vB Easy Archive - Purchasing BES 3.6 vs. 4.0

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Purchasing BES 3.6 vs. 4.0
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Posted by: cscinc

I am getting ready to purchase BES small business for Exchange. I need a solution sooner than later, But am really unimpressed by the sales people with BlackBerry/RIM I am also not keen on the fact that if I purchase BES 3.6 today, even if 4.0 comes out this month I will get no break on upgrading, unless I purchase a support contract for $1500. Does anyone have a sales rep, or reseller they recommend?

Also, am I being hasty? Should I wait for 4.0? Or will this be an eternal wait like most VaporWare?

Is anyone using the preview versions of 4.0? How does it compare? Is it stable? Worth the wait?

What additional functionality will my users get?

I see they have mention of advanced attachment handling, is this not available on 3.6? Attachments, particularly images are something that would be useful for us.

Thanks for providing such a great resource.

Posted by: NJBlackBerry

BES 4.0 has been in beta testing at customer sites for several months now. I don't consider it vaporware. If RIM is being a bit cautious on releasing it, as opposed to say every other software vendor in the world, then they can delay it all they want.

If you decide to buy 3.6 (and I would, since I don't have a delivery date for 4.0) beware that it does not handle images as attachments at all - that is in 4.0. Get something in writing from whoever you buy it from stating that you get a free upgrade to 4.0; that should be reasonable. I'd start with whoever you are buying your BlackBerrys from...

There must be 50 threads in this forum and others on 4.0; try a search. There is tons of information on 4.0. It was shown at the RIM Wireless Conference in May.

Posted by: cscinc

I thought I had searched, sorry about the redundant post. In regard to the purchase, we get our BlackBerries from TMobile, we only have 5, I was informed by my rep at the store that I had to order directly from RIM, is this not correct? Is there a division within TMObile I need to speak with?

Thanks again

Posted by: NJBlackBerry

You can order a BES from lots of places; I think the 20 user version is under $5000. I saw it listed on http://www.eaccess-estore.com/store...?category_id=12 and I'm sure others sell it.