Is BlackBerry Enterprise Server really needed for Exchange

[mufu2k]

Hi,
We are moving from POP3 to Exchange Server 2000. I have only one person in our organisation with a Blackberry device. Do I need to buy a $1000 BlackBerry Enterprise Server just for the one employee or is there an alternate (more cost-effective) solution? Is it still possible to use the POP3 solution with exchange server?
thanks,
Steve

[PhoenixFS]

Yup! Just install the desktop redirector (from RIM) on the Blackberry user's PC, and any mail that shows up in her/his Outlook inbox will get forwarded to the Blackberry.

-fss

[mufu2k]

Hi,
Thanks for the reply. Where do I get this software. I looked on the Blackberry site > Software Downloads and was not able to find it...
thanks,
Steve

[wirelessguy]

If the end user originally purchased a "BlackBerry" device, in the box ships a CD with the desktop redirector software. You will be able to download the latest service packs from the RIM/Blackberry website, but you will need the CD to install them. Check the OS version on the device to make sure it is a BlackBerry and not Elink/Mobilemail or Internet edition. If it is Elink then POP3 will work. If it is Internet edition then you will setup forwarding rules to copy email from the server to the IE assigned email address. Did I just confuse you?

[mufu2k]

It looks like we have the Internet Edition software, so an upgrade to the latest service pack will likely work, which is great.

Here's a question:

I'm assuming that the Enterprise Server's value is that it synchronizes with Exchange Server in real time, so that if a blackberry user deletes an email (for example) on the blackberry device it is automatically reflected on the Exchange server.

What does it do with the redirector/Internet Edition software? Does it just forward emails, creating duplicates? Can it manage Calendar functions as well?

thanks,
Steve

[wirelessguy]

You will still need the CD for the desktop redirector. The differences between the Desktop redirector and the BES are minimal. The desktop redirector requires the endusers pc to always be on. It is not as stable as the BES either. When you delete an email on either the BES or desktop redirector it WILL NOT delete the email off the server. There are settings in the desktop manager to allow handheld to overwrite the desktop or desktop to overwrite the handheld, but only when the device is cradled and synchronized. What will happen wirelessly is when messages are read, forwarded or replied to it will be marked appropriately without sync'ing. Calendar events are also sync'd wirelessly.

IE will not do any of the above mentioned. You simply get a copy of your email. The calendar will be sync'd when cradled.

I could go on and on...but not as accurately as the white papers available at www.blackberry.net

[mufu2k]

Thanks for all the help - saved me $1000!!

[wirelessguy]

No problem...for one user unless it's the CEO I can't see buying a server and the BES. By the way...where did you find the BES for a grand? Normal prices range from $1500 to $3000. Just curious

[mufu2k]

On the blackberry site:

http://www.blackberry.net/purchase/pricing/us/bes.shtml

[wirelessguy]

Thats right....I forgot about the 5 CAL BES. The only downside is you can not expand over 5 users. You would have to buy another BES. For 1 user though...that would be fine...thanks!

[handheldcontact]

We have helped a client with internet editions and MS Exchange Server use a "server-level" forwarding rule. This allows messages to be forwarded to the BlackBerry's email address (and the device) even if the user's desktop/laptop is turned off. It seems to work well. I don't remember the exact command, but if your Exchange administrator cannot figure it out, then please send me a message. Thanks.:)

[mressa]

No. You can set up server-side rules which work whether the client is on or not. A little tricky (IT department couldn't figure it out) but here it is:

You must be connected to the Exchange Server / network to set this up. I don't know whether it would work with a VPN so its best to do this from the office.

- Open Outlook.
- Go to contacts and select new.
- In the name field type "XXX - GA" for GoAmerica or whatever.
- In the email field type "XXX@goamerica.net."
- Click save and close.
- Click on your inbox.
- Click on tools and click on rules wizard.
- There are several fields you need to go through, it is not self-explanatory. First click on new or new rule.
- Next, click on the item that executes the rule when it is received on the Exchange Server as opposed to when it is downloaded onto your client computer. Ultimately this will be a server side rule. You will NOT have to have your computer on for emails to be redirected to your 950 or 957 and they will be redirected real-time.
- Click next.
- Next click on the item that will execute the rule if YOU are in the to: or cc: field.
- Next there is a list of "standard" rules. You'll have to scroll down and find the one dealing with "redirection" of email, NOT FORWARDING. Forwarding will send you emails that come from YOU making it difficult to respond or even know who they came from.
- It will ask you to where you want this email to be redirected to. This is where the item in the address book you added above comes into play. DO NOT USE THE GLOBAL CORPORATE ADDRESS BOOK. Scroll down and find the link to your personal address book, the one that will have the entry "XXX - GA."
Once you find that item, click on it.
- You can save at this point.
- Go through the rules again and create a rule that will redirect emails NOT directed to: or cc: but from a DISTRIBUTION LIST. When this pops up, include ALL the distributions lists (1) you are on, AND (2) from which you want to receive email to your 950 or 957 (i.e., _all_employees, _execs, _marketing, ect.).
- Go through the same steps as above and save.
- Before closing out the rules wizard, you will come to a screen that lists your rules and prioritizes them. Be sure to move the to: or cc: rule to the top of the list.
- Save, close Outlook and re launch.
- At this point, the rule is stored ON THE EXCHANGE SERVER and not on your machine. The rules will execute on the server and you will NOT need to have your client computer on to get your email. Lastly, you will get copies on both your notebook / desktop and on your 950 / 957.

