BlackBerryNews.com

Friday

BlackBerry Internet Service 2.5 … Yes, HTML Email!

I don’t know about you, but I’ve been waiting a LONG time for this – we’re talking YEARS! Leaked versions of the beta OS 4.5 have been popping up all over the place and Rogers has finally delivered a device with 4.5… and now RIM is rolling out BIS 2.5 to APAC tomorrow.

So what do we get with BlackBerry Internet Service version 2.5 anyhow? Read on for an overview of the new and exciting features.

Attachment downloading in the native file format
BlackBerry Internet Service subscribers can save, edit, upload, and transfer attachments in their native file formats. For a list of supported native file format attachments, see KB15253. BlackBerry Internet Service 2.5 subscribers can edit native file format attachments using embedded or third-party applications. This feature requires BlackBerry Device Software 4.5.

HTML email message viewing
Subscribers can view HTML email messages on their BlackBerry smartphones, including the following file types:

• Graphics and photos, including the following:
  • Embedded images and tables
  • External images
  • Active hyperlinks
• Paragraph formatting, including the following:
  • Numbering
  • Bulleted lists
  • Justification
  • Indentation
• Font formatting, including the following:
  • Font type
  • Color
  • Size
  • Effects (italics, bold)

This feature requires BlackBerry Device Software 4.5. For instructions on configuring HTML email message viewing and automatic downloading of embedded images and tables, see KB15254.

Note: For security reasons, externally linked images must be manually retrieved using the menu key.

Important: HTML content cannot be created when forwarding, replying to, or composing a new email message. Rich text formatting will be retained when forwarding or replying to HTML messages.

Support for Windows Live™ Hotmail® integration
Integrating a Windows Live Hotmail email account results in the following:

• Real-time delivery of email messages replaces the standard 15 minute polling interval
• No restrictions; all Windows Live Hotmail accounts can be integrated

Note: Some wireless service providers do not support integration with Windows Live Hotmail. Contact your wireless service provider for information on availability.

Windows Live Hotmail email accounts integrated using BlackBerry Internet Service 2.4 or earlier must be deleted and then re-integrated to turn on the enhanced features. For instructions on removing and integrating email accounts to a BlackBerry Internet Service account, see KB04258 and KB03087, respectively.

Here’s to hoping that the RIM Maintenance scheduled for either this weekend or next weekend will bring some of the joy of BIS 2.5 to RIM’s largest customer base, North America.

Once RIM does roll out BIS 2.5 to North America, you won’t automatically get the new functionality.  You’ll need to upgrade to BlackBerry Internet Service 2.5 (which also includes upgrading to OS 4.5, when available).

Here are a some links to KB Articles RIM has published to help with this process:

• Upgrade the BlackBerry Device Software
• How to send the service books for the BlackBerry Internet Service
• Set up the BlackBerry Internet Service, BlackBerry mail and messaging, or BlackBerry Mail account (For new users)

BlackBerryForums.com already has a thread in progress discussing BIS 2.5; post any questions you might have related to BIS 2.5 there!

Post by BlackBerryForums User HDAWG