[cpayne]

I currently check my desktop email using Outlook connecting to an IMAP server. I am considering getting a Blackberry. I know that the Blackberry uses a push technology and it cannot accesss an IMAP server without a third party client.

It is my understanding that the Blackberry Web Client can check an IMAP account and then push the email to the Blackberry device. I am fine with that. My question is, can the Web Client synchronize between the Blackberry and the IMAP account? For instance, if I delete an email on the Blackberry, will it be deleted from my IMAP account?

If not, it seems like my only choice is to go with a hosted email service for the Blackberry or run Exchange and use the desktop redirector. Does this sound right?

Thanks,
Craig

[sempai]

http://www.mobilewhack.com/pda/black...g_the_bwc.html

That's what I had to say about it.

In short, it isn't an IMAP client. It will pull the mail, stuff it in the BBerry BWC inbox, and shove it at your 'Berry.

that's it!

So the above link is what I do in order to most effectively use my BlackBerry for my personal email.

[cpayne]

Thanks for the link. Sounds like the only missing piece is for deleting messages on the Blackberry. Any ideas on that? It certainly would be nice if a message deleted on the berry would then be deleted on the IMAP server. You could do another procmail trick but that would involve forwarding the message to procmail which would then delete it off the IMAP server. You would then have to delete the message off the berry. It would be two step process. That would be painful for the amount of SPAM I get.

[sempai]

In that case, you need to up your spam prevention.

If you're not already using SpamAssassin, start there.

If you are, you may need to look at what is getting through, and why!

If you really want to go completely spam-free, you can use a challenge/response system like TMDA or mailblocks to stifle the flow of spam, and if done carefully this is a pretty painless process.

You can even have it mine your email archives for known-good contacts to whitelist so that they'll never get a confirmation message.

[cpayne]

I am not running any SPAM filters. I do need to setup somthing like SpamAssasin.

Since messages from the web client only get pushed to the berry, how do you handle deleting messages? Do you keep past messages on your berry or just delete them after you read them. I am just wondering how you keep your berry in synch with your IMAP inbox? I guess BES is really necessary to have true synchronization between the berry and the server.

[sempai]

Yes - the answer is - you don't.

That is why I also echo my messages from the 'Berry to my email account so that I can see which ones I've responded to or what email threads I've have active.

I like being able to flush/wipe/kill/delete all messages on the 'Berry and not affect my actual INBOX, but YMMV.