Sync to BlackBerry

This article continues our series on how to keep your contacts and calendars in sync between your mobile device and your computer.   In our first installment, we considered the challenges faced by real estate professionals and others who work away from their desks when it comes to keeping their data synchronized across multiple devices.  We’ve considered how to work on the go with iPhones and a Mac.  We’ve also looked at products and services offered by Google to keep mobile workers organized.

Today, we look at the BlackBerry and the options BlackBerry users have when it comes to getting synchronized.

The BlackBerry is the granddaddy of the synchronized smartphones, the first to use wireless technology to help busy people keep their handheld device in sync with their desktop computer.  But being the first doesn’t necessarily make it the easiest to work with.  In fact, depending on how you get your mail and what you’re trying to sync, you have quite a maze of possible solutions.  I’ve attempted to summarize some of them below.

BlackBerry Enterprise Server (BES). If your brokerage gives you an e-mail account, they probably offer you Microsoft Outlook through what’s known as an exchange server.  There’s probably an IT administrator and that person is responsible for setting up the software that lets you sync your BlackBerry and for making sure you have access to it.  If you’re in this situation, you have automatic, over-the-air synchronization between your BlackBerry and Outlook. In many respects, this is the best of all possible worlds:  you put out very little effort yet your e-mail, calendars and contacts all stay in sync.

BlackBerry Hosted E-mail.  Because BES provides the easiest syncing solution, you may wish you could do it that way even though your organization doesn’t provide it.  Enter the hosted e-mail solution.  Purchase a personal, hosted e-mail account and you get many of the advantages of being connected to an enterprise server, including having your e-mail pushed out to your smartphone and automatic, over-the-air syncing.  The cost is in the $10-$20 per month range.  Thinkpost Communication and Exchange My Mail are two companies that offer individual e-mail hosting plans.

BlackBerry Internet Service (BIS). If your mail isn’t coming from a server at the office (or even if it is), BlackBerry can work with your mobile phone company to push your email to you through its BlackBerry Internet Service (BIS).  BIS can accommodate up to ten e-mail addresses.  These can be Internet e-mail accounts like Yahoo or Hotmail; or they can be POP and IMAP accounts that come from your Internet service provider; or they can be accounts that come from an exchange server.  If your e-mail service allows it, BIS will automatically sync the e-mail between your phone and your desktop.  Then use your USB cable to sync your calendar and other data between your phone and your desktop.  Get more info here, or contact your Internet service provider.

Gmail. Google offers its own solutions to people who want to sync Google contacts, calendars or e-mail.  If you use Gmail, get the Gmail Mobile App.  Or better yet, download and install the Enchanced Gmail Plug-in on your BlackBerry.  Then use Google Sync to synchronize your contacts and calendar wirelessly over the air.