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:

Whilst a BlackBerry handheld activated with a corporate BES server will receive contact and calendar data over the air from either an Exchange or a Domino server, devices used with the BlackBerry Internet Service (BIS) can only receive emails over the air, and must synchronise contact and calendar information locally with your PC via the BlackBerry Desktop Manager software, available for download free from the BlackBerry web site- http://na.blackberry.com/eng/services/desktop/

RIM will soon be releasing a version of the BlackBerry Desktop Manager software for the Mac platform, although a version has already surfaced on the web, which was used to create this post.

In order to use your BlackBerry as a modem with your PC to connect to the Internet via your cellular provider, you will need to have data service enabled on the SIM card in the BlackBerry device in addition to BlackBerry service.

The BlackBerry Desktop Manager software, available for free download from the BlackBerry web site (https://www.blackberry.com/Downloads/entry.do?code=A8BAA56554F96369AB93E...), includes an IP modem configuration wizard that is configured with the required connection settings for a wide variety of popular global cellular provider.

New to version 5.0 of the BlackBerry Device Software is the built-in diagnostic utility which enables you to quickly check that the device is registered with the network operator, with the RIM infrastructure and also with your corporate BES server (if you're using BES service as opposed to BIS service).