Blackberry Software Express vs Carrier Data Plan with BES

[mudtoe]

Hi folks:

I'm an IT consultant that usually works with mom and pop businesses. I'm working with a client that's somewhat larger than that who wants me to install SBS 2008 for them, and migrate them from a workstation to a domain environment. So I could get up to speed on the technology I bought a copy of SBS 2008 for myself and installed it in a VM on one of my personal machines. Since it came with Exchange Server 2007 I decided to move my personal email, which is on SMEServer right now, to Exchange. As part of that I was toying with the idea of getting a blackberry and connecting it to Exchange.

My question concerns the carrier rate plans, which charge extra for BES access, versus me installing Blackberry Software Express, which is free for one user, on SBS 2008 and using that instead. It's not clear to me whether the carrier's extra charge for BES access is giving me an account on their BES server (so I don't have to install or buy the BES software), to connect to my own copy of MS Exchange, or if that charge is just to open IP ports in their network to allow me to access my own BES (or Software Express) server. Can anyone clarify for me what you are actually getting for that extra charge? I certainly hate the idea that I might be paying $20 or more a month extra just for them to open a port in their network to allow me to access my own software; if that's the case I may drop the idea. On the other hand, if that charge is for a CAL on their BES server, and I could not have to pay that by running my own Software Express, then I may go ahead and get a blackberry.

Assistance appreciated.

mudtoe

[Rh1noo]

The BES service offers full sync between the device and outlook (read/unread/deletes) plus some extra features but you pay extra for it.

The problem you have is the Blackberry professional software cannot be installed on Windows server 2008 and is not Exchange 2007 compatible.

BES 4.1 sp6 supports Exchange 2007 but cannot be installed on Server 2008.

BES 5.0 supports both Exchange 2007 and Server 2008 but you cannot install it on the exchange server.

BES and BPS both require the additional subscription costs.

BIS is pop3 access. You forward emails to a pop3 account and the BIS service forwards these emails to the device. This is the cheaper service but as you can see from the forwards above its difficult to keep them in sync.

I think there will be an update to BPS but not for a while as BES 5.0 is the priority at the moment.

[mudtoe]

That's very interesting. So the software express product has the same limitations?

The software requirements seem to say it will install on sbs, but not which version:

na.blackberry.com/eng/services/server/offers/professional_express.jsp#tab_tab_requirements

(sorry for bad link format without header, but this forum won't let me post a link until I've made 10 posts)

mudtoe

[Rh1noo]

BPS 4.1.4B is designed for SBS 2003 and not SBS 2008.

[gadgetfreak2]

I am using BPS with 7 users connecting to an Exchange 2007 environment. But my BPS is on a different server than Exchange (I am not sure that is a requirement though).

The BES upgrade from the carriers does not give you BES or any server type functionality. It simply ALLOWS you to use your BB with a BES/BPS server. Without that carrier service, you must use BIS as previously mentioned.

To get the 'full professional BB effect', you must implement a BES/BPS in your office (with exchange) and upgrade to the BES add-on with your wireless carrier. There are other ways to get around that with redirectors, etc. but I mean the professional way.

[mudtoe]

Originally Posted by gadgetfreak2

To get the 'full professional BB effect', you must implement a BES/BPS in your office (with exchange) and upgrade to the BES add-on with your wireless carrier. There are other ways to get around that with redirectors, etc. but I mean the professional way.

So in reality the BES add-on with the carrier is just opening a port on their firewall or proxy server?

mudtoe

[Rh1noo]

If the network operator is going to host a BES for you then the BES server will require a MAPI connection to the Exchange server.

The connection between the BES and Exchange requires high bandwidth. If the connection is slow they will only be able to support a small number of users.

You will need to open up your firewall to allow the BES access to all exchange servers and global catalog servers.

I would not go for the hosted option, its much better to have the server in house.