We have some good news for North American BlackBerry users this morning as RIM has finally completed its upgrade to BIS 2.6. This means not only can all of you non-corporate types can have a watered-down glimpse of BES life with one-way IMAP Gmail synchronization and the ability to change your email signature on the go via the BIS WAP site, but you can also do something that no self-respecting BES admin would ever let you do by choosing not to black out your password characters. In case you forgot what else BIS 2.6 brings to the table, feel free to hit up the jump and for a quick refresher course — but before you do we have to clear one thing up: if you want to be able to make use of IMAP Gmail, you have to delete your account and re-add it from within your BIS admin.
- Display of password characters
- BlackBerry smartphone users have the option to display password characters when configuring email addresses with the BlackBerry Internet Service. This feature makes it easier for BlackBerry smartphone users to integrate third-party email addresses, especially when using a BlackBerry smartphone with the SureType® input method.
- Improved descriptive support and error messages
- BlackBerry smartphone users that have integrated a third-party email account using Post Office Protocol (POP) receive a personal identification number (PIN) message that includes instructions on how to leave email messages on the messaging server for successful delivery to the BlackBerry smartphone.
- Option to change signatures from the BlackBerry smartphone
- BlackBerry smartphone users that use Wireless Application Protocol (WAP) automatic login can change the signatures for email messages using the BlackBerry smartphone.
- Improved language support
- Dutch is now an available language for the BlackBerry Internet Service 2.6.
- Gmail integration using IMAP
BlackBerry Internet Service 2.6 uses Internet Message Access Protocol (IMAP) to integrate Gmail® webmail accounts. This integration protocol introduces the following benefits:
Elimination of sent email messages appearing as received email messages in the message list on the BlackBerry smartphone
- One-way synchronization of read status, sent items, and deleted items.
- To use these improvements, BlackBerry smartphone users must remove and reintegrate their Gmail webmail accounts.
