About the IU BlackBerry Enterprise Server (BES) and BES accounts

On this page:

How email redirection works

All BlackBerry devices require some sort of program or service to forward email from the mailbox to the wireless network provider and then to the device. The act of copying and forwarding email is called "redirection". Two options are available:

The BlackBerry Desktop Redirector runs on your personal computer, monitoring your mailbox and redirecting a copy of each new message it finds.
A redirector can also be a server that does the same for many people's mailboxes at once. At Indiana University, UITS provides a large enterprise solution, the BES Redirector, for those with an Exchange account.

Advantages of using the BES

For the following reasons, UITS recommends that you use the BES Redirector rather than the Desktop Redirector:

If you use the Desktop Redirector, your computer must be running the Desktop Redirector and be logged into the mail server at all times. Simply turning the computer on is not sufficient, as the Desktop Redirector cannot be installed as a service; it must run as a desktop application. Using the BES Redirector (again, only if you have an Exchange account) frees you from this constraint.
The BES service allows for centralized management of BlackBerry accounts, which can help UITS quickly troubleshoot and fix problems.
The BES Redirector provides features unavailable through the Desktop Redirector:
- Global Address List (GAL) lookups: Using the Desktop Redirector, you can do lookups only in the address book kept on the device itself. For GAL lookup instructions, see With a BlackBerry at IU, how do I search for an address in the Exchange GAL?
- Wireless data synchronization: If you use the Desktop Redirector, you must cradle your BlackBerry to synchronize your data (e.g., calendar, contacts, tasks), but the BES allows wireless synchronization; see With a BlackBerry, how do I reconcile my email, calendar, and other data?
- Attachment rendering: Not possible with the Desktop Redirector
- Wireless password reset: The Desktop Redirector does not provide for remote password reset; see With a BlackBerry at IU, what should I do if I lose my device or forget my password?

How to get an account

The BlackBerry Enterprise Server (BES) Redirector is a billed service offered by UITS to Indiana University faculty and staff that enables full access to IU Exchange email accounts (including mail, calendar, tasks, etc.) from BlackBerry devices.

The information below applies to BES accounts purchased by departments for their employees. Individuals can now purchase their own BES accounts if the need arises; see At IU, how can I obtain and pay for my own BlackBerry Enterprise Server (BES) Redirector account? If your department will supply your BES account for you, do not sign up for your own account.

Your department's Telecommunications Coordinator must authorize the request for a departmentally purchased account on the BES Redirector service at IU. Your coordinator will need your username and the departmental account number for billing in order to make the request.

At IU Bloomington, if you do not know who your Telecommunications Coordinator is, complete this online form. Select faculty or staff, and click Continue. Click No, and then Continue again. From the menu for the service you're interested in, select the name of your department. Your Coordinator's contact information will then appear.

To request the account, Coordinators should send the individual's name, email address, and account number to commreq@indiana.edu .

How to cancel your account

To cancel your BES account, send email to commreq@iu.edu requesting disconnection from the BES.

Also see:

This is document almm in domain all.
Last modified on August 01, 2008.

Please tell us, did you find the answer to your question?