I have a 7250 on a BB server and just got the Pearl today. Without my evil IT person's help, is there a way to transfer my one BES activation to mynew phone?

It seems odd that they won't support the Pearl, as long as they've done the work, they can regulate it via the IT Policy to conform to security standards... It's not like it's running that insecure POS 'BlackBerry Connect' software...

You could try saying you got your password wrong 10 times, or you accidentally wiped your 7250, and ask them to issue you a wireless activation email.

The major downside is the second it checks in with the BES, it says that it is an 8100, and there is no way to lie, so if your admins are looking and vengeful, you're doomed!

-mb

I agree completely...they'd control the device, not me. It is a big place and they want to ensure that there is consistency. I don't blame them for that but too much is too much.

If this doesn't work and I can't convince them, is there still any way to sync my work email and calendar while not on the BES? To make things more difficult, I don't have install access on my laptop to add desktop mgr 4.2.

IS BES access controlled by the device or the sim card? I have a BB with access as I mentioned. Can I transfer anything easily (BES passwords or access) from this BB to the 8100 on my own? Is this possible?

You can try loading the most recent version of BlackBerry desktop manager on a PC - probably the one in the office - that you can connect to your Exchange Server from - to get your e-mail/calendar/contacts over outlook.

Then connect your current Blackberry via USB. If you already have Desktop manager and have already connected your Blackberry while Desktop Manager is running you may not need to go through this step.

Desktop manager will then recognise your 7130 as being associated to your outlook account.

Close desktop manager, disconnect the 7130 and connect the 8100 via the USB cable.

Then reopen Desktop Manager which should notice that a device with a different PIN has been connected and ask you whether you want to change devices.

Say yes. Then it will probably ask you to move your mouse around to generate a new encryption key.

When finished, stay connected for a while (15-30 mins) while the activation takes place.

This should work unless it's been specifically blocked.

Daniel

I am on the BES Admin's side. I am the BES Admin for my company (we have about 700 devices and 4000+ employees) and I actively restrict all models that are not on our standards list.

I do this because I am the lone supporter of all BlackBerry devices in my firm. Its hard enough to support the 700 users that use the standard devices. (We use the 7200 and 8700 series)

With BES 4.2 SP1 I can lock out certain models. It wont let them activate. So if someone has DTM on their PC and just tries to sync up and change PINs, it wont work. Many people have tried to "game" the system, but they come up empty. I have had at least 20 people call me up trying to lie to me about their password, etc. I usually give them the activation info, knowing full well what they are trying to do. 30 mins later they call me and be honest.

This time of year is when it happens most. Wives and girlfriends think its cool to buy their significant other a nice new BlackBerry for Xmas.

I dont do it to be mean or Nazi-ish, its purely in the interest of a predicatable, more reliable BlackBerry experience for the end-users.

Remember that you work for a company and the BlackBerry is not yours, its the company's device. They reserve the right to tell you what you can and cannot use on their system. When people start to get aggressive with me on it, I tell them their choice is that if they dont like it, they can go work somewhere else. People are always out to test the limits.

My $0.02
Greg

I want to check to make sure that I understand completely.

If I have desktop mgr 4.2 on my work computer, I sync my current BB that is on the BES. I then close the desktop mgr and open it back up with it connected to the 8100. Follow the steps.

If I follow this process and the 8100 isn't specifically blocked (I doubt it is blocked they just wont buy it for anyone) will it transfer over the BES connectivity as well? I won't need a new BES password and will be good to go?

Thanks for the help so far.

Another BES admin here...

You can do whatever you want, but your device model shows up in the BES console. Even if they aren't blocking it, they will know you have it, and you will be unsupported.

Additionally, they may not have their BES up to date enough to support some of the functionality of your 8100, it seems kind of lame to get the pearl and not be able to use it to the fullest extent.

Listen to your IT folks they are trying to HELP you and keep you from hurting yourself.

Good luck.

Yes, as stated, the BB Manager will recognize you have a new PIN and offer to switch your account over to it. Then it will go through the activation and you should be all set (providing they have not blocked it).

