accounts”.

5) After clicking on “accounts, you should see a screen with all of your email accounts listed (if you have more than one). Tap AND HOLD on your Hotmail Account. From the pop-up menu, click on “Edit Record”.

6) Scroll down to you find the Field titled “_easSvrProtocol”. You should see a value in the field (mine had a 14 in the field). Change the value to 2.5 and click on “Save”.

7) Reboot your phone

8) Trying syncing your Hotmail account. It should now sync without the annoying message “Sync is currently experiencing problems. It will be back shortly"

Please provide feedback.

If anyone is wondering: I don't have a HTC One X (rather I have the Sprint EVO 4g LTE). It's S-Off/Rooted and I'm using a custom ROM (see signature).

Justin