Web service compulsory?

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rocktap

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#3777 1-Apr-2005 19:52

Hi there

I quite like the look of the blackberry devices but don't want the 'push' email service (too expensive). Is it possible to operate RIM like any other device - eg: retrieve emails manually when you want?

Cheers

Peter

freitasm

BDFL - Memuneh
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#13913 1-Apr-2005 19:57

If you are not using the Enterprise version you can turn the push e-mail option off through their web interface. But it's a pain. And you'll not have an option to receive the e-mails then, unless you install a third party e-mail client for Blackberry.

The problem is that the personal Blackberry (as configured here in New Zealand) does not provide Internet access - you can't browse the Internet or access any other service but the Blackberry e-mail service. This option is only available on the Enterprise edition.

Ian L

3 posts

Wannabe Geek

#13914 1-Apr-2005 21:50

Hi!
For what is worth from my experience (albeit somewhat limited), unless you have a burning requirement for push email I would not touch a Blackberry 7100v!

As a result of a 'corporate' decision we are in the process of replacing our 2-3 year old Nokia 6210i/Compaq 3870 combinations with Blackberry 7100v - connected over the UK vodafone network. Using bluetooth we were able to connect the phones and PDAs to laptops and the Nokia connected brilliantly with our BMW bluetooth car kits when on the road. As I refuse to look like some secret service agent in my car I refuse to wear the bluetooth earpiece which 'corporate' has not provided to make us legal. I now swith off my phone when in the car and really enjoy the peace and quite that ensues!

Unfortunately the bluetooth implementation on the BB is very limited. It will not connect to the BMW car kit nor will the BB function as a modem for the lap top. (This is needed because our corporate applications are windows based and we need to connect to our servers while out of the office)

The BB keypad is quite cramped and a number of my male colleagues have difficult using their fingers - ladies seem to be able to manage better using their nails!

The 'push email' is good - far superior to dialling in to our mail servers but I think EVERYTHING else was better on our old configurations. The calandar and address book on the Nokia was easy to sync with Outlook, which syn'd with the 3780. Typing a short memo on the 3780 was perfectly do-able but I have yet to succeed on the BB.

The moral of this tale? Will corporate specifiers please not get carried away with technology for its own sake and ask users what they want/NEED to do their business. Hope this helps someone not to get as frustrated as I am today with misapplied technology

freitasm

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#13916 1-Apr-2005 23:54

Ian L: The moral of this tale? Will corporate specifiers please not get carried away with technology for its own sake and ask users what they want/NEED to do their business. Hope this helps someone not to get as frustrated as I am today with misapplied technology

This is probably one of the best posts around here. It seems that companies are too easily enchanted by the technical wonders the sales people from some operators show.

Locally I've seem it happening with one operator giving away some converged devices (PDA + phone) to a team when there was actually a whole mobility project going on, with clear definition of requirements, etc. Of course this other team now wants to use whatever they have in hand, even though it may be a problem connecting to our servers, etc.

Of course it was great for the sales guy. I call this a "hunting" experience. Like a hunter they go for the weakest link, and that's their way through the organisations.

Ian L

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Wannabe Geek

#14216 15-Apr-2005 23:40

Unfortunately I am not sure how I have done it but the Blackberry has paired successfully with the BMW Bluetooth Car kit however, the BB address book has NOT been transferred.