On to the BES Admin discussion. I am the sole administrator for about 500 BB's on our company BES and I personally don't care what BB the user requests. If they want to use it and I can get it (and their dept agrees to pay for it), I'll obtain it. Its part of my job to be proficient in administering all of them, especially since the older units are starting to drop like flies and I am replacing at least a few of the 6230's we have left each month. We now use mostly 7290's, but since T-Mobile is phasing them out, more users will be receiving the 8700g. While the OS on the newer devices like the 8100, 8700 and the 71XX series may be different looking, they all basically operate the same way. I give everyone the same training when they receive their Blackberry. One rule that I stick to (since I can) is that first time users DO NOT get a BB from the 71xx series. Learning the Blackberry as a new user is hard enough without having to learn SureType at the same time. Once they are comfortable using the Blackberry after 6 months, I accept requests for 71xx devices. I dont accept any outside Blackberrys. If your using it on our system, then we are issuing it to you. I do a check every few weeks to make sure the user is using what has been assigned to them.

Part of the problem is that our exec's see someone from a different company using a newer model and they want one. I cant say no, and the Director of my dept cant say no. The VP/CIO tries to say no, but when the CEO says to buy it, we dont have much choice.

I'm not a BES Admin but a BB admin for about 30 users. I agree with all of the above....except for the part about it being difficult to learn SureType the first time with a BB. I've trained about 25 new BB users on 7100t's and the SureType is usually the least of their problems. SureType takes about 20 minutes to basically figure out and about a week to really get the hang of and be quick with. I just tell the user the basics of it then ask them to spend 10-15 minutes with the typing tutorial and everyone gets it. The ones that have the most difficulty with SureType are the ones trying to move from a Qwerty BB to a SureType BB. They can't stand the SureType while the ones that learn it from scratch, love it.

My $.02

John

Does it actually have to be desktop mgr 4.2 or can it be done with version 4.1.1.9?

It should work just fine with that version, although I like to keep my Desktop Manager at the latest release. As long as you have admin rights on your pc, it wont hurt to download the latest DM for the Pearl.

That is flawless... I had no idea that existed.

Where is this setting? Does it work to lock out Blackberry Connect devices? I'm the BES Architect, but there are a bunch of HD people that have rights to add users and activate devices. They know they're not supposed to do it, but I want to enforce it...

Thanks,

-mb

I couldn't do it with 4.1.1.9 as it didn't recognize that the pearl was connected.

That said, I asked our IT person for some help and he installed 4.2 and let the Pearl activate on the BES. He couldn't get over how great a device the pearl was. The transfer was seamless and took about 10 minutes.

Thanks to everyone for their opinions and help.

Ok so I'm gonna chuck a little more BES admins view into this mix....

1) It's your device so if It "Disallow 3rd party" apps which prevents you from loading xxyyzz games is that 'fair' - my view is yes it is as it's a tool thats
connected to the office network, therefore needs to be controlled as such
and frankly there's not a lot that end-users can do about it once the policy is applied (apart from whinge..)

2) Does the same apply to camera etc/media files etc

3) No IT Admin worth their name will let you leave the company without them wiping the device first - after all it contains company data...but this will nuke all your personal contacts and as you'll be kicked off the BES then you wont have a backup...even if you do go out the door and they find out a 'kill command' will wipe the device faster than you can say 'boo'

4) Ensure that as part of the wipe-down when leaving process they apply a completely "unlocked" IT policy, as otherwise you'll end up carrying the old IT policy on your device even if you left 2 months ago...(and haven't gone to a BES in newco)

bb

IMO, these are all excellent reasons why everyone who is concerned about these things, and is able, should fork over the extra money and use a personally owned device. I also work IT (software development) and I've got to tell you: I will sprout wings before I allow myself to be hamstrung on a daily basis by policies that have less to do with user convenience than with ease of administration. (No offense to you admins... I'm just used to bending technology to suit my devious and diabolical ends. Being locked down won't do.)

Besides, my 8100 isn't just for work. I use it for all sorts of things.

Writing my first BB app at this moment...

Yup, it works great. Im travelling right now, and cant remember the name of the button to click, but I can get that later for you.

You can easily block BB Connect devices simply by blocking the 6xxxxxxx PIN range. All BBC devices use that PIN range, as far as I have seen.

The only problem with blocking by model is that you have to connect the model you want to block at least once, then you have the option to block it. I wish you could just type in "8100" or whatever you want to block.