Smashing the BlackBerry myths

Posted on 28 Jan 2010 at 11:34

Paul Ockenden smashes some common myths about the way BlackBerrys handle email

BIS is fairly straightforward, but there’s far more to a BES setup. It maintains two connections to the BlackBerry NOC, one from the handheld and one from the BES server that runs within the company’s internal IT infrastructure, which enables the BlackBerry to communicate directly with the BES server – and, unlike BIS, such communication is well encrypted. By default it uses triple DES (or 3DES) with two 56-bit keys (one of these keys is used twice, hence triple DES).

The BES administrator can also configure the server to use 256-bit AES instead of 3DES, which is even more secure and near-impervious to a brute-force attack using current PC technology. I’ve seen it quoted that a network of 100 billion PCs, each running continuously at 100GHz, would take 1,047 years to crack a single AES-256 key by brute force. That’s why AES-encrypted BlackBerrys tend to be approved for use by military and government agencies.

I’ve seen it quoted that a network of 100 billion PCs, each running continuously at 100GHz, would take 1,047 years to crack a single AES-256 key by brute force

For email the company BES server communicates directly with the company mail system – be that Microsoft Exchange (going back as far as version 5.5), Lotus Domino or Novell GroupWise – to provide direct synchronisation of mailboxes, tasks, calendars, contacts and notes between the mail server account and the handheld device.

This integration is neat: open an email on your BlackBerry while watching your mailbox in Outlook, and you’ll instantly see the message marked as read. The real beauty of a BES-based setup is that because the server sits inside the corporate firewall, and because of the end-to-end security, the phone can easily gain access to any internal IT system. Plus, because it’s talking to the normal corporate email system, all messages both in and out are passed through your favourite spam, virus and content-filtering facilities.

So, going back to Jon’s blog post, you can see why such talk of native POP3 and IMAP support is silly, and why anyone who suggests that a BlackBerry “needs to have Exchange support instead of that crap of a BlackBerry server” has no idea what they’re talking about.

It’s that “crap of a BlackBerry Server” that allows an end-to-end encrypted link into your Exchange Server, and without it you’d be confined to doing SSL-based ActiveSync-style communication with the mail server, which is far less secure and gobbles up far more data bandwidth.

Having said that, if for some reason you can’t get direct access to your mail server (perhaps you’re using Hosted Exchange) then there’s an ActiveSync product available for BlackBerrys anyway – take a look at NotifySync.

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User comments

Sounds fun

Doesn't it all cost a lot though? Is it worth paying all that extra for the Blackberry server when other phones can provide Exchange support without the extra server?

By windywoo on 1 Feb 2010

Yes it does.

Yup it does cost a lot if you want to use it properly - an extortionate amount. Vodafone typically charge around +£25 per month for BES on top of the usual rental.

You can connect up BIS to OWA (similar to activesync) but then you don't get contacts or calendars. Instead you have to put on a flavour of BES server, which is bulky to say the least, making it particularly ill-suiuted to small businesses that don't have lots of spare servers. (or prefer not to bog down their existing servers)

Active sync does it all over SSL, for no additional cost, no additional licensing, and no server overhead.

BES is more secure & fits well in a big corporate environment, but the cost/support issues for small businesses make it a really bad fit for small businesses. Unfortunately most people only find this out after being duped by the salesman.

By justme on 1 Feb 2010

Yes, it does cost more

BIS is typically a fiver, BES a tenner. You can get discounts on both of those, or pay substantially more if you go to the wrong network.

Is it worth the extra? Depends really. If you need the extra security then yes, it's worth it. If you're prepared to pay a slight premium for an easy and robust email platform then yes, it's worth it.

If you just want to make phone calls and send occasional texts then no, it's probably not worth it.

Another thing to factor in is that data is included in the BlackBerry charge, and the system has very efficient data usage. So you might pay an extra fiver, but be able to remove the £10 data bolt on that you're currently paying for.

By PaulOckenden on 1 Feb 2010

Biggest DISadvantage

I would beg to disagree. The Blackberry phones are very good handsets, but for the end-user this 'Push-email' feature is their biggest detraction.

A phone with a proper POP/IMAP email client is infinitely more useful. This puts the user in control of which accounts are checked, when, and what is downloaded to the phone.

BIS/BES takes that control away from you, and places it in the hands of an ISP or network sysop at some remote location.

I don't want Outlook integration, or a (blasted) bell going-off in my pocket every time I am emailed about some piffling matter. I do want to be able to control what email my phone downloads, and when. A Blackberry handset, despite its sophistication in other regards, cannot meet this (very basic) requirement.

By Anteaus on 8 Feb 2010

Flexible

I run a BES on our email system. Paid one off fee for the BES software and the additional client licenses. NOT monthly fees.
Blackberry only pushes the smaller stuff and retrieves larger attachments when user requests to view.
BB device can be configured not ping you every time you receive an email unless that's what you want!
Found Blackberry costs in certain countries (e.g Italy) to be MUCH cheaper than Intellisync devices due to the device polling and charging structure in some networks.
Additionally Google support for BB devices is good. Aggregate all your email and sync to the phone along with calendar and maps.

By alabra on 11 Feb 2010

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Paul Ockenden

Paul is a contributing editor to PC Pro specialising in smartphones, mobile broadband and all things wireless. He's technical director of a combined IT and marketing company, which works on websites and intranets for several blue-chip clients.