diff --git a/mailnews/absync/src/nsAbSync.cpp b/mailnews/absync/src/nsAbSync.cpp
index ed3ff09de21d..1bec36fae231 100644
--- a/mailnews/absync/src/nsAbSync.cpp
+++ b/mailnews/absync/src/nsAbSync.cpp
@@ -657,11 +657,11 @@ NS_IMETHODIMP nsAbSync::PerformAbSync(nsIDOMWindow *aDOMWindow, PRInt32 *aTransa
     goto EarlyExit;
 
   if (mPostString.IsEmpty())
-    prefixStr = PR_smprintf("last=%u&protocol=%d&client=%s&ver=%s", 
+    prefixStr = PR_smprintf("last=%u&protocol=%s&client=%s&ver=%s", 
                             mLastChangeNum, ABSYNC_PROTOCOL, 
                             clientIDStr, ABSYNC_VERSION);
   else
-    prefixStr = PR_smprintf("last=%u&protocol=%d&client=%s&ver=%s&", 
+    prefixStr = PR_smprintf("last=%u&protocol=%s&client=%s&ver=%s&", 
                             mLastChangeNum, ABSYNC_PROTOCOL, 
                             clientIDStr, ABSYNC_VERSION);
 
diff --git a/mailnews/absync/src/nsAbSync.h b/mailnews/absync/src/nsAbSync.h
index df11ba1d5556..30e82aa7f878 100644
--- a/mailnews/absync/src/nsAbSync.h
+++ b/mailnews/absync/src/nsAbSync.h
@@ -84,7 +84,7 @@ typedef struct {
 
 #define SYNC_ALLTAGS             1000
 #define SYNC_EMAILS              2000
-#define ABSYNC_PROTOCOL          3
+#define ABSYNC_PROTOCOL          "2.2.1.1.2.1.2.2.1.1.1.2"
 #define ABSYNC_VERSION           "Demo"
 
 #define ABSYNC_HOME_PHONE_TYPE    "Home"