Email On A BlackBerry - A Guide...

[stevetaz]

Hi All:

I though a sticky on BlackBerry Mail might be a good idea to help those coming over to BB from other platforms.

I hope you find this guide of help and if you have any comments or suggestions I would be happy to hear them. I am expecting that as this is my first stab at this I may be leaving something obvious out or I might not be explaining as clearly as it was in my head.....

SteveTaz


Welcome To Email, BlackBerry Style
BlackBerry does not handle email in the way you may be accustomed. Instead it uses a push technology that is routed through RIM (Research In Motion) servers. However, you can add nearly any email account including IMAP and POP and Exchange and even add support for Hotmail, Gmail, AOL, etc. mail accounts. Here is a link to some BlackBerry Mail information from RIM:
http://na.blackberry.com/eng/deliver..._461561_11.pdf

BIS (BlackBerry Internet Service) Email Address
This is the free push email address included with all BlackBerry data plans and is the most common method consumers use. Mail is sent to the free YOURNAME@carrier.blackberry.net email address. This is “true” push email. Email will show up instantly on the BlackBerry (faster than my Outlook box in my experience) the moment someone sends it. No need to push a button to check email, it shows up immediately on your BlackBerry. To access to your @blackberry.net email account, Log into your provider’s BIS site. Here is a link to the RIM BIS Guide:
http://na.blackberry.com/eng/deliver..._290826_11.pdf

[This is a link to a RIM site with links to most North American Carrier BIS sites. (Updated link 8/25/2009)

IMAP and POP email
This is available with all BlackBerry accounts. Your provider’s BIS site has a configuration that allows you to enter POP and IMAP email account information. Once set up, the system will check for new email every fifteen minutes and send it to your BlackBerry. If new mail is found the system will next check for new mail in about two minutes and if new mail is found it will continue the two minute checking. Once new mail is not found, the system will return to the every fifteen minute schedule. This is not true push email. You must send email directly to the @blackberry.net address, forward IMAP and POP accounts to your BlackBerry.net address or use a BES system for true push email. This is a link to some information from RIM about adding personal email addresses to a BB:
http://na.blackberry.com/eng/deliver..._217645_11.jsp


Email forwarding
Configure your existing email addresses to automatically forward a copy to your BlackBerry email address (the one ending in blackberry.net). This will allow you to have different email addresses, personal or business, but retain push email capability.


BlackBerry Redirector
This is a special software program included on the CD that comes with BlackBerries that you can install on your computer. You can run it on a home computer or office computer -- just leave the computer on 24 hours a day. The software will watch for new emails arriving in Microsoft Outlook and then automatically forward a copy of these emails to your BlackBerry. But you must keep your computer running 24 hours a day to get copies of your email.

Unless absolutely necessary most users are encouraged to avoid using BB Redirector as many experience problems with the BB implementation. That is not to say no one uses it. It is just not the best software to come out of Waterloo.


BES (Blackberry Enterprise Server)
This can be purchased as a hardware server for full integration with corporate email or as a BES add-on to an existing server. It is generally recommended that BES be set up on its own server, but there are many small companies running it off of an existing one. A BES server is not cheap, but it is a very effective and complete method of integrating BlackBerry into a corporate environment. Mainly used by large corporations, although some consumers and small business owners purchase shared BES Hosting Services (see below), which can make the pricing more reasonable and cost effective. A BES system requires a System Administrator to implement the program, keep systems current, add new users, delete users as needed and to maintain any IT Policy the corporation wishes (see below for a bit of information).

BES is the preferred corporate method of push email. It is fast and extremely secure, and allows you to maintain your own custom domain names and email addresses. The BES wireless sync means that if you delete email on your BlackBerry, it is also deleted from the desktop email program used (Outlook, Lotus Domino and others). Another big benefit to BES include wireless Over-The-Air (OTA) Address Book/Calendar/Notes/Tasks synchronization (BES Version 4.0 and above). Here is a link to RIM information about BES in the corporate environment:
http://na.blackberry.com/eng/services/server/

An option available to individuals and smaller companies is to subscribe to a Hosted BES Service. This service is offered by a number of third-party providers. The full server itself can cost thousands of dollars, while subscribing to a hosting service for one BlackBerry device typically costs under $300 per year.


