If you’re a Google Apps user and have been yearning for a BlackBerry Enterprise Server connection then today’s your day. Google announced the general availability of the Google Apps Connector for BlackBerry Enterprise Server (BES). Using this program in conjunction with a BlackBerry Enterprise Server you can now connect your Google Apps data to a BES as follows:
# Messages sent to your Gmail inbox are pushed to your BlackBerry within 60 seconds.
# Emails read/deleted on your BlackBerry are marked as read/deleted in Gmail, and vice-versa.
# Emails archived/starred on your BlackBerry are archived/starred in Gmail, and vice-versa.
# BlackBerry folders are synchronized with labels in Gmail.
# You can search for contact information of coworkers from the global address list on your BlackBerry.
# Contacts in Gmail are automatically synchronized with your BlackBerry address book.
# You can view your Google Calendar schedule with the native BlackBerry application, with one-way synchronization from Google Calendar to your BlackBerry device. Two-way calendar sync with the ability to accept, decline and schedule meetings from your BlackBerry device is not available with this release but we are working on it.
# Administrators can use the management and security tools that are part of BlackBerry Enterprise Server.
Of course, with the exception of some synchronization of mail – these features are already available for free from the Googlesync for BlackBerry. This Connector software is meant for corporate IT departments that want to integrate a Google Apps account instead of a MS Exchange account into their BlackBerry Enterprise Server.
