[philbo]

[roofus]

[kleenexbox]

[jsmmd]

In theory, couldn't someone code an open source BES server? I'm aware that certain aspects of RIM's IP could be potentially violated, but making a server that communicates with the BlackBerry isn't illegal, stealing code, using their DLLs, etc, would be.


I keep thinking about this, figured I ask...

-me

PS - I'm a RIM shareholder too, so don't think I'm out to get the company. I'm a really big fan of their performance since I bought the stock back in 99. :D

[corey@12mile]

if someone out there *was* able to get the encryption broke to the point where they could make a bes server, they'd be making a lot more money working for some government.

BES is not a simple app, and is not something that somebody will ever make a clone of, as it stands right now.

[jsmmd]

I guess I'm missing something here. I'm aware that the communication between the device and the server is encrypted. I'm assuming that's what you're referring to.

I was thinking if we could dispense with that aspect and establish a method for the device, via BB application, to communicate over the existing communications stack to another server, is the "always on" mode, similar to BWC, or the BES, delivering email into the device's mail store.

May similar to Winsock Proxy Client on a MS Win PC???

I'm I missing something here, if so reply and say so...


Thx,

-me

[corey@12mile]

That's more of an interesting thought, but in order to do that you would have to hijack the tcpip stack so to speak and then have it redirect all traffic through to the proxy... I still don't know how well you would get a push application to work with something along the line of that but ya just never know...

[arconsulting]

The key stumbling block in my view would be the communication. The BES doesn't talk directly to the device but to RIM's relay.

While theoretically possible, it would be an enormous effort.

[Mark Rejhon]

The BES is also RIM's bread and butter .... Without BES, BlackBerry wouldn't even exist today in its well-developed manner.

An open source BES would probably be impossible without RIM's cooperation. The next best thing would be a replacement infrastructure like Goodlink. Basically, it would use an alternate infrastructure.

However, RIM is also very picky of this. RIM won't be happy with any competition for BES...

[jsmmd]

Isn't it competition that typically makes products better?

Theory of evolution, etc...

[jsmmd]

So just to clarify this, the data flow for an email via the BB default apps via BWC is:

Blackberry -> [through mobile network carrier] -> [through mobile RIM's relay's] -> (Over the big internet) -> [to my mail server]

I am right on that?

[corey@12mile]

You are partially correct. For any type of mail related, or pin related communication, that is the case. For straight up TCP/IP communication the blackberry will do the bb -> carrier -> carriers GGSN -> internet path, which is why you can have a blackberry with just a data plan and still use it for some web/wap browsing and stuff.