How good is the blackberry at syncing with outlook?

etalns

Diamond Member
Dec 20, 2001
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Let's say I make some tasks on my desktop and sync it, and make some more tasks on my blackberry throughout the day. Once I get home will it put the new tasks from my handheld onto my desktop as well? I guess my main question is does it sync both ways? Or does it just sync the handheld with the desktop.
 

loup garou

Lifer
Feb 17, 2000
35,132
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And if you have an Enterprise Server, you don't even have to worry about syncing. As soon as you make changes on your device (or in Outlook), it updates the other wirelessly (OTA). :D
 

etalns

Diamond Member
Dec 20, 2001
6,513
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Originally posted by: loup garou
And if you have an Enterprise Server, you don't even have to worry about syncing. As soon as you make changes on your device (or in Outlook), it updates the other wirelessly (OTA). :D

Is it possible to set up a server using my desktop? Or using a server I Already have? Or do I have to purchase it from RIM or some other company?
 

TerryMathews

Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
11,464
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Blackberry Enterprise Server (BES) is a product that runs on top of Microsoft Exchange. Sold seperately.

OTOH, you could replace your Blackberries with WM5-based cell phones like the PPC6700 or Cingular 8125 and get the same functionality using only an Exchange server...
 

loup garou

Lifer
Feb 17, 2000
35,132
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Originally posted by: Qosis
Originally posted by: loup garou
And if you have an Enterprise Server, you don't even have to worry about syncing. As soon as you make changes on your device (or in Outlook), it updates the other wirelessly (OTA). :D

Is it possible to set up a server using my desktop? Or using a server I Already have? Or do I have to purchase it from RIM or some other company?
Yes, you have to buy it. You'll also need an Exchange or (barf) Notes server. If you just want it for personal use, I'd highly recommend MailStreet or Mail2Web's Exchange hosting/BES services.
 

Martin

Lifer
Jan 15, 2000
29,178
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Originally posted by: Qosis
Originally posted by: loup garou
And if you have an Enterprise Server, you don't even have to worry about syncing. As soon as you make changes on your device (or in Outlook), it updates the other wirelessly (OTA). :D

Is it possible to set up a server using my desktop? Or using a server I Already have? Or do I have to purchase it from RIM or some other company?

BES needs an Exchange/Notes/Groupwise, so you'd have to set one of those up first, then get BES. I think RIM released a free "BES express" recently. If you really want OTA sync (and honestly, I can't imagine using my BB without it), set up exchange and BES. it'll probably take some toying arond, but it'll be worth it.
 

loup garou

Lifer
Feb 17, 2000
35,132
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Originally posted by: Martin
Originally posted by: Qosis
Originally posted by: loup garou
And if you have an Enterprise Server, you don't even have to worry about syncing. As soon as you make changes on your device (or in Outlook), it updates the other wirelessly (OTA). :D

Is it possible to set up a server using my desktop? Or using a server I Already have? Or do I have to purchase it from RIM or some other company?

BES needs an Exchange/Notes/Groupwise, so you'd have to set one of those up first, then get BES. I think RIM released a free "BES express" recently. If you really want OTA sync (and honestly, I can't imagine using my BB without it), set up exchange and BES. it'll probably take some toying arond, but it'll be worth it.
BES Express. That's news to me, thanks for pointing it out...will definitely come in handy for some of my smaller clients where just one person has a Blackberry.

 

drinkmorejava

Diamond Member
Jun 24, 2004
3,567
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If you have BES it's extremely good; as far as I know, the best mobile outlook/exchange syncing out there. After all, that's why it's so popular, because it actually works, whereas something like the treo, stuff can't be pushed through to the device.
 

TerryMathews

Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
11,464
2
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Originally posted by: drinkmorejava
as far as I know, the best mobile outlook/exchange syncing out there.

Was the best, until MS got into it. You can do the same thing now, without the overhead and expense of BES. WM5 natively supports push e-mail, contacts, calendar, and tasks. Change it in Outlook or on your phone and it changes basically immediately both places. Syncs to the point of marking messages as read in Outlook if read on handheld and vice versa. Even will send read confirmation e-mails from handheld. AFAIK, BlackBerry doesn't do either.
 

loup garou

Lifer
Feb 17, 2000
35,132
1
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Originally posted by: TerryMathews
Originally posted by: drinkmorejava
as far as I know, the best mobile outlook/exchange syncing out there.

