| Notes |
Discussion |
| In my view every business person who regularly uses email
should have a BlackBerry or other wireless email. When you decide to get
one, there are several initial questions that come up . First, you have
to say whether you want the enterprise version or the internet version.
That wasn't clear to me when I was first ordering one. And I couldn't find
any site to tell me about it. Turns out there is no choice, it just depends
on whether your company is already on the enterprise system. If not, you
need the internet version. |
The BB enterprise version requires that the company be using
either Microsoft Exchange or similar collaboration software such as Lotus
Notes. MS Exchange is an email server with storage and collaboration tools
added. Like all servers it can be hosted or run internally. The point is
that it will seldom be an individual decision as to which BB to use. If
your company is running Exchange and you are using the company email server
you will use the enterprise version. If yours is an individual purchase,
you will purchase the internet version. A company decision of what email
server to use is another topic, but Exchange is significantly more expensive
and complicated than most of the alternatives, particularly the open source
email server SendMail. Exchange would be the choice only where there is
a need for the collaborative features, such as the common contacts list
and calendars which can be updated centrally. |
There is also the question of which wireless service provider
to choose. Actually you choose where you buy the BB, and with it you get
a predetermined provider, and you are stuck with that provider forever.
All the providers refuse to service any BB purchased originally from any
other provider. Legal or not, that appears to be the way it is now. I have
used Aether and later, Earthlink. The email service was the same, excellent
reception in most places. The on line support better with Earthlink. The
telephone support with both was horrible.
|
Since as far as I know there is no difference in the coverage.
Several use the same wireless provider, the Cingular network. You probably
select where you buy the BB rather than the service. And that comes down
to price. And there are differences in the prices of about $100. Right
now you can save
$100 by going with Earthlink so that would be my choice.
Check Amazon for deals. It is surprising that the services are not giving
the BB away, just to get the $40 a month service contract. That may come,
so use your search engine to check several services and vendors.
BB coverage is a function of freeways and height. Most places you have
to be a story or so above street level to receive, but one up there, reception
within a building is excellent. You need to check your city. It is good
in Waco, but not in Amarillo.
|
| You shouldn't have any problems activating your BB. The instructions
are detailed. Aether
has them on line. Normally you will want to get support from your service
rather than from the Research in Motion (the manufacturer). RIM charges
for support, but does provide a free excellent
site with links to just about everything you want to know. The problem
is taking the time to plow through it all. |
Here is a sample of the links on the RIM site to detailed
information about the BB. The User Guide is particularly helpful, with
tips on using the various keyboard combinations.
Top
10 troubleshooting tips
General
Information
User
Guide
Desktop
Manager
Getting
Started Guide |
Using Earthlink as an example, there are two web pages
for managing your account over the internet. One is Getting
Started, with the steps for activating and registering your BB, and
the other is for changing your settings
for forwarding, filters,signature, and password. A portion of that page
is show at the right.
There is an oddity that can flummox you when signing in. The setting
page wants your user name in a special form. If your earthlink email address
is csmith01@earthlink.net, it wants csmith01.earthlink. That's right,
a dot instead of the @ and no .net at the end. |
http://www.earthlink.net/wireless/blackberry/settings/login/
BlackBerry Internet Edition Settings
This Menu gives you access to all of your BlackBerry Internet EditionTM
Settings. From the bottom of any page you can click the Menu option to
return to this page. If you are concerned about whether your BlackBerry
handheld has been activated, check Status at the bottom of this screen.
- Forward messages to my BlackBerry handheld: Keep the messages
sent from your BlackBerry handheld by forwarding a copy of them to an
email address that you specify.
- Control the messages sent to your BlackBerry handheld using advanced
email filters.
- Customize the auto signature that appears at the bottom of messages
sent from your BlackBerry handheld. Auto signature allows you to effortlessly
provide contact information like phone numbers, or even personalized
messages, in all your email.
- Change the password to your BlackBerry Settings. We recommend
that you at least change your default password upon first activating
your BlackBerry handheld.
|
| An even quicker way to find answers to specific problems,
such as error messages, it to ask Google. For example, if you get the error
message "Device Error 100" and the reset doesn't work, put in
that, plus blackberry, and you go directly to a page with alternative suggestions
for solving that. |
That's just an example. None of the suggested solutions have
worked yet on mine. One failed but worthwhile step was to make sure I had
the latest in the BB software, downloadable from the site of your provider,
or from the BB site. The latest at this point is 3.6 for the desktop and
2.6 for the handheld. |
