Trouble connecting BB's to Zimbra

[crawlspace35]

Hi everyone,
I am having an issue where we are trying to setup client BB's to connect to their respective Zimbra mail accounts. I was under the impression that it would be the same as connecting to an exchange server (as per the zimbra site).
Long story short, none of the BB's can connect to their accounts, and from what I am hearing I need either a BES server (which we do not have)or have to purchase licenses for zimbra mobile. Zimbra Sales told us we needed neither. Not sure what to do here. What options do I have I guess is the question I am asking...

Any help or insight is greatly appreciated.

Thanks

[odeleon]

If you're using the FOSS/Community edition of Zimbra you won't have this, you only have the xHTML interface. The Zimbra Mobile module is available with Zimbra NE (paid-for) at no extra cost... it used to be licensed separately.

Depending on your data plan with your mobile phone service provider it should be just the same as setting up a mail account (not necessarily Exchange).

However, you do need a BES instance if you want to synchronize calendars and address books. But this is a BB limitation/feature, not related to Zimbra.

[crawlspace35]

ok so just that I am fully understanding you, I cannot integrate blackberry's unless we have a BES server? at least as far as syncing calendar and contacts...?

[phoenix]

Originally Posted by crawlspace35

ok so just that I am fully understanding you, I cannot integrate blackberry's unless we have a BES server? at least as far as syncing calendar and contacts...?

That's correct and you'd also need to have ZCS NE. You can, however, connect the BB to sync email via IMAP.

[crawlspace35]

Thanks, so if the clients carriers have their own BES I can connect them to it with the BB connector from zimbra, and all should be right in the world I think, yes?

Thanks for your help!

[odeleon]

You need to get the carrier to install the ZCB in their BES.

And the carrier's BES would have to be a BES for Exchange (there's also BES for Domino) and it would have to be one that's used exclusively for Zimbra and not Exchange (due to an imcompatibility between MS Outlook and some MS Exchange Admin console thing).

Read the ZCB installation guide for more info on this. "Just any BES" won't do.