I read about the BES, do I have to have BES to really enjoy the features of a BB? I will not be getting mine through work, but on my own. I'd still like to sync calendar, contacts, tasks,etc in Outlook. Just wanted to know if I really needed to use BES...it is possible I will have access to BES, but I'm not sure. All I can say is my company is not giving me a blackberry....

thanks!

Wirelessly posted (8700g: BlackBerry8700/4.2.1 Profile/MIDP-2.0 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/100)

No, you do not.

If you are allowed to put your blackberry on the company BES, do some research. There may be negatives for you.

You can sync the blackberry with Outlook using Desktop Manager. Whether you can do this with your employer's computer depends on what privileges you have (i.e. Can you install and executable?)

You do not have to have BES to enjoy your BB.

BES adds wireless instant syncing if mail, messages, and contacts, memos, tasks and calendar.

BIS syncs contacts, memos, tasks and calendar via the USB cable. BIS does not sync mail and messages except a few cases with yahoo, gmail and using Redirector on the BB.

The BB has become an excellent stand-alone PDA/phone so BES is not a necessity to enjoy the Blackberry experience. BIS is all you need.

BES is more beneficial for a corporate environment where you gotta have calendar up to date to the minute and full management on your mailbox.

If all you need is realtime email then BIS is all you need. You can still sync your contact/calendar with Outlook when connected to your computer.

Thanks everyone! Sorry for the crazy questions...just trying to learn. I've joined the BB lounge, this site, Yahoo BB, Crackberry...just reading as much as I can. I think the monthly investment is going to be much larger than my $79 now...so I'm just learning! Thanks!

In case no one else has suggested it: Check out Main Page - BlackBerryFAQ.com

Thanks! I'm reading it now!

Also, http://home.comcast.net/~tamsterra/B...Model_Tips.pdf