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Do you support Blackberry natively with RIM BES?
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Last Updated
31st 2009f October, 2009

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Affirmative, and our support is moving from "beta" status to General Release on December 1, 2009.

What does beta mean?

We have many clients using the BES with Zimbra successfully daily, as are most of our team, however, until it's out of beta support at 01.com, please note that it is not yet fully supported by our team.  Until we fully support it (expected in December, 2009) it's free-of-charge!

01.com has fully committed itself to support for Zimbra / BES integration.  This means 01.com:
  1. Is the first Premier Zimbra Partner to also become a RIM Blackberry Alliance Partner
  2. Provides a free public beta of Zimbra / BES connectivity until fully supported
  3. Delivers multiple BES servers in the U.S. for Zimbra shared hosting customers
  4. Has already integrated BES into its Zimbra cloud/shared hosting automated billing system
Once signed up for service, read Getting Started with the Blackberry if you'd like even more details.

What does native Blackberry sync mean?

Native Blackberry sync means you don't have to install any software, and you can forget about having to perform desktop sync anymore (yes, stow that cable).  Sync is over-the-air, with "push" mail, including the sent mail folder, what you read shows as read in your Zimbra account, etc..  And it also includes calendar, contacts, and tasks sync.  Changes are reflected within seconds, and our experience is that with Native Blackberry sync, our new mail often appears on the Blackberry before it appears in our mail clients.

Note that straight POP/IMAP access on Blackberry devices through your cell phone provider is free of extra charge from 01.com.  This service delivers more than just POP/IMAP mail.  Once again, native Blackberry sync means you do not require any additional software to get over-the-air, automatic "push" mail, calendar, contacts and tasks sync to your Zimbra mailbox. 

What are the requirements for over-the-air sync of Blackberry devices?

Native sync for the Blackberry requires the Blackberry Enterprise Server (BES), and 01.com maintains such servers for you for this purpose, for use in the 01.com Zimbra cloud.  BES connectivity, more than that for iPhones or other mobile devices, demands an extra layer of licensing and services, for which extra fees apply.  You must have access to the BES network through your cell phone provider (though you don't need the BES service itself... you're getting that from 01.com!) and it's assumed you have an unlimited data plan.  Here's an overview of how data travels from your phone to your Zimbra mailbox:

Blackberry -> Telephone Company -> BES Network (RIM) -> BES Server -> 01.com Zimbra Server

How do I get into the 01.com BES Blackberry sync beta program?

During the free public beta of the Zimbra / BES connectivity, only a limited number of clients from the shared hosting environment are allowed to participate (in the hundreds).  To get into the program, you must sign-up for service and then request activation at our online help desk for consideration, and instructions. 

How much extra does your native, over-the-air, automatic, Blackberry device sync service cost?

The BES syncing part of the service is free of extra charge while in public beta.  Once in general release, pricing will be as follows:

For personal accounts, BES connectivity will cost $6/month extra, with a $0 activation fee.  Personal accounts come with the first 30 days free, and month-to-month terms, no cancellation fees.  This means a personal Zimbra shared hosting account for $9.99/month and $0 activation provides:
  • 2 GB mailbox
  • BES Blackberry service
  • Live help desk by phone, chat and web
  • Zimbra Network Professional edition
For business accounts, with which you use your own domain name, BES connectivity may also be purchased.  Business  accounts come with at least the first 30 days free, and month-to-month or prepaid annual terms, no cancellation fees.  BES connectivity for each business mailbox with an annual term will be $99.99/year, and no activation fee.  BES for business mailbox with a month-to-month term will be $9.99/month extra, and a $0 activation fee.


