One Exchange Client and Two BlackBerry Handsets

July 31, 2009

For a long time I’ve played by the RIM rules in believing that an Exchange email account can only be linked to one BlackBerry handset through a BES server. The wording is exactly right, but the ‘one handset’ limitation can be overcome with a little planning.

Here’s the environment that I’ve tested this on;

  • Windows Server 2003 R2 with all service packs
  • Exchange Server 2003 SP2 with all service packs
  • BlackBerry Enterprise Server 4.1.6.10

Other items you’ll need;

  • 1 spare Exchange CAL per user
  • 1 spare BES CAL per user
  • Spare BlackBerry handset – I’ve used 8310, 8320 and 9000
  • Spare BES actived SIM

How it works

  1. Create a new user in Active Directory (I used firstname2@domain.com for the email address)
  2. Create a new user on your BES Server and select firstname2@domain.com for that user
  3. Activate the spare BlackBerry with the SIM for firstname2@domain.com
  4. Finally enable email forwarding from the first account to the 2nd account

Exchange Email Forwarding

New email will start flowing to the 2nd BlackBerry as Exchange forwards it from the primary account to the secondary account.  Personal Address Book synchronisation can be achieved through a manual export and import, and the same with calendars.

Pitfalls

  • 2 mobile phone numbers, although one can be put on permanent divert to the other
  • 2 SMS locations – SMS messages cannot be routed from one SIM to another at the network level
  • Calendars – you’ll need to invite two users (firstname and firstame2) to the same meetings so the the entry appears on both handsets
  • 2 BlackBerry Messenger clients – this has caused confusion, with some people deleting the primary contact once the second handset added them
  • Handset rebuild – if you need to rebuild the primary or secondary handset, you MUST DISABLE email forwarding, otherwise the activation process on the handset doesn’t complete

Conclusions

This is by  no means an easy solution.  However if your users demand a 2nd handset for emergency email, it is possible.  Set the expectations right, and this just might save your bacon.

Leave a Comment » | BlackBerry Enterprise Server, Microsoft Exchange Server 2003, software | Tagged: , , | Permalink
Posted by Noel

LogMeIn? Not on your iPhone…

July 30, 2009

logmeinI’ve been a long time fan of LogMeIn and use it on a daily basis.  I’ve known for a while that the LogMeIn Rescue+Mobile product had the ability to remote control handsets, but I’ve never really had a need to use it on a mobile device.  Until now.

The launch of the iPhone 3G S has meant that execs are starting to compare it with the iconic BlackBerry Bold, and in some cases, switch to the iPhone completely since it negates the need for an iPod and a BlackBerry.  This in itself means that there will be more iPhone related support requests, and the need to perform hands on support with the device.

If LogMeIn Rescue+Mobile could remote control the iPhone, it would be an easy justification to buy the software.

The bad news is that it can’t.

After speaking with a LogMeIn tech based in the Netherlands, it was made clear that LogMeIn have approached Apple to do this, but Apple have refused.  I commented that it would be interesting to know if LogMeIn had submitted an app through the App Store and if Apple had refused it, and on what grounds.  I further stated that if LogMeIn users knew that the app would  work and iPhone remote control was technically feasible, there would be uproar from LogMeIn users.

The tech very eloquently replied that there might be litigation issues with comments from LogMeIn about this.

I’ve been using LogMeIn Ignition on the iPhone to control other computers for about a month now, and I have to say it’s a great product.  Knowing that I can get to any machine on my account from the iPhone is a real time saver, and users see the benefits immediately.  I don’t think it takes a great leap of imagination to think that LogMeIn haven’t developed an iPhone remote client app, and I feel that it would allow large organisations the opportunity to roll-out en-masse the iPhone handset knowing that hands-on support is just a phone call away.

I hope that Apple and LogMeIn can come to some sort of agreement in the future for this, as right now, it’s the only thing keeping me from buying LogMeIn Rescue+Mobile.

2 Comments | LogMeIn | Tagged: , | Permalink
Posted by Noel

Apple Tablet Hype?

