Comments on: If You Aren’t On BES, Do You Really Need OTA BlackBerry Synch?

By: Bob

Bob — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 19:01:48 +0000

The advantages to having OTA syncing that updates both the BB and your PC seems obvious to me, if you really what the BB to work as a PIM!
I’ve tried to a get a straight answer on this issue for more than a year.
Microsoft has been completely unhelpful on this, tossing me back and forth between development teams, none of which want to address the question. As a journalist, I even asked Microsoft’s PR folks to look into it — nearly two weeks ago now, no answer after the initial confirmation of the request.
RIM, also has been non-responsive to customer support inquiries.
Ditto with Google, which will not respond to questions about when or if they plan to do full sync OTa for tasks, notes, etc., in addition to their cludgy Calendar and email syncing.
So, I finally gave up and looked for other, commercial options for a non-BES user.
I think I’ve found it in Thinkpost.net. $5 a month, and everything works well. Outlook syncs to their site, which syncs automatically to my Blackberry; Blackberry syncs to the site and then it syncs to Outlook. No need to leave the desktop PC and Outlook open.
It just works, and the interface is clean and fast. So far, I like what I’ve seen.
Here’s the URL: http://thinkpost.net/
Neither MS nor RIM, or apparently Google, really give a $#@% about us, so if it’s worth a few bucks, this could be the answer.

By: Bill Lachenal

Bill Lachenal — Tue, 19 May 2009 11:23:33 +0000

I would love OTA sync with Windows Live Calendar.

I keep all my appointments there so my wife and kids know where I’m scheduled to be and if in a non-emergency situation they can check my calendar to know if they can call me.

I have not looked into switching to Google yet, but that is a possibility because I heard that they have an OTA sync with Blackberry…

By: Joe Schmo

Joe Schmo — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 19:41:56 +0000

This blog entry is just a red herring to spur conversation. The poster is playing dumb for the sake of creating a topic.

BIS users and BES users aren’t any different.

They’re Blackberry users.

BIS users are just underpriviledged because they don’t have BES access.

The question as to why a BIS user would want OTA sync is the wrong question. Of course they would. It’s easier.

The question should be, is OTA sync worth it? The answer is yes.

The next question is: is it worth paying for the service if you only have BIS.

That’s what the conversation should be about.

By: 2009 - Year of Apple in the Enterprise? | Rick Tech

2009 - Year of Apple in the Enterprise? | Rick Tech — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 18:50:29 +0000

[...] big of a deal, but access to Exchange Server has been the RIM’s big selling point for their Blackberry [...]

By: SI

SI — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 00:06:59 +0000

This was yesterday: http://www.unixwiz.net/archives/2005/01/watching_childr.html

This is today: http://www.blackberryforums.com/aftermarket-software/121838-full-ota-sync-email-service-2.html

The concern here is who ends up with a copy of your Contacts and Calendar.

By: Brian Peterson

Brian Peterson — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 22:59:44 +0000

Well most small companies won’t install BES from what I have seen. I work at one. Also, I pay enough to Verizon for Unlimited BIS… I would have to pay more for BES service. So, since I am on BIS I want Google, Outlook, with Contacts and Calendar to all be in one Sync that rules them all. Cradling is so PDA and 1990’s. I have EVDO everywhere I go… So why should I have to plug in a cable for Outlook? And does that get me Google Sync? Nope… I can get close using Funambol and Google Sync… But these are hacks… It should be all built in. Just point my BIS to Google and Exchange and it all should magically sync it all!

The One Sync That Rules Them All!!!

By: SI

SI — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 22:39:58 +0000

Vincent Liou? The same Vincent Liou who allegedly ran various email hostings from his home broadband connection in Canada? The same guy who got himself banned from Emaildiscussions.com? Good luck, guys.

By: calendar

calendar — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 17:57:03 +0000

[...] All, The next OCC meet will be at St. Mary??s Boys Orphanage, 2nd Cross, D??www.eventsbangalore.netIf You Aren??t On BES, Do You Really Need OTA BlackBerry Synch? OK RIMarkable readers. I think that I am missing the point on something and I need you to set me [...]

By: Ben P

Ben P — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 17:51:02 +0000

I dunno… Google Syncs my Calender just fine and GTalk gives me access to my contacts and even lets me associate GMail/GTalk users with people in my Blackberry’s address book…

By: mingo

mingo — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 16:41:09 +0000

For me the answer is simple. What are all the reasons you use BES? Now think of users who’s email is hosted by a email server that is not supported by BES (like mine) or a small business or individual who doesn’t have the resources for MS Exchange and BES. If the features of BES are valuable, why wouldn’t they be just as valuable for users with out access to it.

If desktop sync was so great, there would be no need for BES.