You can also redirect or forward any other personal email accounts to the pager, although your ability to do so will depend on the account.

[mufu2k]

First of all - thanks to all that have contributed to answering this question - huge resource!

Two weddings over the next 2 weekends prevent me from giving this a try until later in the month but I will return then to post results.

Thanks again,

Steve

[Mr. Nasir]

To Whom It May Concern:

What you can actually do (and I recommend it, rather then installing additional software) is setup an Internet E-Mail address in Exchange Server.... create an alias... Then take the exchange mailbox for the user, and under delivery options (in thier mailbox properties) Select "send to alternative recipient" option, and enter in the alias you just created. It's fairly straight forward. Just remember to hide the alias you created otherwise people will be able to locate it in the GAL (Global Address List).

If you require additional help, please drop me a line.

[wirelessguy]

The only issue with that solution is that I believe it will truncate the message at 2k. In order to request more of the email you will need either the BES or Desktop redirector.

[Mr. Nasir]

Hrmm..

Actually, on the Mobitex network here, your able to request more, and it will allow you to receive more the the message.


It's by far not as good of a solution as BES but its a work around!

:)

[wirelessguy]

That is good to know....I appreciate the information. I agree... it is the ideal way over the desktop redirector. Thanks again...I always value learning new information.

[mufu2k]

Well,

I finally got Exchange Server installed so I'm on to the Blackberry experiment. Here's what I have found...

I followed mressa's instructions to the letter but was not able to get the blackberry to accept the autoforwarded email. To test all aspects of the route I send emails directly to the blackberry - this worked fine. I sent redirected emails to other pop accounts - worked fine. And so I tried every possible combination and so it appears that somehow the blackberry device is rejecting emails that were 'autoforwarded' by the Exchange Server.

Any ideas on this matter?

thanks,
Steve

[GadgetFreak]

I have an Earthlink Blackberry 950 Internet Edition which is on the Cingular network. I am in the same situation as you, sole user where there is an exchange server. I had already set this up with some help from Earthlink customer service pretty much as the earlier post suggested and it worked fine. That is I used teh redirect command in Outlook to set a rule for the Exchange Server. When you try to send email to the Blackberry are you doing it through the Outlook address that you are using for forwarding? Im sensitive to this since it is a weird address and I had the wrong address in my contacts list in Outlook at first. When you tested the other POP servers did you use the exact same rule as for the Blackberry and just change the destination address? By the way, one thing the earlier post didnt mention is that you can set the Blackberry to copy all sent mail to your normal address, then set a rule to move all incoming mail from the Blackberry to your sent mail folder. That way you can keep a copy of everything you send from the Blackberry in Outlook without using BES. Good luck.

[mufu2k]

Hi Gadget,
To answer your questions...

Yes. The destination email address in both cases belongs to the 'fake' contact that I created specifically for the blackberry forwarding rule. So sending an email directly to this 'contact' arrives at the blackberry device - no problem. But sending an email to my exchange account that has the rule active to forward email on to that same 'fake' contact fails.

And... using the same rule but adding my hotmail account as a second contact to be forwarded the email works - it arrives at my hotmail account...it doesn't arrive at the blackberry device.

So yes to all your questions, and yet...

-Steve

[GadgetFreak]

I just checked mine. It is set to check messages after they arrive when I am in the To or cc field and redirect (not forward) to my Blackberry. It sounds like it is something on the Blackberry end. Is there a customer service number you can call. Im not very familiar with the blackberry web control software but took a look at it. With mine, you have to check a box on the web server to accept forwarded mail. You also have filters that can be activated and need to be set so that it will work. For instance, on mine you have to set it to enable receiving mail with my name on the to or cc line. You might take a look at those settings.

[mufu2k]

Well, it is finally working!

This is how I did it:

Create a contact in Exchange Server (not a user). Assign that contact the SMTP blackberry email address. In Active Directory, configure the blackberry owner's user's properties to send a copy of incoming email to the SMTP blackberry contact. Voila!

Thanks for all the input...

-Steve

[napierkk]

I'm not as technically savvy as most users on this site...which I'm hoping will lead me in the right direction. Our company recently "shut off" access to our BES within our outlook web access server. They still left open the option to synch email with any MS Mobile device, but I'd prefer to stay with my Blackberry. Is there a way to get email pushed to my blackberry without having to keep my pc on all the time? I travel quite a bit and it would be near impossible to receive emails. I do not have access to our BES, I'm not an admin, just a lowely, non I.T. user in the field. I've heard about forwarding email from exchange to an alias, or my blackberry address...or using something like link2exchange...just looking for the best option, that gets me my email. Thanks in advance!

[gogi]

Well, it is finally working!

This is how I did it:

Create a contact in Exchange Server (not a user). Assign that contact the SMTP blackberry email address. In Active Directory, configure the blackberry owner's user's properties to send a copy of incoming email to the SMTP blackberry contact. Voila!

Thanks for all the input...

-Steve

Sorry to resurrect this old thread, but would this work with forwarding just calendar items? I have someone at my workplace who uses their blackberry only for calendar items (appntmnts, etc) and I don't want to get the BES just for that.