Does BlackBerry Require Hosted Exchange to Synchronize Business E-Mail

Mobile phone business users who have adopted Research In Motion’s BlackBerry smart phones wish to know if and how their business e-mail can be synchronized with their handsets.  First of all, it is not necessary to use Hosted Exchange to push business email to BlackBerry handsets.  However, a hosted BlackBerry Enterprise Server (BES) is required to connect the company’s mail server with the BlackBerry handset.

Due to the high penetration of Microsoft Exchange in business e-mail market, it is quite likely that a business may already be using Microsoft Exchange as its mail server, and if not, the business can purchase Hosted Exchange plans easily from application service providers.   The good news is that some hosted exchange server providers also host BlackBerry Enterprise Server (BES), and both servers together allow for a full range of features to the business users who may be using BlackBerry smart phones, Microsoft’s Windows Mobile devices, Palm, Nokia, Motorola, Samsung and Apple iPhones.

Today, e-mail is generally the first line of communication between employees and customers, therefore it is a critical communication tool for the successful growth of a business.  Permanent up-time and instant mobile access to e-mail is an absolute must in today’s business user.

The Blackberry Enterprise Server (BES) and Hosted Exchange ensure that Microsoft Outlook or other client mail software stays synchronized with BlackBerry client.  All additions and deletions which are made by one mail client are made in real time and they immediately reflect in the others.  This means that your important communications follow you regardless of where you are.  Hosted Exchange and ActiveSync enable a similar capability on Windows Mobile phones and Apple’s iPhone.

BlackBerry and BlackBerry Enterprise Server are the trademarks of Research In Motion.