Okay so here is what I am thinking. I still cannot get any IM applications working via WAP on my Blackberry 7290 through Cingular. Anytime that I have contacted cingular to have those WIX lines added to my account they want me to choose one of the Net plans (which are expensive) and I just do not want to do that.

I have been thinking about going to a BES for a while now (mailstreet or link2exchange) for the main convenience of syncing my desktop email and calendar, etc. I am self employed and therefore obviously do not have a corporate BES that I can use so I have been looking at one of these. My question is, if I move to one of these services, will this also allow me to use these IM applications now? If I am understanding how BES works correctly, won't I be able to use BES versions of these programs and forget WAP altogether?

So in other words, if I do move to a BES, will these IM applications also work?

Thanks!

Mark

The short answer is "probably"

The key point to remember is that it's not just having a BES that enables applications to work... The BES must also be running the Mobile Data Service (MDS). Most providers do offer this functionality... since it is included standard in any BES installation there's seldom any reason why they shouldn't.

However, it's important to note that the MDS can be turned off, and there may be some of the more basic providers who don't want to offer this feature for whatever reason.

The bottom line is to ensure that the provider you are looking to go with provides MDS.

If the Cingular plan you now have does not permit WAP then I seriously doubt it will permit BES. You may want to ask them that before taking the plunge.

The plan does support WAP, however it seems I need to have an additional data plan to get these IM applications running. I have contacted cingular and they give me the WAP information, I've just had no luck with any of the software working.

I do know that cingular.com says you have the option of using BES or the web based email with the blackberry unlimited plan (the one I am on). I have the blackberry enterprise server activation icon on my bb "desktop" so I am guessing it will work.

Has anybody on cingular done this?

Mark

Just checked with cingular... and BES is included in my current plan and I can start using it without any problems.

By the way, I realize I posted this on the wrong board.


Mark