Blackberry Server Configuration (BIS & BES)

ITcontact® installs and configures Blackberry servers for corporate networks and organisations.

Blackberry BES service, enables the phones (devices) to communicate and integrate seamlessly into the current corporate mail system of the organisation, such as with Microsoft® Exchange.  

This includes calendar sharing, contact sharing, e-mail composing, mail receiving, etc.

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN POP MAIL AND PUSH MAIL

With a Blackberry server system, the mail is pushed to the phones or devices automatically.  Normally referred to as "ALWAYS ON" capability, in which new e-mails are actively transferred (pushed) to the mail client or the device.

With other phones, these are usually configured to collect mail with a manual POP connection trigger 
(viz by clicking "RECEIVE MAIL")

Generally all new phones can use a flavour of "push mail" technology, but could cost much more in data traffic, due to constant mail checking activity.

BES and MS Exchange Overview

With BlackBerry® Enterprise Server for Microsoft® Exchange, your employees will have push-based access to the following applications on their BlackBerry smartphones:

• Microsoft Exchange email
• Microsoft Exchange calendar, contacts and scheduling
• Instant messaging applications such as Microsoft® Office Live Communications Server 2005 and Microsoft® Office Communications Server 2007
• Web-based, Java® ME and Web Services applications
• Other enterprise applications and systems such as Customer Relationship Management (CRM) and Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP)

Blackberry BIS and BES

DIFFERENCES BETWEEN BIS AND BES

BIS - Basic mail and internet solution
BlackBerry Internet Service = email service provided by the respective provider; MTN, Vodacom, Cell-C or 8TA.

BES - Corporate mail and internet solution
BlackBerry Enterprise Server = email service provided by a server ran internally by a company.  For example for corporate networks.

BIS CONFIG AND OPERATIONS

Using BIS sets up very similarly to a yahoo, Gmail or other POP account. You will be able to receive email by setting up such an account. 

Please note:  There may be  a 15 minute delay, during configuration.

You could use both BIS and BES on one phone. You could also have Blackberry desktop software installed on your work or home computer. Version 4.2.2 and above allows you to see the complete status of the device and backup all phone data.

* Please see TECHNICAL section below for configuration of using BES and desktop software together on one device.


BES CONFIG AND OPERATIONS

With running BES, you can use shared calendaring and invite someone to a meeting (via the Blackberry calendar). 
You are unable to use calendar sharing or send a calendar invite when using BIS only.

If BES is configured on your device with connectivity to a Microsoft Exchange® server, mail calendar's and contacts are wirelessly synchronised and there is no need to synchronise the data via the desktop software.  The desktop software can still be used to backup the device and data to your desktop computer. 


THE INTERFACE BETWEEN BIS AND BES

BIS AND BES work hand in hand in the sense that both utilize the RIM infrastructure.  These are 2 applications that pipe into the same infrastructure.  In short, they are different methods to get the message into the same RIM Blackberry network.  From there it is processed by RIM to the phones or devices.

BIS, BES and Roaming Charges

When travelling abroad, it is useful to open "international roaming" for international dialing directly from your phone.  

We do however, NOT RECOMMEND that you open "international roaming" for DATA, as this could cost you or your company dearly.  

The cost per Megabyte on the Vodacom network, as an example:  Could be as much as R85-00 per megabyte, or even more, depending on your contract terms.

With normal e-mail correspondence, costs can easily be accrued to the value of over R10,000-00 for a single trip abroad.

Known Issues and Technical Support

BIS AND BES ONE ONE DEVICE

To manage both BIS and BES accounts from your device:

When you are replying, before sending:
Go right on top of the message above the "TO:" field, you will see "Send Using:" -> on default it will always pick up the BES account.

However, you can change this option to the BIS address.  

If you want the BIS account to always be your default address then go to Settings -> Advanced Options -> Message/Default Services -> Change it from Desktop to your BIS address

Question:  Does BIS and BES work independently of each other, why is it that the status of the last message sent via Gmail (private mail), shows up in the device status of the desktop software on my computer?

Personal emails, as " innocent" as the content might be, could actually be ending up on your workstation or somewhere in my corporate environment, if BES and BIS are configured together on one device.

NOTE:  The ONLY way that any BIS info or content will show up on BES, will be, if the BES Admin setup all outgoing e-mail to go through the BES system.

You could also visit our support forums on DIY for more technical support and information (click here)

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http://www.contact.co.za