July 29, 2009
There’s been a couple of interesting artcles about an Apple tablet device to be ready for
Christmas 09 from the Financial Times and PC World.  On the surface, this looks like a device
that will offer extra media content with enhanced sleevenotes from artists, and extras that
are found on DVD and Blu-ray disks today.
Looking solely at the device, iPhone already has many of the technolgies required to make this
product a reality.  The touch-screen is currently the best for any mobile device, and porting
this to a device with a 10″ screen wouldn’t be a technological problem.
The larger screen would however need more battery power, but with Apple’s experience in
delivering built-in batteries with a 7 hour capacity for the MacBook Air and the new 13″
MacBook Pro, again this isn’t a problem.
OSX has scaled from Mac Pro through Apple TV to the iPhone, so creating a derivative for this
new device is also feasible.
From an engineering perspective, the creation of the device and the operating system are
possible.  The question I’ve been discussing with people is ‘why would I want one?’  At the
moment I don’t think the Amazon Kindle or the Sony Reader are enough to make me want to give
up the feel of paper, and I don’t think Apple’s offering will do much to change that if eBooks
are their primary goal.
What about music and video?  My iPhone handles everything I need it to, and I’m happy watching
movies on the 3.5″ screen while travelling.
What about the touch-screen tablet being better than all the rest?  Tablets have always
suffered from input problems.  Apple clarly have an advantage in the wealth of experience
gleaned through the iPhone development process, but touch tablets appear more a commerical
device (for stock control or medical notes), than a consumer device.
On the surface, there doesn’t seem to be many compelling reasons to build this device.  But
Apple has a pedigree of creating revolutionary technology, it’s underneath the surface that
the interesting possibilities lie.
In 2004, Apple filed a patent for the ‘integrated sensing display’  which is basically a way
of capturing images using a techology hidden behind the screen.  Remember all those iPhone 3G
rumours about a forward-facing camera and iChat on the iPhone?  Well this patent was the
trigger.
When the iPhone 3G S launched in July there were many disapponted people as the changes were
evolutionary and not revolutionary.  However I think that the integrated sensing display
technology was probably too big to fit in the hardware footprint of the iPhone shell.  No
Apple exec will stand up and announce they’ve made a thicker iPhone, no matter what it can do.
Hence, a new device.  A touch screen computer combining the best of OSX, with the best of
iPhone hardware, wifi connectivity, potential Bluetooth tethering to an iPhone for 3G
connectivity, and a webcam hidden behind the screen so that iChat video conferences feel like
you’re looking eachother in the eye.
What we’re talking about isn’t just a tablet PC rival, it’s Apple.  Could portable, easy,
video conferencing for the masses be Steve Jobs’ crowning glory?

Apple Tablet?There’s been a couple of interesting articles about an Apple tablet device to be ready for Christmas 09 from the Financial Times and PC World.  On the surface, this looks like a device that will offer extra media content with enhanced sleeve-notes from artists, and extras that are found on DVD and Blu-ray disks today.

Looking solely at the device, the iPhone already has many of the technologies required to make this product a reality.  The touch-screen is currently the best for any mobile device, and porting this to a device with a 10″ screen wouldn’t be a technological problem.

The larger screen would however need more battery power, but with Apple’s experience in delivering built-in batteries with a 7 hour capacity for the MacBook Air and the new 13″ MacBook Pro, again this isn’t a problem.

Solid-state hard drives have been around for a while and again are an option across the MacBook range.

OSX has scaled from Mac Pro through Apple TV to the iPhone, so creating a derivative for this new device is also feasible.

From an engineering perspective, the creation of the device and the operating system are possible.  The question I’ve been discussing with people is ‘why would I want one?‘

At the moment I don’t think the Amazon Kindle or the Sony Reader are enough to make me want to give up the feel of paper, and I don’t think Apple’s offering will do much to change that if eBooks are their primary goal.

What about music and video?  My iPhone handles everything I need it to, and I’m happy watching movies on the 3.5″ screen while travelling.

What about the touch-screen tablet being better than all the rest?  Tablets have always suffered from input problems.  Apple clearly have an advantage in the wealth of experience gleaned through the iPhone development process, but touch tablets appear more a commercial device (for stock control or medical notes), than a consumer device.

On the surface, there doesn’t seem to be many compelling reasons to build this device.  But Apple has a pedigree of creating revolutionary technology, and it’s underneath the surface that the interesting possibilities lie.

As reported by AppleInsider, in 2004 Apple filed a patent for the ‘integrated sensing display‘  which is basically a way of capturing images using a technology hidden behind the screen.  Remember all those iPhone 3G rumours about a forward-facing camera and iChat on the iPhone?  Well this patent was the trigger.

When the iPhone 3G S launched in July there were many disappointed people as the changes were evolutionary and not revolutionary.  However I think that the integrated sensing display technology was probably too big to fit in the hardware footprint of the iPhone shell.  No Apple exec will stand up and announce they’ve made a thicker iPhone, no matter what it can do.

Hence, a new device.  A touch screen computer combining the best of OSX, with the best of  iPhone hardware, wifi connectivity, potential Bluetooth tethering to an iPhone for 3G connectivity, and a webcam hidden behind the screen so that iChat video conferences feel like you’re looking eachother in the eye.

What we’re talking about isn’t just a tablet PC rival, it’s Apple.  Could portable, easy, video conferencing for the masses be Steve Jobs’ crowning glory?

Leave a Comment » | Apple, Apple TV, MacBook Air, Tablet, hardware, iPhone 3G | Tagged: , , | Permalink
Posted by Noel