Was the best, until MS got into it. You can do the same thing now, without the overhead and expense of BES. WM5 natively supports push e-mail, contacts, calendar, and tasks. Change it in Outlook or on your phone and it changes basically immediately both places. Syncs to the point of marking messages as read in Outlook if read on handheld and vice versa. Even will send read confirmation e-mails from handheld. AFAIK, BlackBerry doesn't do either.
Read receipts are evil! :p
And of course messages read on a Blackberry are marked as read in OL with a BES configuration.

I love my MDA with Exchange ActiveSync, but in my experience BES is faster and less error-prone than EAS when syncing. And on the device side, I wouldn't dare deploy WM5 devices like I do Blackberries to users. They also require too much tweaking and babysitting (which I personally enjoy with my personal device) and they're generally more fragile. My time is more valuable than the cost of BESs.

Although I can't wait to see how well MS does with Exchange 12 (although I'm going to have to start buying some 64 bit servers to run it! :|) and newer devices.
 

TerryMathews

Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
11,464
2
0
Originally posted by: loup garou
I love my MDA with Exchange ActiveSync, but in my experience BES is faster and less error-prone than EAS when syncing. And on the device side, I wouldn't dare deploy WM5 devices like I do Blackberries to users. They also require too much tweaking and babysitting (which I personally enjoy with my personal device) and they're generally more fragile. My time is more valuable than the cost of BESs.

I haven't had any trouble with mine, and the notifications arrive as fast, if not faster, on my Qtek 9100 as they do in Outlook. Of course, my Exchange server serves not a lot of users, and is way more powerful than it needs to be for this task.

Huge cost savings eliminating the BES though...
 

loup garou

Lifer
Feb 17, 2000
35,132
1
81
Originally posted by: TerryMathews
Originally posted by: loup garou
I love my MDA with Exchange ActiveSync, but in my experience BES is faster and less error-prone than EAS when syncing. And on the device side, I wouldn't dare deploy WM5 devices like I do Blackberries to users. They also require too much tweaking and babysitting (which I personally enjoy with my personal device) and they're generally more fragile. My time is more valuable than the cost of BESs.

I haven't had any trouble with mine, and the notifications arrive as fast, if not faster, on my Qtek 9100 as they do in Outlook. Of course, my Exchange server serves not a lot of users, and is way more powerful than it needs to be for this task.

Huge cost savings eliminating the BES though...
That's one thing I just can't figure out. I get a rather lengthy (5 minute) delay between OL receipt and delivery to my MDA. I've troubleshot it to hell and can't figure it out. We're building a new exchange server this week, so maybe it'll fix it. I've tried just about all the available AKU2 roms out there as well.

Like I said, for the type of users I support, my time is more valuable than babysitting them with WM devices. Blackberries are fairly brainless for them to use and near indestructible.
 

DurocShark

Lifer
Apr 18, 2001
15,708
5
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Even works with Lotus Notes.

Too bad notes sucks. But until Exchange/Outlook gets more secure my company won't be switching. Sigh.
 

BAMAVOO

Diamond Member
Oct 9, 1999
8,087
41
91
Originally posted by: TerryMathews
Originally posted by: loup garou
I love my MDA with Exchange ActiveSync, but in my experience BES is faster and less error-prone than EAS when syncing. And on the device side, I wouldn't dare deploy WM5 devices like I do Blackberries to users. They also require too much tweaking and babysitting (which I personally enjoy with my personal device) and they're generally more fragile. My time is more valuable than the cost of BESs.

I haven't had any trouble with mine, and the notifications arrive as fast, if not faster, on my Qtek 9100 as they do in Outlook. Of course, my Exchange server serves not a lot of users, and is way more powerful than it needs to be for this task.

Huge cost savings eliminating the BES though...

I wouldn't say huge.. $5k for a server and $100 for a BB license. We have both devices at work and I prefer the Blackberry.

<<Email - Cell - BES - Administrator :D