Enterprise blackberry rollout questions... - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

shadrock · 07-08-2003, 07:01 PM

Anyone ever taken part in one of these? We are in the initial planning phases. 99% sure we will getting a BES and start distributing Blackberries by Q4. We are still evaluating how we will tackle this: whether we will give people devices or have them buy their own, using a single wireless provider, etc. We need to have extensive coverage, preferably worldwide which I know limits us on some of these choices.

Questions:
What blackberry models are you using?

What wireless provider are you using?

Any overall tips?

Thanks!!

heyal256 · 07-09-2003, 04:48 PM

I support blackberries at my job and was around during the actuly user rollout. A seperate division actually handles the blackberry backend, but here is what my company uses:
The 957 (palm sized)http://www.blackberry.net/products/r...57/index.shtml
and the 950 (pager sized)
http://www.blackberry.net/products/r...50/index.shtml

Most of our users prefer the 957 (palm sized) ones because they have a larger screen and have an internal rechargeable battery, the 950 (being smaller) is not as popular and you need to change the battery (AA sized) every month.

As far as the wireless provider, here in the US you will pretty much be stuck with Cingular.

As for personal recommendations, I would suggest that you look into one of the newer models with triband (worldwide) support.
http://www.blackberry.net/products/h...ds/index.shtml

Depending on what your company will pay for/what the execs in your company want, the phone feature is something that most of our users are interested in (along with the worldwides support). I think that these models are still in evaluation at my company though.

The BES is the way to go because the desktop redirector requires that the user's PC be on for their e-mail to be forwarded.

Some tips are that you should be using the latest blackberry software v2.1 or later (because it fixes an issue with syncing the e-mails on the blackberry with outlook/exchange, the older versions didn't sync the e-mail).
When installing the software on the users machine, you need to have the blackberry hooked up and in the cradle, then after the software is loaded and the desktop manager is running, you ned to go into the connection settings to detect the com port (not sure if this is needed on USB versions). IF the blackberry is NOT found, enter in the password on the blackberry and try again. After you do that then you need to go into the intellisync options and configure the calender/contacts/etc so that it syncs with the e-mail program you are using (outlook/notes/etc).

As you can tell I have done a lot of these installs at my job, but I hope that it helps you with the questions that you had.

shadrock · 07-09-2003, 05:21 PM

Thanks. The only thing we are close to being sure of at this point is that we will definitely be putting a BES in. To be discussed in a meeting this week is whether we will purchase blackberries for our users or let them purchase their own, also whether to let them pay for their wireless plans or to pick up the tab on our own. I doubt we will pay for voice though.

How long did it take your users to adapt to them? Did you provide training?

Thanks!

The Bolshevist · 07-10-2003, 02:19 PM

I used the 950 for a while when I worked at a driving school...not bad, although they ATE battery power. Main problem was coverage. Couldn't get a signal when everyone else was yakking on their cell phone.

Ashamed to say it is a Cdn. product.

heyal256 · 07-10-2003, 05:31 PM

The users adapted to them pretty quickly since we were getting many requests for them before we were even able to deploy them. Only the people that want one (and can get their boss to ok the expense) can get one at my company.
The company pays for the blackberries/wireless plan (but the cost does get charged to the users expense code).
As for training, we couldn't provide training because we weren't important enough to get any blackberries. Yes this meant that we were rolling out the blackberries and we had no idea how to use/support them (which we freely told our users). Their was a quick ref sheet that was created by the division that directly handles the blackberry backend/hardware purchasing/support and that reference did help the users to learn how to use their blackberry.

losthellhound · 11-02-2003, 01:01 PM

The best thing you can do is to ensure that if you run into any trouble, you have someone to contact. The vendor of the BES should have that option for you

07-08-2003, 07:01 PM	#1 (permalink)
shadrock Crazy	Enterprise blackberry rollout questions... Anyone ever taken part in one of these? We are in the initial planning phases. 99% sure we will getting a BES and start distributing Blackberries by Q4. We are still evaluating how we will tackle this: whether we will give people devices or have them buy their own, using a single wireless provider, etc. We need to have extensive coverage, preferably worldwide which I know limits us on some of these choices. Questions: What blackberry models are you using? What wireless provider are you using? Any overall tips? Thanks!!

