Posted on October 3, 2009, at 12:33 pm .
If you’re here, you likely have heard, RIM has rolled out BlackBerry Internet Service aka BIS 2.8. One of the features that has been added to this release is the ability to synchronize Gmail contacts to your device. Unfortunately, providers oftentimes don’t give you any notice that they’ve updated and finding the version of the BIS that you’re on can be a pain. Fortunately, I’ve dug up a way for you to be able to tell whether it’s been updated to BIS 2.8. Thanks to RIM’s help section, it explains where you can turn the contact synchronization on and off, via the menu system.
It states:
1. On the BlackBerry® Internet Service web site, in the left pane, click Email Accounts.
2. Click the Edit icon beside your Google Mail™ email address.
3. Select the Contacts check box.
4. Click Save.
After you finish: To stop synchronizing your contacts, clear the Contacts check box.
So if you don’t see this option, you’re not on BIS 2.8 yet. If you do see this option, you’re all set! Remember, you have to be running OS 5.0 to use this feature. Let us know if this feature is available from your provider in the comments.
via Nan Palmero | Power User
Posted on September 15, 2009, at 10:28 am .
RIM, in partnership with Zain Saudi Arabia and Alcatel-Lucent, have launched the BlackBerry solution in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Alcatel-Lucent is leveraging its strong local presence in the region to provide Zain Saudi Arabia with the project management, end-to-end implementation, installation, commissioning and on-going support for delivering the BlackBerry solution to the Saudi market. With Alcatel-Lucent managing integration and deployment, Zain Saudi Arabia can focus on managing subscribers and providing adequate customer care.
When the program launches, Zain will be offering its customers the BlackBerry Curve 8900, BlackBerry Bold 9000, BlackBerry Pearl 8120 and BlackBerry Pearl Flip 8220. Customers will also have access to BES and BIS.
Hopefully Saudi Arabia will also be able to get their hands on some of the latest devices that will be launching this fall in North America.
Posted on September 10, 2009, at 11:49 am .
Yesterday, customers all over North America were experiencing problems getting BIS email.
There are a number of reasons why your BlackBerry BIS email me not be working. For example, it’s possible that the NOC has gone down. The NOC is the Network Operations Center, and it is where messages go when they leave your device before being passed to the carrier. If the NOC goes down, your email will stop sending and you have to wait for RIM to fix the issue.
You may also stop receiving email if the carrier’s BIS server farm is having issues. This could be for any number of reasons. Other reasons include server hardware failure at RIM’s end, or a software bug.
Due to the complex nature of the architecture it’s impossible to speculate without some kind of hint from RIM. Sites such as Dataoutages, are great for providing updates and they had the following on yesterday’s issue:
Reported by: Multiple sources across Canada and USA.
Trouble Ticket Number: TT000011677021
Severity: 2-Medium
Description of Issue: Degradation of RIM BlackBerry BIS service.
Location of Issue: All Regions ;All Markets and surrounding areas
Start Time: Sep 09 2009 12:06 PM PDT
Symptoms you MAY experience: RIM BlackBerry BIS customers may experience delays in sending/receiving email.
Estimated time of repair: Unknown
Technicians are working towards resolution as quickly as possible.
What’s going on RIM?
Posted on June 26, 2009, at 1:31 pm .
The BlackBerry Internet Service will be upgrading to 2.7 6/26 11 PM- 6/27 3 AM throughout the US, Canada and finally the Americas. The upgrade will be to improve the help screen, language support as well as add a minor change to the option menu. During the 4 hours when maintenance is going on, users won’t be able to access their BIS accounts.
If you’re looking to connect with friends tonight, make sure it’s via SMS and not your BIS email.
Click through to read the changes that will be made to BIS 2.7
Posted on June 19, 2009, at 2:13 pm .
Kuwait now has access to the full range of BlackBerry services. VIVA, Alcatel-Lucent and RIM have announced the launch of devices such as the BlackBerry Curve 8900 and BlackBerry Bold as well as service with BlackBerry Enterprise Server and BlackBerry Internet Service.
Based on its distribution agreement with RIM, Alcatel-Lucent is leveraging its strong local presence in the region to provide VIVA with end-to-end support services for the BlackBerry solution. With Alcatel-Lucent managing integration and deployment, VIVA can focus on delivering customer facing services, enabling the operator to quickly meet market demand.
This trend is indicative of the Middle Eastern strategy with carriers and RIM. While the Middle East provides ample opportunity for low end devices and prepaid solutions, the majority of Middle Eastern countries are getting the “luxury line” of BlackBerry devices such as the 8900 and Bold. I’m curious to see if carriers begin selling Pearl devices in these regions.
Posted on May 4, 2009, at 1:47 pm .
HP and RIM have announced they are establishing a strategic alliance to deliver a portfolio of solutions for enterprise. The solutions, which include support for BES 5.0, are focused on increasing service levels, reducing operations costs and improving productivity for customers.
HP will be demonstrating these new solutions, HP CloudPrint and HP Operations Manager, at WES so I’ll be sure to keep you updated.
Click through to read about these new solutions from HP and RIM
Posted on March 23, 2009, at 9:58 am .
