
Today RIM quietly released a fantastic feature -
IMAP email for those of us Blackberry addicts whom are NOT on an Enterprise Server. Basically if you don't connect to a work Exchange server chances are you are on BIS (Blackberry Internet Server).
This new feature essentially means that if you use Gmail (or any other email service that supports IMAP) you can now get true IMAP push email to your Blackberry. Previous to today you had to use POP3 which meant delays; sometimes up to 15 minutes before you would get a gmail message to your handheld.
The set up procedure isn't the most intuitive, so I have put together a step by step to get it working. Thanks to Scott and TESZ9 (commenters @
RIMarkable for the help)
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Click on any of the images to make them bigger.Step 1 - Enable IMAP support in your Gmail account. You do this by going to Settings, then Forwarding and POP/IMAP.
Step 2 - Log into your Blackberry Internet Service (BIS) account to configure your mailbox. Delete your previous Gmail account and add a new service.Step 3 - Add a new account BUT don't put the passwords for you gmail account in the utility boxes or it will default to POP3 and you will have to start again. Then just click next and
Step 3b - Additional Information Required -> Click next
Step 3c - Click Personal Account (if configuring for Gmail) then click next.
Step 3d - We were Unable to configure error.. Click I will provide the setting
Step 3E - Internet Service Provider Email (POP/IMAP) Click I will provide the settings then next.
Step 3F - Set Up Exisiting email account - Enter your Gmail information here - along with imap.google.com as your email server. RIM (someone was thinking :) ) will recognize it is a gmail account and autoconfigure your IMAP ports to 993 for you after you click next and save!.
Thats IT! you will now get true push GMail to your Blackberry! This will also work for all IMAP supported mailboxes, you just have to enter your port information manually as I don't think that RIM's BIS web service will recognize all but the big providers.
I have had this working now for a few hours and my Gmail comes to my Blackberry immediately, it used to be about a 15 minute delay.
Congrats to RIM on adding an awesome feature, I just can't understand why it took years to do.