BlackBerry BIS 2.8 feature list comes to light

By on Aug 28, 2009 at 9:20 AM
Software August 28, 2009

BlackBerry users, rejoice — it appears as though BIS will soon be upgraded to version 2.8 and a couple of long-awaited changes are coming along with it. BerryReview got its hands on an alleged change log for BIS 2.8, an update it says will begin rolling out on or around September 10th, and a few gems are found within:

  • Two-way wireless synchronization with Google Mail Contacts* and the Address Book on the BlackBerry smart phone:
    • Synchronize Google Mail contacts quickly and easily to the BlackBerry smart phone
    • Add or edit Contacts and the Contacts are automatically updated, whether they are updated on the computer or BlackBerry smart phone
    • Note: Two-way wireless Contact synchronization with Google Mail Contacts requires BlackBerry® Device Software 5.0 and configuration through email settings on the BlackBerry smart phone.  Additional requirements and constraints may be found within the BlackBerry Internet Service 2.8 Documentation Kit. This feature is not supported on BlackBerry smart phones with BlackBerry® Connectâ„¢ software.
  • Enhancements to email setup and settings:
    • Automatic Login now supports most billing identifiers, which allows new subscribers with wireless service providers that use PIN, IMEI, or ESN as a billing identifier to create BlackBerry Internet Service accounts from the BlackBerry smart phone, without having to create a login user name and password
    • Note: This feature will be available approximately one week after the BlackBerry Internet Service upgrade.
  • Windows Live Hotmail revalidation:
    • With BlackBerry Internet Service 2.8, new Windows Live Hotmail mail integrations will be defaulted to a protocol that is designed so as not to require 90 day reauthorization.
    • Note: Existing BlackBerry smart phone users accessing Windows Live Hotmail using Microsoft MSP will still be required to revalidate their Windows Live Hotmail account every 90 days.

Two-way Gmail contact sync will apparently not be push, but a scheduled sync every four hours. Fair enough — the integrated solution is still preferable over third party solutions. Either way, we’re much more interested in seeing two-way read status sync added across all IMAP accounts but that’s an entirely different post. Last item of note: OS 5.0 will be required for some of the functionality listed above, which could be a pretty solid indication of an imminent roll out.

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  • Fynx

    It seems like they just integrated Google’s products into BIS, yeah?

  • Stang68

    Nice! Hopefully OS 5.0 will be rolling out at the same time…with a Mac Desktop Manager!

  • jk

    Mac desktop manager would be fantastic. Hope Apple doesn’t kill it.

  • bobby b

    Niiiiiiiiiiiiice

  • KingZee

    Though a sync is scheduled for every 4 hours, will we still be able to reconcile manually?

  • http://www.upscaleswagger.com Upscale Swagger

    Can’t wait for the two-way wireless synchronization with Google Mail Contacts.

  • Lorne

    You have it right now

    it is called Google Sync

  • bob_az

    I currently use google sync and it is an excellent solution for the gmail contacts sync with the blackberry phone. In fact, based on the aforementioned updates, I’m not sure what the difference would be between this update and google sync.

    All of these Gmail oriented updates (this one in 2.8, the recently released Gmail plug-in) are nice I guess, but the Google released products like Google Sync and the Gmail app are in my opinion far superior to these solutions that BB is putting forth.

  • Jermajesty

    I am with you bob_az. Google sync works perfectly. All I need from BIS now is that changes in gmail are synchronized to the BB. Everything works from BB to gmail, but not gmail to BB. Two way works in with imap, but not with pop, and I can’t figure out how to get the new enhanced gmail inbox to take imap. It is like Chinese water torture.

  • Fred T.

    I was hoping they would fix the calendar functionality so that we could separate calenders on the blackberry the same way they are formatted on google calendar.

  • http://www.hernandezlawaz.com TechnoBeaver

    I agree with all above regarding google sync and wonder why this article makes no mention of it and how this may or may not be better.

  • http://www.twitter.com/jazzyl jazzyl

    Nice…..

    Sent via BlackBerry.

  • Jay

    Are we ever going to be able to accept a calendar appointment in Outlook on Exchange and have it show up on our BB calendar without having to accept it separately on the blackberry?

  • rederikus

    RIM/BlackBerry goes yet another light year ahead of the stupid iPod that makes phone calls.

  • Steve

    When are we going to get microsoft exchange support for customers using BIS. My coworkers get email, contacts, claendar support with their Iphones. I am having to go third party with google sync which causes double calendar entries and is a real pain for something that should be simple.

  • Steve

    When are we going to get microsoft exchange support for customers using BIS. My coworkers get email, contacts, calendar support with their Iphones. I am having to go third party with google sync which causes double calendar entries and is a real pain for something that should be simple.

  • bonesb

    Looking forward to this too.

    FYI, Google Sync isn’t working for me and it’s missing one key element, sync for changed calendar items from the BB to Google Calendar – one limitation of the service that drives me batty from time to time. Not seeing any forums showing me BIS 2.8 addresses calendar fixes for Google’s services but I’ll take what they give us.

  • bonesb

    Looking forward to this too.

    FYI, Google Sync isn’t working for me and it’s missing one key element, sync for changed calendar items from the BB to Google Calendar – one limitation of the service that drives me batty from time to time. Not seeing any forums showing me BIS 2.8 addresses calendar fixes for Google’s services but I’ll take what they give us.

  • Ryan

    What you guys are missing is how important BES for Exchange is to RIM’s bottom line. I would love to see BIS with full Exchange support, but adding that would take away the BES requirement for 90% of BES customers. RIM has to tread a fine line between giving BIS just enough functionality to compete with Apple and the like, and keeping their BES revenues. Until Apple takes enough market share from RIM for it to be worth losing their BES revenues, BIS will always remain severely handicaped. Sad too, because the Blackberry would be such a better device if the BIS competed with the iPhone and Pre with regard to syncing with a variety of services simultaneously.

  • Ben

    the biggest issue to me is the 15 minute delay on messages being delivered to gmail through imap on the bis. i really hope they figured this out on this update! anyone know?

  • KingZee

    @BEN:

    There is no 15 minute delay with gmail IMAP through BIS. It is instant push. Perhaps you’re using the gmail app (not to be confused with the gmail plugin). But there is not delay. It is an instant PUSH. You may want to check your settings.

  • Ben

    @KingZee

    Hey there – i definitely get delayed about 15 minutes and they come in bunches. I have POP off and its through IMAP (i followed google’s instructions)

    I will say that if i delete or read a message, that sync is instantaneous; its just delivery of new messages is affected…any ideas?

    i was reading somewhere about issues with the BIS and an “idle connection” with IMAP servers…perhaps that’s something. not sure

  • Ben

    Sorry for double post – and its through the BIS — i dont use the google gmail application

  • NokJAA

    Ys that would be nice… But then again Why RIM would sell less and less BES.. ;-)

    NokJAA

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