- Oct 9, 2002
- 28,298
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- 136
Argh! I don't have a Blackberry, but I've got some idea how they work. BB devices store their email configuration settings on RIM's server, not directly on the device. The baseband receives instant notifications in the same way it receives text messages, so battery usage is minimal.
There's a problem with this method.
I work for a small, local, cable ISP. Most of our customers' email addresses end with "@numail.org". About 2 months ago, we changed hosting to Google's commercial email hosting services. The MX was updated. Yesterday, we finally discontinued access to the old server (I'm sure it's a huge waste of resources to relay everything between the two servers).
Notifications had been sent for months so customers would update to the new server settings, but we knew that hundreds would ignore the notices. We've been updating them as they call us, but we've had no luck updating Blackberry devices. When a BB user tries to access account settings, they're immediately prompted to "Validate account." There's no way to skip this and get to the settings, and there's no way to pass the validation check because IT'S TRYING TO VALIDATE WITH THE WRONG SERVER. The only reason the old server even prompts for a password is because it still hosts mail for OTHER domains.
Of course, customers are blaming this on us because "you changed something and now it doesn't work." Updating your email settings is something that EVERY email client or device should allow you to do...so there's a serious problem with the way BB works at the moment.
I've never used a Blackberry, but I got my hands on one for a few minutes today. I removed the bad email account and re-added it...but it never asked for server settings and never presented an option for manual setup. The account seems to be added, but it's not showing any messages or errors when I try to send a test.
I don't think RIM will talk to me since I'm not a BB user and I have no account with them.
This reminded me of the last time we changed email servers. RIM's system was still finding the old MX and each BB user had to remove / re-add the account. It'd be nice if RIM could automatically correct hundreds of @numail.org accounts. I'm sure BB users happy to know that RIM corrects things automatically behind-the-scenes. Have any of you ever been through this?
There's a problem with this method.
I work for a small, local, cable ISP. Most of our customers' email addresses end with "@numail.org". About 2 months ago, we changed hosting to Google's commercial email hosting services. The MX was updated. Yesterday, we finally discontinued access to the old server (I'm sure it's a huge waste of resources to relay everything between the two servers).
Notifications had been sent for months so customers would update to the new server settings, but we knew that hundreds would ignore the notices. We've been updating them as they call us, but we've had no luck updating Blackberry devices. When a BB user tries to access account settings, they're immediately prompted to "Validate account." There's no way to skip this and get to the settings, and there's no way to pass the validation check because IT'S TRYING TO VALIDATE WITH THE WRONG SERVER. The only reason the old server even prompts for a password is because it still hosts mail for OTHER domains.
Of course, customers are blaming this on us because "you changed something and now it doesn't work." Updating your email settings is something that EVERY email client or device should allow you to do...so there's a serious problem with the way BB works at the moment.
I've never used a Blackberry, but I got my hands on one for a few minutes today. I removed the bad email account and re-added it...but it never asked for server settings and never presented an option for manual setup. The account seems to be added, but it's not showing any messages or errors when I try to send a test.
I don't think RIM will talk to me since I'm not a BB user and I have no account with them.
This reminded me of the last time we changed email servers. RIM's system was still finding the old MX and each BB user had to remove / re-add the account. It'd be nice if RIM could automatically correct hundreds of @numail.org accounts. I'm sure BB users happy to know that RIM corrects things automatically behind-the-scenes. Have any of you ever been through this?
Last edited:
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