BES

Activating BlackBerries remotely via BlackBerry Web Desktop with BES Express

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The BES Express 5.0.1 product includes the same BlackBerry Web Desktop feature included with the full BES product, enabling users to manage their own handhelds, backup and restore data as well as configure message filters.
So what? Whilst the BES Express product does enable client devices to enjoy push email and PIM data synchronisation functionality on a BIS (BlackBerry Internet Service) tariff, unless you have the more expensive BES (BlackBerry Enterprise Server) tariff, it is not possible to activate devices wirelessly using the Enterprise Activation feature. (http://blog.brightpointuk.co.uk/how-does-bes-wireless-activation-process...).

This means that whilst it isn't possible for users to be remotely activated against a BES Express deployment over the air if they are on the cheaper BIS tariff, they can activate their devices remotely via their web browser by connecting their BlackBerry device to their PC via the supplied USB cable.

BES 5.0.1 Exchange 2010 pre-requisites

Ensure that Exchange 2010 Update Rollup 1 is installed on the Exchange 2010 server. This package is available here - http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=371add31-d7a0-4...

Create a domain user account called BesAdmin

On the Exchange server, in the Active Directory Users and Computers console, create a domain user called "BesAdmin" and assign it an Exchange mailbox. Set the user account password to never expire.

Installing BlackBerry Enterprise Server Express for Exchange 2010

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The BlackBerry Enterprise Server Express Edition offers businesses the ability to enable their staff to use BlackBerry devices to receive push-based email from an existing Microsoft Exchange installation - both standalone Exchange servers and the Microsoft Small Business Server product.

Installing BlackBerry Enterprise Server Express for Exchange 2007

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The BlackBerry Enterprise Server Express Edition offers businesses the ability to enable their staff to use BlackBerry devices to receive push-based email from an existing Microsoft Exchange installation - both standalone Exchange servers and the Microsoft Small Business Server product.

Installing BlackBerry Enterprise Server Express for Exchange 2003

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The BlackBerry Enterprise Server Express Edition offers businesses the ability to enable their staff to use BlackBerry devices to receive push-based email from an existing Microsoft Exchange installation - both standalone Exchange servers and the Microsoft Small Business Server product.

Wicksoft Mobile Documents - access shared contacts, calendars and files from your BlackBerry

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WICKSoft (http://www.wicksoft.com) develop remote access solutions for BlackBerry that extend the native functionality of the BlackBerry Enterprise Server (BES) solution, enabling access to shared and public address books and calendars, as well as network file shares and Sharepoint workspaces. Sharepoint and Exchange versions 2003 and 2007 are currently supported.
Although the solution is currently limited to BlackBerry clients, the company have a version for both Windows Mobile and the iPhone in the works scheduled for release imminently.

RIM add BlackBerry support for Exchange 2010 to BES 5

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RIM have officially added support for Exchange 2010 to BlackBerry Enterprise Server 5. Following hot on the heels of SP1 for BES 5 (http://blog.brightpointuk.co.uk/service-pack-1-bes-5-released), both RIM and Microsoft have released updates for BES 5 and Exchange 2010 to enable compatibility.
The pre-prequisites are therefore:

  • BES 5.0.1 MR1 (ie BES 5 with Service Pack 1 and Maintenance Release 1)

Service Pack 1 for BES 5 released

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Service Pack 1 for BlackBerry Enterprise Server 5 is now available, bringing the version number up to 5.0.1

The update, which weights in at 657MB for Exchange and 667MB for Domino, is available for download from the BlackBerry web site - https://www.blackberry.com/Downloads/browseSoftware.do

New features in this release include:

  • BlackBerry Device Dashboard

Recover a BlackBerry device from a 302 "Reload Software" error message

In the unlikely event that your BlackBerry refuses to load one day and simply displays an error message on the screen reading "Error 302 - Reload User Software", all is not lost. You can re-load the software from your PC using the BlackBerry Desktop Manager application.

The BDM can be downloaded free of charge from the BlackBerry web site here - http://na.blackberry.com/eng/services/desktop/

Install the software before connecting your device to the PC via the USB cable if you have not done so already. The main dashboard will be displayed:

Troubleshooting BlackBerry Enterprise Server synchronisation issues

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In this article I shall look at what to check when your BlackBerry users are unable to either receive mail, send mail, or both.
This article will only examine how to troubleshoot BES when deployed against an Exchange server rather than Domino or Groupwise.

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