RIM and BlackBerry have upgraded the Internet service for all BlackBerry smartphone users (who don't use enterprise exchange aka general cosumers not the business types) This new update of BlackBerry Internet Service (BIS 2.8) packs a lot of new features which include Google Mail sync, improvements to Windows Live Hotmail and improved Instant Messenging features.
The changes have been made on the server side, so all users have to do enjoy the features or set up your BlackBerry smartphone to use the features.
What's new in BlackBerry Internet Service 2.8:
Google Mail Contact Sync
-
If subscribers integrate a Google Mail account with their BlackBerry
Internet Service
account, they can synchronize contacts between the account and the contacts application on their BlackBerry device. Subscribers can add, change, and delete Google Mail contacts from their device or from their Google Mail account and the BlackBerry Internet Service synchronizes the changes. The sync occurs every four hours.
Windows Live Hotmail Changes
- With BlackBerry Internet Service 2.8, new Windows Live Hotmail mail
integrations will be defaulted to a protocol that is designed that doesn't require 90 day reauthorization.
Note: Existing BlackBerry users accessing Windows Live
Hotmail using Microsoft MSP will still be required to revalidate their
Windows Live Hotmail account every 90 days.
IM Additions to official Windows Live Messenger, AOL Instant Messenger, Google Talk, ICQ, and Yahoo! Messenger clients:
- Add dedicated icons to the Home Screen for one-click access to
conversation boxes of specific contacts. The icon appears as the
contact's display picture or avatar. - Add contacts and display picture
or avatars to the address book to easily send instant messages, email
messages, SMS text messages, or place a call right from the address
book or conversation box. - Search through saved conversations.
- Add dedicated emoticon icons in the conversation box.
- Sign out from the Home Screen.
- Set alerts when contacts come online.
Enhancements to email setup and settings:
- Automatic Login now supports most billing identifiers, which
allows new subscribers with wireless service providers that use PIN,
IMEI, or ESN as a billing identifier to create BlackBerry Internet
Service accounts from the BlackBerry smart phone, without having to
create a login user name and password.
Although as of today, the full BlackBerry Internet Service 2.8 manual was not availble, some of the documents are avaialbe online.
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