Setting Up Your Blackberry

Blackberry phones can be used at ISU, however, in order to connect with the Exchange server for email, ISU's Information Technology Services (ITS) will need to setup an account on the Blackberry Enterprise Server (BES).  There is a one-time setup charge for creating this account.

The following instructions assume that you have purchased a voice/data plan with your phone.

After You Order Your Phone

Note: When an account is created, you will have approximately 48 hours to setup the account on your Blackberry before the setup password is inactivated.  If this happens, the password would need to be reset.  Plan your request so that you'll be able to setup the account in that time frame (48 hours) if possible.  You can request the account before you receive your phone.

  1. Apply for an account on the Blackberry Enterprise Server (BES)
  2. Fill out the form at www.it.iastate.edu/forms/administrative/access.html  Note: this is a general form so there are some things to be aware of when filling it out.
  3. Service(s): Check 'Other'
  4. Name and NetID (under both 'By (Your information)' and 'For (Client Information)': Put your Name and NetID
  5. Department: ISU Extension
  6. Billing Number: The account number to bill setup charges to
  7. ADIN ID: Leave blank
  8. ITS Service Tag: NA (for 'Not Applicable')  Note: You have to put something in this field, otherwise the form will not be submitted
  9. Location: Your office
  10. Comments: Enter text along the following lines: 'I have a new Blackberry and am requesting an account on the BES.  Thank you.'
Once you receive your new Blackberry phone:

  1. Activate your phone for voice and data according to the instructions you receive from your phone provider.
  2. Check that you have data access by opening the Browser.  You should be able to load web pages
  3. Once you receive an email indicating that your BES account has been created, you'll be ready to activate your Blackberry to sync to your Exchange account
  4. On your Blackberry, select Setup Wizard
  5. Select Email Setup
  6. Select 'I want to use a work email account with a Blackberry Enterprise Server
  7. Select Next
  8. Select Yes
  9. Enter your Exchange mailbox address in the form netid@extension.iastate.edu
  10. Enter password: isu (Remember, if you are unable to set up your Blackberry within 48 hours of account setup, this password will need to be reset)
  11. Press the Menu button
  12. Select Activate
NOTE: During the syncing process, you will be asked to provide a password.  This is NOT your Net-ID password.  This is a new password that you're creating to unlock your Blackberry any time it has been inactive for more than an hour (you can still receive incoming calls).  The password must be at least 4 characters.  Pick something that you can remember and that's easy to type on the keyboard.

It may take a few minutes for the Blackberry to sync your email, contacts, etc.  You can do other things on your phone in the meanwhile

See http://www.it.iastate.edu/pda/bbdevice.html for recommended settings.

If you have problems or questions, contact us at 515-294-1725 or via email at eithotline@iastate.edu