iPhone and Outlook 365 contacts not syncing

Can anyone on these forums actually read and comprehend the problem.

The post is inactive because Microsoft replies with irrelevant responses and just wants to close the post instead of answering

This has been dormant because those out there trying to be helpful don't seem to understand the issue (though I have tried to make it as clear as can be).  And, more important, no one from Microsoft seems to care.  I have not opened a case with Microsoft.  I had hoped that Microsoft would maybe monitor issues on their own support site but I have seen they don't more often than they do.

The Microsoft folks who answer also don't seem to get it either.  I usually see suggestions like create a new ID, or reload the software.  Lame.  Disrespectful of people's time.

I have given up on this one.  I keep a good old pen and paper and write it down till I can get back to my laptop.

Still not germane to my issue.  I don't want to use iTunes to sync things.  I want a seamless, instantaneous sync like I get for everything from notes to calendar items to todo lists (through iPhone reminders) to contacts from Outlook to the phone.  

The only thing that isn't working is iPhone contact to Outlook.

So, thanks for your efforts, but I have come here because googling didn't help.  I am asking for someone from the Microsoft Outlook team to chime in here.  This has to be something with Microsoft Exchange.  Is there a one way setting I am missing somewhere?

This is intensely annoying as I am not able to create contacts in my phone while away from my laptop unless I remember which one I did and then add it again on the desktop version of Outlook.  All other thing sync perfectly.

I tried it for a while and wasn't thrilled.  I'll look at it again.  Thanks.  But the issue makes no sense since calendar items I create in the iPhone sync and notes sync.  Just not the contacts.

And anyway, I don't need the Outlook app to manage my email / calendar, etc. The Apple apps that you think are garbage are just fine for me.  

I just want my contacts to sync both ways.  I just want to make calls from my Apple contact list.  I don't need extra software.

I'll wait for Microsoft to answer (I know, I'll be old first).  Maybe Apple can help.

These articles do not apply to my problem.  I believe I have IMAP setups on the phone, but according to the articles, that would only sync email so they must be Exchange. I don't see how to find that out.  However, everything does sync.  And the first article deals with the opposite issue of mine.  That woman's Outlook contacts didn't sync from Outlook to the phone.

My issue is only one way - iPhone to Outlook, only for contacts made in the phone. Outlook to iPhone works fine for all.

As I said above:

When I make a calendar item it immediately syncs with my phone, regardless of whether I made the appointment on the phone or on the laptop in Outlook.

So there is no issue with my calendar or my email.

HOWEVER the same is not true with Contacts. 

1. Contacts I make or edit in Outlook on my laptop sync right away in the phone.
2. Existing contacts that originally came from Outlook that are edited on the phone sync right away in Outlook.
3. New contacts made in the phone do not sync.
4. If I edit the new iPhone contact in the iPhone it still won't sync.

So, to be clear, the phone and Outlook sync fine, except for one condition - if I make a contact in the phone or edit (in the phone) a contact that was made in the phone, they are not synced with Outlook.