Our Exchange Server but Hosted BES?

[bmicomp]

We have two sites, with two separate exchange enviornments. One of our power users is talking about getting a blackberry, and I'd really like to give him the full functionality (e-mail, calendar, contact) sync over the air, but I know I can't do that without getting a BES server. Does anybody know if there are services out there that will let you run your own exchange server, but host the BES portion for you? Or is that not technically feasble?

 

[58sniper]

Well, if your server will support it, BES has a lightweight free version that will support up to 15 devices. I've seen more than a few orgs install that right on the Exchange box.

Pat Richard MVP
Plan for performance, and capacity takes care of itself. Plan for capacity, and suffer poor performance.

http://www.ucblogs.net/blogs/exchange/

 

[Zelandakh]

Or virtualise it on the same box.

 

[WANguy2k]

Another solution you might try is to just use MS ActiveSync with a non-Blackberry phone. Most smartphones support ActiveSync these days, and most Blackberry model phones also come in non-Blackberry models. I've used a BES and I've also used SmartPhones with Exchange ActiveSync without a BES and they both work fine.

 

[Zelandakh]

We're great fans of Windows Mobile but users tend to prefer BB.

Same with the iPod - you can't give away a Zune...

 

[58sniper]

You can also use third party tools on the Blackberry device to have it use Exchange ActiveSync

Pat Richard MVP
Plan for performance, and capacity takes care of itself. Plan for capacity, and suffer poor performance.

http://www.ucblogs.net/blogs/exchange/

 

[wahnula]

I have been warned that to access Exchange Public Folders on a BB you will need a third-party app such as:

http://www.diditbetter.com/add2exchange.aspx

**SO** a third-party app to make another third-party app work properly...seems to me to be a recipe for disaster.

**BUT** as Zelandakh says you must support what the users want to use.

I can say that BES Express is easy to install and relatively light.

Tony

Users helping Users...