North American BlackBerry users can rejoice because RIM has upgraded BIS to 2.6. Although BIS is obviously not the enterprise powerhouse that BES provides, it will give you a quick look at what life is like on the other side. Something to note about the information regarding Gmail and BIS: if you’re going to take advantage of IMAP Gmail, you have to delete your account and re-add it from within your BIS admin.
With the new updates, you can expect the following:
Display of password characters
o BlackBerry smartphone users have the option to display password characters when configuring email addresses with the BlackBerry Internet Service. This feature makes it easier for BlackBerry smartphone users to integrate third-party email addresses, especially when using a BlackBerry smartphone with the SureType® input method.
Improved descriptive support and error messages
o BlackBerry smartphone users that have integrated a third-party email account using Post Office Protocol (POP) receive a personal identification number (PIN) message that includes instructions on how to leave email messages on the messaging server for successful delivery to the BlackBerry smartphone.
Option to change signatures from the BlackBerry smartphone
o BlackBerry smartphone users that use Wireless Application Protocol (WAP) automatic login can change the signatures for email messages using the BlackBerry smartphone.
Improved language support
o Dutch is now an available language for the BlackBerry Internet Service 2.6.
Gmail integration using IMAP
o BlackBerry Internet Service 2.6 uses Internet Message Access Protocol (IMAP) to integrate Gmail® webmail accounts.
This integration protocol introduces the following benefits:
Elimination of sent email messages appearing as received email messages in the message list on the BlackBerry smartphone
One-way synchronization of read status, sent items, and deleted items.
o To use these improvements, BlackBerry smartphone users must remove and reintegrate their Gmail webmail accounts.
Posted on March 19, 2009, at 9:57 am .
The above comparison chart is an interesting way to look at the smartphone market’s most popular devices. The list is missing Nokia, Motorola and LG, but the chosen devices are close competitors and the information is still very well put together.
Before you let the Hatorade out about this list, the author would like you to know a few things:
I used a set of arbitrary criteria to set up this chart, but I’ll tell you what they are. For iPhone 3.0, we’re using only features Apple permits. Yes, it’s possible to jailbreak or unlock your iPhone to add other features or carriers, but Apple will consider you an enemy and try to destroy your phone if you do that, so we don’t approve. For Windows Mobile, we only used features available in the US marketplace right now–though Windows Mobile 6.5 won’t change the landscape much. For Google Android, we used features publicly available on the G1, HTC Magic or Google Developer phones. And for Palm Pre, we guessed as best we could based on Palm’s public statements.
Yes, I left out Symbian. They’re just not a force in the US marketplace right now, and I’m a US writer. Maybe next year, guys.
This chart tries to steer clear of hardware features that may vary by phone model with the more prolific OSes
.
Some things I would note about the list:
BlackBerry applications are probably in a number range close to Windows Mobile. Since both platforms cater to enterprise, when a company develops for Windows Mobile it usually includes a BlackBerry port.
App World is coming soon so that will be added to BlackBerry’s column.
I would have compared BlackBerry on BES because it’s an enterprise device that should be used on said system.
[Via]
Posted on January 21, 2009, at 12:47 pm .
Good friend Ronen over at BerryReview is reporting that Fido will be launching its much rumored BlackBerry service on February 4th. Apparently Fido will offer only BIS and no BES service, with their first BlackBerry being the BlackBerry Pearl 8100. Here’s the rumored price points:
BlackBerry Pearl 8100 Pricing
* $400 MTM / No Contract
* $350 on a 2 Year
* $25 on a 3 year w/ Voice + Data (no minimum monthly total cost required).
Fido BIS Data Plans
* $15 – Unlimited Personal Email + IM (BBM, WM, Yahoo, AIM etc…).
* $25 – 500MB BIS Data
* $30 – 1GB BIS Data
* $60 – 3GB BIS Data
Two more important items of note: BlackBerry data will be available to Fido customers without contract and tethering will be allowed. It will be interesting to see what kind of numbers and demographic Fido will attract with their offering. I’m thinking university students that want a cheap BlackBerry Pearl but no contract.
Posted on January 15, 2009, at 1:30 pm .
RIM has released a BlackBerry Knowledge Base article explaining which webmail accounts have enhanced BIS integration. While this may seem extremely boring, it’s actually pretty important, as the knowledge base effectively indicates which webmail accounts receive push-like email delivery speeds. Check out the list below to see if your webmail account is the recipient of a little extra love from the boys and girls of Waterloo.
Enhanced integration of webmail accounts is available with the following service providers:
* AOL
o Near real-time delivery of email messages
o AOL Mail icon on the BlackBerry smartphone Home screen
* Yahoo!
o Near real-time delivery of email messages
o Yahoo! Mail icon on the BlackBerry smartphone Home screen
* Gmail
o Near real-time delivery of email messages
* Windows Live Hotmail/MSN
o Near real-time delivery of email messages
o Premium account is no longer required for BlackBerry Internet Service email account integration
* Hostopia
o Near real-time delivery of email messages
* GoDaddy
o Near real-time delivery of email messages
Enhanced webmail integrations for the BlackBerry Internet Service