07-10-2003, 02:19 PM	#4 (permalink)
The Bolshevist Insane Location: Vancouver, Canada	I used the 950 for a while when I worked at a driving school...not bad, although they ATE battery power. Main problem was coverage. Couldn't get a signal when everyone else was yakking on their cell phone. Ashamed to say it is a Cdn. product. __________________ Workers of the world, UNITE! You have nothing to lose but your silly uniforms and paper hats!!

11-02-2003, 01:01 PM	#6 (permalink)
losthellhound Thats MR. Muffin Face now Location: Everywhere work sends me	The best thing you can do is to ensure that if you run into any trouble, you have someone to contact. The vendor of the BES should have that option for you __________________ "Life is possible only with illusions. And so, the question for the science of mental health must become an absolutely new and revolutionary one, yet one that reflects the essence of the human condition: On what level of illusion does one live?" -- Ernest Becker, The Denial of Death

07-09-2003, 04:48 PM	#2 (permalink)
heyal256 Not so great lurker Location: NY	I support blackberries at my job and was around during the actuly user rollout. A seperate division actually handles the blackberry backend, but here is what my company uses: The 957 (palm sized)http://www.blackberry.net/products/r...57/index.shtml and the 950 (pager sized) http://www.blackberry.net/products/r...50/index.shtml Most of our users prefer the 957 (palm sized) ones because they have a larger screen and have an internal rechargeable battery, the 950 (being smaller) is not as popular and you need to change the battery (AA sized) every month. As far as the wireless provider, here in the US you will pretty much be stuck with Cingular. As for personal recommendations, I would suggest that you look into one of the newer models with triband (worldwide) support. http://www.blackberry.net/products/h...ds/index.shtml Depending on what your company will pay for/what the execs in your company want, the phone feature is something that most of our users are interested in (along with the worldwides support). I think that these models are still in evaluation at my company though. The BES is the way to go because the desktop redirector requires that the user's PC be on for their e-mail to be forwarded. Some tips are that you should be using the latest blackberry software v2.1 or later (because it fixes an issue with syncing the e-mails on the blackberry with outlook/exchange, the older versions didn't sync the e-mail). When installing the software on the users machine, you need to have the blackberry hooked up and in the cradle, then after the software is loaded and the desktop manager is running, you ned to go into the connection settings to detect the com port (not sure if this is needed on USB versions). IF the blackberry is NOT found, enter in the password on the blackberry and try again. After you do that then you need to go into the intellisync options and configure the calender/contacts/etc so that it syncs with the e-mail program you are using (outlook/notes/etc). As you can tell I have done a lot of these installs at my job, but I hope that it helps you with the questions that you had.

07-09-2003, 05:21 PM	#3 (permalink)
shadrock Crazy	Thanks. The only thing we are close to being sure of at this point is that we will definitely be putting a BES in. To be discussed in a meeting this week is whether we will purchase blackberries for our users or let them purchase their own, also whether to let them pay for their wireless plans or to pick up the tab on our own. I doubt we will pay for voice though. How long did it take your users to adapt to them? Did you provide training? Thanks!

07-10-2003, 05:31 PM	#5 (permalink)
heyal256 Not so great lurker Location: NY	The users adapted to them pretty quickly since we were getting many requests for them before we were even able to deploy them. Only the people that want one (and can get their boss to ok the expense) can get one at my company. The company pays for the blackberries/wireless plan (but the cost does get charged to the users expense code). As for training, we couldn't provide training because we weren't important enough to get any blackberries. Yes this meant that we were rolling out the blackberries and we had no idea how to use/support them (which we freely told our users). Their was a quick ref sheet that was created by the division that directly handles the blackberry backend/hardware purchasing/support and that reference did help the users to learn how to use their blackberry.