Visitor Comments
  1. Comment #1 (Posted by Andrew )
    Lets say I buy a blackberry with just a data plan. Would 01's BES Blackberry completely replace my cellphone's carrier's Blackberry email servers? In other words, can my Blackberry with a data plan just use your hosted blackberry server? Which is much like how Windows Mobile is. You don't pay anything extra for the push email, aside from the hosted costs.
  2. Comment #2 (Posted by FAQ Admin )
    Yes, as long as you have access to the BES network, which is, for instance, with Verizon the setting is "automatic", where just an unlimited data plan on your blackberry is needed.
  3. Comment #3 (Posted by Eko )
    I Love Zimbra
  4. Comment #4 (Posted by Ola Salako )
    Hello, I am enjoying easy and fast mail on my blackberry. But how do I handle the problem of virus? Thanks
  5. Comment #5 (Posted by FAQ Admin )
    If you use our turn-key Zimbra hosted solution, we have advanced spam and virus filtering as part of the package. It enables users to create white/black lists for each mailbox, and for the domain admin to set preferences and white/black lists for the entire domain.
  6. Comment #6 (Posted by Ruslan)
    My mobile operator has no BB service at all, just a plain TCP/IP, thus most blackberry features don't work for me. Can your solution provide me with a full functioning BB service and all needed ServiceBooks for things like Mail, Browser and MSN to work?
  7. Comment #7 (Posted by FAQ Admin )
    In the case where you don't have access to the BES network, (you do not need BES service, just access to the network, and typically an unlimited data plan), you can use our Notify server to provide blackberry syncing of mail, contacts, calendar and tasks. Same price as BES.
  8. Comment #8 (Posted by Adam )
    Above you say, ""Beta" in this case means that Zimbra is still working on adding features, as well as identifying and squashing bugs in the BES Connector, currently scheduled for general release in Q4, 2008." Is this still the schedule? Will you definitely be out of Beta by 1/1/09? Thanks.
  9. Comment #9 (Posted by FAQ Admin )
    Zimbra has recently moved the release to be concurrent with the release of Zimbra 6. We have updated this FAQ to reflect this. We can't guarantee the release schedule, and probably would not even if we were directly responsible for the coding. Given we have a free-of-charge, no obligation 30 day trial period, we welcome you to try the solution now and as it develops to confirm it's ready for you. Note that we support this trial with our Personal accounts, so you can test without even needing a domain name. Thanks for your consideration.
  10. Comment #10 (Posted by Le Minh Sang )
    Hi, Can I using your service for my blackberry phone? I'm from Vietnam, I haven't BIS/BES, please tell me, Can I do it ? Thank you !!!
  11. Comment #11 (Posted by FAQ Admin )
    Le Minh Sang: unfortunately, to use native sync on Blackberry devices you must use a Blackberry Enterprise Server (BES), and to use the 01.com BES, you must have access to the BES network through your phone provider (although you don't have to use their BES, you just use ours).
  12. Comment #12 (Posted by Daniel Peleg )
    My company is with Rogers Wireless in Canada, and they do not offer unlimited plans for the BES service. What they can offer me is 1gig for $45. Is this 1gig sufficient? Right now we use iPhones that connect to our Business Zimbra with you using ActivSync, and the user on our cell-phone plans that uses the most data currently uses about ~400mb a month.
  13. Comment #13 (Posted by Jay Cihla )
    Daniel, We strongly encourage an unlimited data plan with BES sync. You are welcome to try BES with your carrier restrictions however you are solely responsible for any and all overages incurred through your service provider by syncing using BES. Please also verify with your service provider that BES service (not BIS) is enabled on your account, which is required.
  14. Comment #14 (Posted by Vincent )
    Can the BES service you offer be used independent of SIM? For example, can I use all the features over a WiFi connection with no SIM installed, or with a SIM that has no data connectivity? Can I connect to the service via Internet. I am using a Bold 9700. Thank you.
  15. Comment #15 (Posted by Jay Cihla )
    Vincent, If your phone service provider requires a SIM card, it is required for BES activation & sync. Your device & account through your phone service provider must also be provisioned with a BES compatible plan in order to use our BES program.
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