[jibi]

Just FYI, BES 4.1 will feature support for .wav file attachments. The attachments will be converted to a format that the handheld will be able to play. The handheld will also have to be at OS 4.1, which won't be available for another 6 months or so. But just so everyone knows and can share this with their executive leadership that keep asking for this functionality.

I do not know if this functionality will be included with BIS, but my guess is that, at first, it will not be supported.

They also will be fully supporting PowerPoint presentations on BES 4.1 and OS 4.1 (must be at both).

[greywolfe]

Jibi, do you know any specs on what size wav file is supported? And what versions of ppt?

[jibi]

nope, no details, unfortunately. from what i understood, the demand for wav file attachment conversion was based mainly on the VoIP phone solutions. those attachments are generally no larger than 20-50KB, if i'm not mistaken. i doubt it'll do more than 100KB converted, though (which would likely allow for a bit larger of a wav file). i'm curious as to what format they will be converting to that would be supported on the 7200 and 7100 series handhelds, or if those will be even be supported on OS 4.1 with this functionality since there are reports that the 8700 will support the mp3 format.

[greywolfe]

I wonder if mp3 support will bring with it the demon known as DRM *sighs*

[jibi]

i don't think DRM could be implemented with the open-sourced MP3 format, though. i'm sure a proprietary format could be established (WMA, AAC, etc), but not MP3 directly. i would imagine they will implement DRM on the default tunes, similar to what they are doing with the default images - who cares anyhow, though?

[greywolfe]

I do, since I work for Vodafone and they have a tendancy to enforce DRM mp3s on their branded devices :( They do it by software locking the handset to only allow DRM mp3s...its insanely annoying and frustrating, but what can you do?

Hopefully, since the Vodafone software changes on the blackberrys is fairly limited in its functionality/restrictions, this wont be possible.

[ptzchris]

one quick question......dumbass newbie here....i have a bb nextel 7520 does this mean when i upgrade to 4.1 i will be bale to put wav ringtones or is it only for specific bb

[xombi]

Wonder if BIS users will also get this when the next BIS changes occur (once we have 4.1 on the device of course, and assuming BIS still exists what with the current TM plans!)

[dpeters11]

Whoa, this is great news...one of my users most requested features (second only to being able to set Messages to Incoming only as the default.) Can't wait till they release 4.1 for the 7520 to try it out.

[jibi]

ptzchris, i would say not directly. the wav file support comes with conversion and compression. it won't be wav files that are on the BlackBerry. the Attachment Service on the BES will actually convert the wav file to another audio format that is compressed. so whatever that format ends up being will be built into the current audio and OS API. i'm not sure if it will play out of the earpiece speaker or what. i can imagine a few different ways of doing this, but i'm sure some handhelds will get left in the dark.

[dyzs]

Any update on this? I can see it in the BlackberryServer Configuration but it doesnt seem to be working at all no matter what the size of the file.

[noname]

... am just wondering... the wav file will have to be an attachment to a message?

[noname]

silly me... just went thru the Configurator panel, WAV is listed as one of the distiller for Attachment Server... please ignore.

[DoomBringer]

I could see this useful for those that have their voicemail forwarded via email. What is the attachment size limit in general, though? I haven't run across a hard number, so...

[jibi]

WAV file support was not included in BES 4.1. It will be supposedly be supported in SP1. More information will be known at that time. WAV files are currently supported in MMS from T-Mobile (maybe other providers, as well).

[dyzs]

Why would it be listed in the files types if there is no support for it in the BES?

[t3rror]

What is the projected SP1 release date? This feature is going to be a do-or-die for some organizations who have spent money on the VoIP systems. Something else to be on the lookout for is whether or not this will be compatible with exchange 12.

[jibi]

SP1 has been released; it does not support WAV file attachments, per RIM.

[t3rror]

Is there another solution that is permitting wav file attachments? I still find it hard to believe that RIM is not addressing this issue.

[jibi]

It really depends on your VM system, in some cases. Cisco Unity has BlackBerry support 'built-in' (uses MDS to connect back to an authentication-based site to have full functionality of the VM system). You also have the option of MetaMessage. You also have the option of simply forwarding the message to your phone via MMS (have a rule set up to forward emails from to ), although this will only work for messages up to a certain size, and completely depends on whether or not your carrier offers MMS for the BlackBerry devices (Cingular, I believe, does not; T-Mobile does; etc). And lastly, OS 4.2 should provide built-in, out-of-the-box support. In another thread, I mentioned that it is now my belief that BES *does* support WAV files (and has done so since BES 4.0 SP3 or so), however the OS 4.1 handhelds do not support it (no WAV file distiller locally on the handheld for DocViewer/Attachment Service).