What are the advantages of using a 9000 on a BES vs. using AT&T's BIS?

I currently have an 8700 on BES(work email, schedual, contacts etc.) and a pearl( for Personal email) on BIS. I see do difference in email capabilitiles or browsing between my 2 current devices.

I have 2 devices because my work strips these devices of many many features. I am looking to replace the pearl which i use for personal email(gmail), web browsing, Blackberry messenger, camera.

If I use the Bold on BIS, what am I giving up?

If i should get BES hosting, what is the best way to do it? I am not concerned about cost.

On BIS you give up wireless sync of email, contacts, and calendar. You also lose the ability to have your BB wiped remotely if it's lost or stolen. You also lose having work pay for your data plan. There are some third party solutions for most of these features (but not getting somebody else to pay for your data). I don't know how effective any of them are, however.

You gain not having a corporate IT policy put onto your device. Depending on how restrictive your company's policy is, this can be a big deal or a very minor thing.

I believe my email does synch wirelessly(atleast how I define it). When I delete an email on by bis powered device, it also deletes from my gmail inbox. I previously used comcast email, that was delayed and didn't sync at all.

My companies security policy is very restrictive with things like: we are limited to what web sites we can access, we can't add other email addresses to device, and worst of all NO TEXT MESSAGING!! All our emails are also reviewed. We also have to reenter a password constantly to access the device (very annoying while driving) even to use phone.

With BIS i can still access word & excell files.

Can onlyone think of any other negatives using AT&T BIS?

Nothing wrong with BIS, but here are some plusses for hosted BES.

Real time OTA PIM sync (all apps) means everything's current without manual intervention, and - big bonus - you can see your Sent items. (No restrictions that I've noticed with Default IT Policy BTW).

Other goodies abound, for instance everything's backed up on the server, and an EA restores all your settings incl filters etc. And then there's the useful but oddly named Remote Wipe.

If as you say, cost is not an issue, hosted BES must be the way to go.

Another plus for BIS - on BES nothing is personal ! Based upon what I have heard and read, not even your personal mail if the company really wants to pry, they can. Not to say they will but they could.

The biggest plus for me with BES is the ability to save mail to folders and see them on the BB after saving them. Unless I was doing something wrong I could never do that with BIS. But the ability to sync wirelessly my contacts, tasks and notes is a big plus.

BES = emails, contacts, tasks and calendars are synced and reconciled to your Outlook. Security is high, and the device can be remotely administered as well as we(me, being a BES admin) can view anything, and I do mean anything, done on the device.

BIS = only emails sync and not 100% sure if it's reconciled. Nothing's locked down but there's no security should your device get lost. If your company has a policy to change your password after ## days, you must updated on your BIS account or email sync stops. <- This does not happen on a BES.

you can search contacts via BES
and apply group policies
and you can even remotely wipe the device

I have my 8830 connected to a BES Server and I pay for it myself, but it is great. The biggest item for me is everything syncs always! My email is very important, but so is my schedule, contacts and tasks.

I use Exchange My Mail for my BES service (and they have been great - had them for 2-3 years) - you need to purchase an Exchange mailbox and then add the BES service for around $10/month. I have owned many other devices and had "FUN" with syncing them, but my Blackberry's have been great and always ready to go. The other bonus that was mentioned is that if you loose or upgrade your BB then you can just to an enterprise activation and everything is on the new device and ready to go.

PS - I also have many sub folders for my emails (clients) and can move them from the inbox to the appropriate folder from my BB - don't know if this can be done with BIS. Hope this helps!

Mike