I just set up a 3.6 BES on a win 2003 servering with exchange 2003. When I go to a user's properties in Blackberry Enterprise Server Management, I do not see the "Activate Password" option so I can register 5 Blackberries. What is missing?

You are on BES 3.6 you must have 4.0 for Enterprise Activation.

To activate you need to install Desktop Manager on the user's desktop, plug the HH in and generate an encryption key.

I will give that a try Monday. Thanks for your help.

Computrout

Also (as good practice) make sure your 3.6 BES is service packed up if you have SP2 for Exchange 2003 installed.

Is the Upgrade from Bes3.6 to BES 4.0 free???

RIM's official line is that 3.6 to 4.0 was more than a mere service pack, and was therefore a chargable upgrade. The same was also said of 4.0 to 4.1, and looking forward 4.1 to 5.0 will be the same.

What you'll pay will be dependent on your service provider/IT company/network or whoever it is you buy BES off.

What? It is wayyyy more than a service pack

Buy a Tsupport contract and you get free upgrades to 4.0 or 4.1 (way cheaper then buying the upgrade anywhere)

Yes, thats what I said!!!

TSupport is a hell of a lot of money for what you get. Most organisations would rather rely on a specialised service provider who can support the solution for them in house without the need for TSupport or support from the mobile network (which is always inadequate).

An upgrade CD costs: $999/server

Tsupport costs: Tx1 $499US/server/year + active Client Access License (CAL) fee (starting at $19US/active CAL/year)**

You do the math.

I see what you're getting at, but all you're doing is comparing the cost of the server - from RIM - and then comparing to the cost of TSupport - from RIM.

There are other places to buy it, and get support with it. For example, we'll discount servers to (sometimes) below cost if we're taking on a client that's going to generate voice and data revenue through BlackBerry connections. We also offer free installations (networks for example charge £750 a day for a qualified on site engineer) and then we offer free ongoing email and phone support for the server, devices and the phone lines - a one stop shop for all. Some companies prefer that route to buying servers and server support from RIM, then buying devices and lines from a mobile carrier.

I'm not attempting to pedal my companies wares here, but I'm pointing out that just because you can get a discount from RIM if you buy T Support doesn't mean it works as the only route for everyone. For example some carriers will charge you nothing for the BES, but you're line rental on connections will claw back that revenue for the network.

I think the important thing to remember here is that when you're purchasing BES you're not just buying a server, you're buying a solution that includes server software, devices and mobile lines and therefore there are a lot of costs to factor in. Even existing BES customers are likely to expand their user base when upgrading and will need to consider line rental costs.

Yeah I agree, I just want to say that Tsupport is a great deal instead of purchasing upgrades.