BES - device type restriction - anyway around it?
 

:smile:

I have a feeling I will get a lecture for this....

:smile:

I currently have an 8700 working just fine with my company's BES. However, I have recently purchased a used Pearl. Everything works fine on the Pearl except for Enterprise Activation. Come to find out, my company has a restriction on their BES to only allow 8700's on the BES server.

I also want to point out that i am able to run enterprise activation via Dekstop Manager without requiring a password (I plug the device in, it connects to exchange, and EA just starts automatically).

Anyone know of anyway around this? Here are ideas I have come up with (with no success):

1. Maybe device manager stores the hardware ID in the registry for the device. If so, can I change it to reflect an 8700?
2. Actually change the hardware id on the pearl (doubt it as it sounds like it is stored in the ROM). Please note -- I don't want to change the device id / PIN ... just the fact that the bb shows up as an 8100.
3. I am grasping at this one ... i know RIM exposes getDeviceName as a part of its API. Potentially write a little java app to do the equivalent of setDeviceName.?.

Thoughts? Other ideas?

It is also worth mentioning that I did try to Switch Device Wizard, and it did not work either....

Just from this statement alone, it would seem you already know the answer to this. If your BES admins have placed that restriction it's for a reason. If you try to circumvent their policy you risk your job. You would be better off to go talk to them. The 8700 will likely be discontinued soon (this year) so they won't be able to hold that restriction for much longer.

That being said, it's not possible to do what you ask.

You could always bribe the admin? I'm partial to cases of scotch, myself!

AFAIK there is no way to restrict from using a particular models. There's a way to restrict what device can be added to the BES based on the PIN.

As Aroc said, you might have to bribe the admin to add you.

I'd start by asking whoever's in charge why that restriction's in place. It might be that there's a good reason (software that'll only run on an 8700) or it might be just an oversight that they'd be happy to remove.

It is possible to whitelist certain PIN ranges and a Pearl will have a different PIN to an 8700. It's fixed to the device - not possible to change.

(a decent Islay malt such as a Lagavulin if you're offering, by the way)