I've tried searching Google all night for this answer, and I can't find a definitive answer. Here's the scenario:

I had T-Mobile with my Blackberry Pearl, the 19.99 Blackberry Data plan. This was permanently tied to their BIS server, correct?

I had T-Mobile unlock my phone, and yesterday ported my number to Cincinnati Bell. I also called T-Mobile to remove my PIN from the BIS server. I have not registered my Blackberry with Cincinnati Bell's BIS server yet. I do have Cincinnati Bell's "BlackBerry Internet Service Unlimited" plan, however there is a higher end plan, but the sales people couldn't answer if I must have that to work on a BES or what the difference even was.

I would like to tie my Pearl into my 1-user BES Express server, is this possible in my situation? Is it the BIS service books that block me from using BES? Or are the service books in providers basic set the ones that stop me from using a BES? If I don't register with the providers BIS, is it possible to use a BES? Are there any service book leftovers I should look to delete?

Why do providers charge MORE to run less services? If I'm running my own BES and Exchange, they don't need to do anything but provide basic Blackberry services and GPRS! Seems odd to me. I work in IT and I'd like to play around with my own personal BES server, but it's not worth having an expensive 'enterprise' account.

>I would like to tie my Pearl into my 1-user BES Express server, is this possible in my situation?

It is possible if your blackberry data plan allows to use BES. It is sometimes called 'enterprise plan.'

>Is it the BIS service books that block me from using BES?

Service books block nothing.

>Or are the service books in providers basic set the ones that stop me from using a BES?

Service books block nothing. You pay CinBell for service, they tell RIM what to enable for your blackberry, when your blackberry connects to RIM server (they all do) that server makes decision to block or allow BES data traffic to your device.

>If I don't register with the providers BIS, is it possible to use a BES?

Yes, if your blackberry data plan allows it.

>Are there any service book leftovers I should look to delete?

No, service books block nothing.

>Why do providers charge MORE to run less services?

This must be rhethorical question. If not, the answer should come from business 101: because they can.

Thanks for the info, looks like I misunderstood service books.

I guess I won't waste time trying to get BES to work!

Basically what happens with BIS is irrelevant when it comes to BES. The only time one can preclude the other is when you're on a BES and the BES admin has enacted an IT Policy prohibiting the use of BIS.

If you have a BIS data plan you can only use BIS. In general, if you have a BES data plan you can use BES and BIS (the exception being the IT Policy noted above). Not using a BIS account doesn't mean that you can use the data plan for BES. This is precisely why carriers have separate BIS and BES data plans.

Again -- because they can. However, I've never seen a case where a carrier "charged more to run less". I've seem them charge more for the same (e.g. TMO versus Cingular). Can you provide an example? What would be "less" than a BIS data plan anyway??

I was talking about how T-Mobile wants $30/mo for BES access, but only $20/mo for BIS only. Cincinnati Bell is $40 for BES, $30 for BIS only.

At least at my organization, any BES user we have only uses BES. I know I don't understand the full carrier Blackberry infrastructure, but if only using BES the carrier wouldn't need the servers to push POP/IMAP to my phone as the BES server would be doing that. The carrier would just be providing GPRS/EDGE data services, plus essential RIM services. The only counterargument I can think of would be the cost of the additional data syncing, maybe the added data traffic is the reason for the higher costs.

It seems to me there would be much less to support since an internal IT department would be supporting the BES and users. The carrier wouldn't get as many support calls from users, as they might for BIS only customers.

Now if the carrier is supporting BIS in addition to the user using BES, then there would be additional costs.

Bottom line: I just wish I didn't have to pay $40 just to play around with BES Express. I was just curious if there was a workaround to make that happen with a cheaper data plan. I suppose I'll just be happy with push email.

thanks for all the great information. very informative

Don't forget, for that increased cost for BES, you also get wireless contact and calendar updates and email reconciliation, none of which you have with the cheaper BIS.