If all goes as planned this weekend, the Blackberry Internet Service (BIS) in the USA will get a boost to version 2.5. The BIS service provides Blackberry subscribers with access to email and other services (web browser) when they don’t have their own in-house servers to route emails. This important upgrade is needed to power any of the Blackberry handsets that are using the new version 4.5 handset software. Why would anyone want to be using version 4.5 on their Berry?

New features in Blackberry Internet Service 2.5

To access these features you must have both:
- Blackberry Device Software 4.5
- Blackberry Internet Service 2.5

Details

This article outlines the main changes to BlackBerry Internet Service 2.5.

Attachment downloading in the native file format
BlackBerry Internet Service subscribers can save, edit, upload, and transfer attachments in their native file formats.

BlackBerry Internet Service 2.5 supports the downloading, viewing, and editing of the following types of attachments in their native file formats:

* .zip
* .txt
* .html
* Adobe® Acrobat® (.pdf)
* WordPerfect® (.wpd)
* Microsoft® Word (.doc)
* Microsoft® Excel® (.xls)
* Microsoft® PowerPoint® (.ppt)
* Audio file formats
* Video file formats

BlackBerry Internet Service 2.5 subscribers can edit native file format attachments using embedded or third-party applications. This feature requires BlackBerry Device Software 4.5.

HTML email message viewing
Subscribers can view HTML email messages on their BlackBerry smartphones, including the following file types:

* Graphics and photos, including the following:
o Embedded images and tables
o External images
o Active hyperlinks

* Paragraph formatting, including the following:
o Numbering
o Bulleted lists
o Justification
o Indentation

* Font formatting, including the following:
o Font type
o Color
o Size
o Effects (italics, bold)

Remember: HTML email requires BlackBerry Device Software 4.5.

For instructions on configuring HTML email message viewing and automatic downloading of embedded images and tables, see KB15254.

Note: For security reasons, externally linked images must be manually retrieved using the menu key.

Important: HTML content cannot be created when forwarding, replying to, or composing a new email message.

Support for Windows Live™ Hotmail® integration
Integrating a Windows Live Hotmail email account results in the following:

* Real-time delivery of email messages replaces the standard 15 minute polling interval
* No restrictions; all Windows Live Hotmail accounts can be integrated

Note: Some wireless service providers do not support integration with Windows Live Hotmail. Contact your wireless service provider for information on availability.

Windows Live Hotmail email accounts integrated using BlackBerry Internet Service 2.4 or earlier must be deleted and then re-integrated to turn on the enhanced features.

For instructions on removing and integrating email accounts to a BlackBerry Internet Service account, see KB04258 and KB03087, respectively

Integrated Windows Live Hotmail email accounts must be revalidated every 90 days to continue receiving email messages to the BlackBerry smartphone. Revalidation is required by Windows Live Hotmail for security purposes. Prior to the end of the 90-day window, a message is sent to the BlackBerry smartphone advising you to revalidate.

Link: BIS v2.5
Link: How to obtain version 4.5 software for your Blackberry handheld