Corporate BES IT Policies
IT policies can be extremely tight, not allowing users to visit certain web domains, access types of domains such as streaming audio/video, not allowing Instant Messaging, etc. IT Policies can also restrict users’ abilities to add software to a company-owned handheld.

Be aware that if you wish to use your personal device on a corporate BES, you must obtain permission from the Admin. You must also be aware that if you do add your personal device to a corporate BES any existing IT Policy will be installed onto your personal device taking control out of your hands.

Note that anything done on a BlackBerry handheld connected to a BES system can be seen by the BES Administrator. That includes personal email, IMs (if even permitted by the IT Policy), websites visited, etc. You should remember that with a BES-connected BlackBerry, there is nothing private.

If this bothers you then do not place your private device on a company BES. If you need to have personal information kept personal then purchase your own BlackBerry and carry two, yours and the company’s.

Also keep in mind that many companies have policies that if an employee attempts to bypass the corporate IT Policy, that employee could be subject to discipline up to and including possible termination. Do not look for ways around a corporate IT policy. Get your own device and use it for your personal stuff. Unless, of course, you are looking for a career change.

Added 12/27: Troubleshooting...

What If My Mail Stops Arriving?
The first step is to make sure there isn’t a network outage either system-wide or in your immediate area and you can check that with your provider. Providers also often post known issues on their websites. There are a number of websites that post information about large-scale or complete system outages. One that I subscribe to is http://www.dataoutages.com/.
Note that RIM does perform maintenance from time to time and it is usually done early in the morning to minimize impact, but things don’t always go as planned.

Battery Pull (if there is no network outage)
The next step to follow is to perform a Hard Reset aka a Battery Pull:
With the Device On > Pull the Battery > Count To Twenty > Replace the Battery
It may take up to two to three minutes to restore
NOTE: The Battery Pull is recommended by RIM to resolve many issues that may appear and will not harm your device. In addition, no data is lost.

Reregister The Device With Your Network (if the Battery Pull doesn’t restore mail)
Options > Advanced Options > Host Routing Table > BB Menu key > Register Now

Resend Your Service Books (if reregistering doesn’t restore mail)
Log onto your provider’s BIS site and select the link to “Resend Service Books”

Here is a link to a RIM page that includes links to North American provider’s BIS sites:
http://na.blackberry.com/eng/support...#tab_tab_email

Call Your Provider (if resending service books doesn’t restore mail)
They may have to verify the account set-up is correct or perform other trouble-shooting

Prevent gMail "Sent Items" From Being Sent To Your Blackberry

Create a filter for your gMail account on your carrier's BIS site:

Filter Name: Your choice
Apply Filter: "From" Field
Contains: youremailaddress @ gmail.com

Also make sure to select "Do Not Forward Messages To Device.

In case you don't recall the BIS site for your carrier, this link includes links to just about every US carrier's BIS sites.

While in BIS, also edit the setup to eliminate the Auto BCC option if present.

[Elite GK]

Awesome, thanks Taz! BB mail is so pwnsome

[Sav]

SteveTaz, great write-up. (Assuming you wrote it)

This will be very helpful to many new users.

agree with previous 2 posters.

[smknSRT8]

This is what I have been looking for. Good job!

[stevetaz]

Originally Posted by Sav

(Assuming you wrote it)

What does that mean? I have the calloused fingers and the Word document to prove it....

SteveTaz

[dgray636]

How could someone doubt Taz? That's just wrong.

[stevetaz]

^ ^ ^ ^ Yeah, what he said!!

SteveTaz

[Sav]

Steve, I didn't know if it was a guide you found or if you actually spent your time writing it. I definitely didn't mean it in any negative way (hence the smiley). Sorry for the misunderstanding. But since you did write it, like I said before, it's a great write-up.

[stevetaz]

It's all good sav....no harm, no foul.

And yes, I wrote it. I spend my life trying to help you ungrateful users...LOL, Just Kidding!!!

SteveTaz