Keeping global contact information in Active Directory, sync to mobile devices without Exchange

[neojoker]

I'm interested in trying out an idea, but I'm not quite sure if it's possible, so I wanted to get some advice from the experts here.

I've got a test environment with an AD domain, but not using Exchange. I want to create an OU with some contact objects, and would like to be able to sync these contacts with some mobile devices (iOS and Android) that will be on this network via WiFi. Of course these devices won't be on the network 100% of the time, but will be there often.

Is it possible to access these contacts on the mobile devices? And is it possible to fully copy/sync the contacts to the devices so that they would be available even when the device is not on that network?

The data would not change often, so constant syncing would not be necessary. But being able to sync/update whenever returning to the network would be ideal.

Thanks...

[sc302 Veteran]

Mobile devices use exchange active sync to be able to get contacts. I have not seen a conduit for active directory to sync directly. You would need some sort of mail service to sync contacts with.

[neojoker]

I did a small trial with Zentyal, to act as a substitute for Exchange. It seemed to do what I wanted, so I think that will be a possible solution.

[sc302 Veteran]

there are a few different ways to go about it, that seems like a decent one.  google apps is another way, microsoft exchange online, or office365. 

 

google apps https://support.google.com/a/users/answer/156595?hl=en

 

exchange online http://products.office.com/en-us/exchange/exchange-online

 

office 365 https://products.office.com/en-us/business/compare-office-365-for-business-plans

[binaryzero]

I wouldn't consider the GAL an address book.