[Sgt_Strider]

I understand that this software hasn't been released in North America yet, but I'm hoping someone here will know. The rumour is that this software is like a mini-BES. It allows up to 5 people sync their contact lists, photos, and etc. What about e-mail? Can I setup a computer to act as a BES server that also store the e-mails?

[Sgt_Strider]

Nobody knows?

[galatians51]

BlackBerry - BlackBerry Unite!

[rnickel]

Very nice! Now where can I download it? haha

[tobyw]

I would be very interested to know exactly how Unite! works too. After a good deal of time searching both the web and RIM's KB I can't find an installation guide or similar. Does anyone know of any such guide out there?

I presume it's a piece of software you install on your PC. However, is the shared calendar hosted by RIM or does it tie in to Outlook? I don't know, but would love to find out.

[GadgetCanada]

It looks as if it is more of a BIS than a BES, the calendar and contact sync dont work unless you have 4.3 HH code. Its installed on your PC, xp or vista, 500mb to 1 gig of ram, 40 gb HDD space. works like redirector in that the pc needs to be on and running at all times for it to work. Main cool features are you can control, the phone - allow/deny calls to/from devices, internet, apps, attachments, sms and mms. You can view call logs and internet browsing logs and you can also "deactivate" aka kill the device from remote.

[GadgetCanada]

Oh and your Outlook calendar is kept separate from your unite calendar, you have the option of designating one as the default service (same as with messaging right now). I also believe any contact created on the BlackBerry is not sync'd to Unite, it keeps it private. I am not sure, but dont believe calendar works the same.
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Gadget Canada

[John Clark]

It's coming soon....very soon.

[paulbblc]

Originally Posted by John Clark

It's coming soon....very soon.

How soon again??

[John Clark]

very soon!

[GadgetCanada]

oh and Download Manager is very cool, it allows you to access media files on your pc from whereever you are, you have a directory tree on your handheld. Fortunately, or unfortunately (depends how you look at it) you cannot transfer any files that are more than 1 MB, unless you have a wifi device. I havent heard how soon it is coming, but I assume its soon. Although they need to make it a bit user friendly IMO.
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Gadget Canada

[Redflea]

Soon! Good... ;)

I'm also going to be a mulit-millionaire soon.

[John Clark]

I'm just telling you what I was told by a very credible source. Take it or leave it.

[tobyw]

Thanks for the information folks - sounds good. And John Clark - thanks for whetting out appetite!

Still not sure I understand the calendar issue; are you guys saying that if I create an appointment on my PC it will wireless go the BB, but not the other way around?

[GadgetCanada]

It appears as if you create an appointment in the Unite calendar, it will sync to the BlackBerry and vice versa. There are 2 points about this though:

1) Contacts created on the BlackBerry will not sync to the Unite contacts. Any contacts created in the Unite console will go to every blackberry activated. It seems to assume that if you create a contact on your BB, you want to keep it private.

2) It does not sync to Outlook, so your work (bes or non bes, doesnt matter) is not effected and you will have 2 separate calendars in your handheld.

Without HH OS 4.3 (and a Unite server) ;), these are educated guesses.
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Gadget Canada

[simulator]

The sync sounds as lame and useless as Google sync.

[Sith_Apprentice]

It is good for small groups or families to share a common calendar

[tobyw]

I can see the benefit to some for Unite. However, after looking forward to it (and with the caveat that I haven't seen it in person yet) I am a bit disappointed. It seems a bit of a downer that it can't sync to my Outlook calendar.

What I still would like from RIM, though, is a better BIS to enable me to file messages in folders etc. and have a bit faster two-way reconcile to OWA mailboxes. Having said that, one of my 'wish-list' should hopefully be answered when we get HTML mail.