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Can someone explain very briefly the way Blackberry's email functions. I'm not looking for nuts and bolts, just answers to some very basic questions:

  • Does a Blackberry check with an Exchange server directly, or does it always/ever use an intermediate server?
  • If it uses an intermediate server, is that server managed by RIM, or the customer's mobile network operator?
  • To configure Exchange email on a Blackberry, do you enter the settings on the phone itself, or via a web interface?
  • What other email protocols can Blackberry devices use, and do they (also?) use an intermediate server?
username
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4 Answers4

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You have a few non-exclusive options for email on Blackberries:

  • BIS: This is the Blackberry Internet Service mail provider. It's what you are configuring when you go to http://bis.$REGION.blackberry.com/html?brand=$PROVIDER. The BIS servers (managed by RIM) act as an intermediary between the actual mail server and Blackberry devices. BIS is able to:
    • pick up mail from POP3 or IMAP mailstores and delivers them to your Blackberry device.
    • you can configure a username@$PROVIDER.blackberry.net email address that requires no external mail server to work
    • BIS only provides one-way mail sync (if you delete a message on your Blackberry, it can also be deleted from the server)
  • BES: This is the Blackberry Enterprise Server option. You are using Domino, Exchange or Groupwise and have purchased the BES software from RIM. You run a server at your office that acts as a gateway between your mail server and devices. (Or, you have someone hosting your BES). It also provides:
    • Mailbox synchronization
    • Calendar synchronization
    • Access to the corporate network
    • Lots of other Enterprisey features
  • 3rd party: Third parties (such as GMail) can provide applications that run on your Blackberry - you then interact with them through that application, not the native Blackberry functionality.

Notes:

  • To use BES over your carrier's network, you must have a 'corporate' (Read: more expensive) plan from your carrier.
  • It's possible to use BES over wifi with no carrier activation
MikeyB
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  • +1 for concise detail, things to highlight are definitely the fact that seamless calendar integration is only possible through BES, and that BES requires a tie in to the service provider as well (the licenses are often purchased through them). There is a sub-50 user starter enterprise server that was available at one point at no cost... – Mark Regensberg May 13 '09 at 20:26
  • Actually, you can attach Wifi devices to your BES and completely bypass the carrier's network. Not terribly useful for a roaming sales force, but if you're always around Wifi it might work for you. To get to your BES, your BB can VPN into your company network. – MikeyB May 13 '09 at 20:47
  • yeah, small & free versions of BES are occasionally available (the 10-user BES for Domino was discontinued at the end of 2008 :( ) – MikeyB May 13 '09 at 20:48
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There are two ways of using a Blackberry. You can use BIS (Blackberry Internet Service) which will talk to your email system via POP or IMAP. Your handheld will talk to this service to grab email. This is done on a phone-by-phone basis and cannot be centrally managed.

The other way is by installing BES (Blackberry Enterprise Server). This is an intermediate service running on your network. It attaches to Exchange and monitors the email accounts of whatever users are configured in it. In the BES console, you key the PIN of the device you want to link, and the settings are sent down. From this console, you can adjust folders that are available to each handheld, brick phones, change security settings, etc. You do have to pay licensing on this software in addition to changes to your Blackberry plan. BES integrates almost all the features found in Outlook into the Blackberry; contacts, tasks, calendar, email, notes.

Personally, if you have more than a few Blackberry devices and run your own Exchange server, I would opt for the BES system. It's flexible and much easier to manage.

nabrond
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Two updates to this question:

Blackberry Enterprise Server Express (BESX) is now free, available from here.

BESX no longer requires an expensive BES data plan.

Colm
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I am not an expert in this area but I do have some knowledge.

As far as I understand it, it will always need a piece of middleware, the Research In Motion software ties with exchange and pushes data to the phone. In most cases, if you manage your exchange environment yourself, then you would also manage the server/software for blackberry connectivity yourself. Blackberry and/or your mobile provider might offer some sort of managed services for this, but you would have to check with them.

As for the settings, this is done remotely, you do not need to enter them onto each handset manually.

Blackberries can use most common email protocols, not only exchange. Such as POP and IMAP.

WerkkreW
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