Does anyone use a blackberry effectively outside a corporate server environment?

[dimini]

This is day three of attempting to "upgrade" from my old Motorola Krazr phone and  Palm Pilot T-3 PDA  and migrate data from an ancient, yet reliable Palm Tungsten T3 PDA  into a new Blackberry 8330 Curve.  I love the Curve,  but the lack of technical knowledge within the mobile phone industry is astounding...  I was  sold on the switch to Blackberry after several sales people and techincal people from different stores convinced me that  I could push sync my contacts/calendar/memos/tasks between  my Outlook 2007 desktop computer and the Blackberry Curve.  In each conversation, I clearly mentioned that I do not have the benefit of a Microsoft or Blackberry server, and in each case I was told that I could I could do wireless syncs, yet knowbody could explain the process.

Since I haven't been able to discover a way to sync calendar and contacts wirelessly, I've resorted to the USB desktop sync method, and with horrible results. What used to be a  7-sec. Palm to Outlook 2007 sync is now a 20 minute affair when it doesn't crash the Blackberry desktop mgr. I am attempting to sync 400 memo entries, 120 tasks, 1700 contacts entries and 9000 calendar enteries. Since this syncs in 7 seconds on my crusty old school Palm T-3, why can't the awesome new technology handle this?

Is there any hope for someone who isn't connecting to a corporate server to have a fully-functioning Blackberry?   Syncing my calendar and contacts is not a luxury-- nor is it merely a backup.  I sync this data numerous times daily as I'm in and out of my office.  I cannot imagine anyone waiting for a 20-minute sync other than during the first migration of data between devices.  From there, I would expect at most a 20 second sync, but 20 minutes?

What's wrong?

[j2theb]

I am not on a corporate server, and I keep my Outlook 2007 calendar sync'd with my BB Storm. This is sort of a hack, but it works well.

First, sign up for a Google Calendar account. (www.google.com/calendar)
Install 'Google Calendar Sync' on your PC (http://www.google.com/support/calendar/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=89955).
Configure to sync your Outlook 2007 calendar to your Google Calendar (this will get your Outlook appointments onto Google Calendar).

Install 'Google Sync' on your BB (this will move your Google Calendar onto your BB Calendar)

Here's what it does...
Google Calendar Sync will copy your Outlook Calendar to your Google Calendar
Then Google Sync on your BB will copy your Google Calendar to your BB Calendar. It also keeps all notifications and alarms settings.

I also use Blackberry Google Sync to sync my Contacts in GMail with my contacts in my BB. I don't know if there is a way to sync Outlook contacts with BB or GMail, but from a quick web search it seems that there is no free way, but there are some applications ($$) that will do it for you.

[Kris8830]

I also have Outlook 2007 and have been using the sync feature with my Blackberry 8830 for over a year using the desktop manager.    I run my own business from a single computer and my files are huge.  It takes a few seconds to sync contacts, calendar items, notes and tasks.  Before the 8830 I had another Blackberry for 2 years that also performed the sync to Outlook without any problems. I have not attempted the wireless sync.  I don't know how I could survive without this feature!! 

I would recommend calling Verizon technical services for Blackberry help and they can walk you through the setup for the Blackberry and the desktop manager.  If the first person you talk to at the 800# is not helpful, make the call short and call again.  They have some great technicians. I was never able to get much help OR consistent information from my local store because they don't use a Blackberry and they're just reading the feature sheets to you.

I have gone through the setup 3 separate times - new computers/phones, etc.. and don't remember having any problems.  However, there are differences when you don't use an Enterprise Server.  One is you must have a Blackberry login and password for RIM to route your email, this is separate from Verizon.  Verizon technical is the place to go.  You don't need additional software to install or download!  

[dimini]

I attempted using the Gmail Calendar as a conduit between my Outlook 2007 and my BB which resulted in unsatisfactory syncs.  Outlook calendar to Gmail calendar sync took 20 minutes.   Not acceptable.  If this is Cloud Computing at its best, I'll stay on the ground with old school equipment.

Talked to two different Verizon tech reps and both were unable to address anything that dealt with blackberry desktop software. Bottomline, the best USB calendar sync times are now at 8 minutes, and that's by syncing only future calendar entries to the BB.  In other words, there is no old calendar data on the BB.  Eight minutes to sync one additional calendar entry.  This is still pathetic and unacceptable.

Blackberry Curve 8330:  Great hardware, too bad neither Blackberry nor Verizon is willing or able to assist customers like myself with such products.

Solution:  Refund the phone and return to reliable Palm Pilot  Tungsten T3 paired with Motorola Krzr dumbphone.