Blackberry Internet Service

From Provider Notes

Contents 1 Introduction 2 Configuration Instructions 2.1 BES 2.2 BIS 3 Example Activation 4 BIS drawbacks

Introduction

BlackBerry devices are designed to receive encrypted data from a server appliance. There are two methods of getting email to the device:

1. Activate the BlackBerry with the BlackBerry Enterprise Server (BES) attached to the corporate email server
   • Supported email servers are:
     • Microsoft Exchange
     • Novell Groupwise
     • Lotus Notes
2. Configure your wireless carrier's BlackBerry Internet Server (BIS) to forward email from an unsupported email server to your device

Configuration Instructions

BES

Information on activating your BlackBerry with ISC's Microsoft Exchange server is located here.

BIS

Each wireless carrier has their own process to configure email forwarding to your BlackBerry using their BIS.

1. Log into your carriers BIS area (see global or carrier specific list below)

1. Global BIS List

Carrier specific links: (If your carrier is not listed please click the global link above)

• Cingular BIS Log In
• Sprint BIS Log In
• T-Mobile BIS Log In
• Verizon BIS Log In

2. Click the Setup Account link

• Guide to configuring email forwarding using the carrier specific links
• you can also select Create Address from this area to make a @yourcarrier.blackberry.net address

3. Follow the directions by entering the email address and password

Example Activation

The instructions below were generated using AT&T's BIS activation page. Your wireless carrier's sequence of windows may differ slightly from these instructions, but should be very similar:

1. Navigate to your wireless carrier's BIS page (see links above)
2. If you have not already logged, click the "Create New Account" button. If you already have an account, use the credential you set up previously.
3. Accept the user agreement, by checking the "I understand...." box and click "I Agree"
4. Enter your device's PIN and IMEI.
   • The PIN can be found under the Enterprise Activation window
   • The IMEI is located on a sticker under the unit's battery
5. Choose a username and password, and click Next
6. Enter your email address, and email account password in the appropriate fields and click Next
7. If you entered your information correctly, you should see a confirmation dialog box indicating that your email account has been successfully accessed.
8. You should see a message in your BlackBerry inbox indicating you have successfully set up your email account with the BIS. Your email should start arriving in the next 20 min.

BIS drawbacks

In general, the BIS is a consumer-grade option for BlackBerry users and is not a true IMAP replacement. As such, there are limitations to what an Enterprise user should expect from the service. BIS does not provide an IP stack for the phone. Instead the servers at RIM act as IMAP/POP and SMTP proxies on behalf of the phone. This means all of your incoming and outgoing mail go through RIM's servers in Canada. It also means that RIM has your email password. For outgoing mail, the mail is sent by RIM's SMTP servers using the user@upenn.edu return address. This has the potential to contribute to the SPAM reputation of the messages sent from the Blackberry because of the mismatch between sending IP and the domain name on the return address. It similar to the situation when one is forced to use an ISP's SMTP server rather than using one of Penn's.

1. Do you get access to folders or just inbox?
   • You can see server mail folders listed if you select Folders from the options menu, but you will not see the mail within the folder. There is no option on the AT&T BIS management website to subscribe to additional folders. [Note, this has not been tested on Verizon's BIS site]
2. Do you get existing inbox mail or just new email?
   • Just like on Exchange, you only get mail received after configuring the BIS account. Mail needs to be processed by the server (in this case the BIS) before it can be seen on the BlackBerry. The BIS does not process old mail.
3. How often is the IMAP server polled for new mail?
   • We have not found a definitive answer to this question. We have seen answers in the range of 2-15min. Be aware that if you have server-side rules on Exchange, and they filter mail to other folders before the BIS polls for new mail, you may not see the message on your BlackBerry
4. If the blackberry is off or the radio is off and you receive mail do you get the mail after the blackberry goes back on net?
   • In general, you will get new mail when the radio is turned back on. However, as mentioned above, if you have server side rules filtering messages to other folders, you will not see the messages that were filtered.