Methods of Receiving Email on BlackBerry

BIS email address.

This is the free push email address included with all BlackBerry plans. Most common method for consumers/prosumers. Send the email to the free YOURNAME@carrier.blackberry.net email address. This is true push email, as email will show up instantly on the BlackBerry (in just 5 seconds in many cases) the moment someone sends it from a desktop computer. No need to check email, it shows up immediately on your BlackBerry screen, SMS-style or pager-style! To access to your @blackberry.net email account, See BWC/BIS Login Instructions

Tip For Advanced Users: When adding new POP/IMAP accounts to your BWC/BIS account, try entering dummy information for username/password. This will get you straight to the Advanced Server Page, which allows more configuration such as for Secure Password Authentication, etc.
POP and IMAP email.

This is available with all BWC accounts above. The BWC webmail site has a configuration that allows you to enter POP hostnames, usernames and passwords for a certain number of POP accounts. Your BWC will automatically check email every 15 minutes and forward a copy of messages to your BlackBerry. This is not true push email; you must send email directly to the @blackberry.net address (or use BES). Information from RIM website
Email forwarding.

Configure your existing email addresses to automatically forward a copy to your BWC email address (the one ending in blackberry.net). This will allow you to have a different email address while retaining push email capability, for those cases you do not need a BES.

Third party email software such as Reqwireless EmailViewer or HotViewer or midlet-based email client These software are not as good as the built-in BlackBerry push email but you can get third party email software and install them on the BlackBerry for those special exceptions that you don't want to integrate directly into the BlackBerry. Note: In order to be able to run third party email clients on the BlackBerry, you need either (a) BlackBerryOS 4.0 or later, or Nextel/Telus BlackBerryOS 3.7 or later ..... or (b) use a Blackberry Exchange Server, or a BES/MDS hosting service.
BlackBerry Redirector.

This is a special software program included on a CD included with BlackBerries, that you can install on your computer. You can run it on a home computer or office computer -- just leave the computer on 24 hours a day. The software will watch for new emails arriving in Microsoft Outlook and then automatically forward a copy of these emails to your BlackBerry. (No BES needed, although some users have reported a BES Server Address Required during installation). But you must keep your computer running 24 hours a day to get copies of your email.
BlackBerry Mail Connector.

This is different than the Redirector. This is a special software program included on a CD included with BlackBerries, that you can install on your computer. You can run it on a home computer or office computer -- just leave the computer on 24 hours a day. The software will watch for new emails arriving in Microsoft Outlook or Lotus Notes and then automatically forward a copy of these emails to your BlackBerry. (No BES needed). But you must keep your computer running 24 hours a day to get copies of your email. This method allows relatively tight integration including mail read status, deletes and SENT mail (mail sent on the Blackberry will show up in your SENT Box.
Blackberry Enterprise Server (BES)

This can be purchased as a server for full internal integration with corporate email, (expensive) or as a BES (MDS) Hosting service for more individual integration (cheaper). Mainly used by corporations, although some prosumers have purchased BES/MDS Hosting services. This is the preferred corporate method of push email, fastest and most secure, and allows you to have your own custom domain names. It interfaces with Exchange Server (or Lotus Domino, or Groupwise) and allows your BlackBerry to automatically mirror your Exchange Inbox. Wireless email sync capabilities means that if you delete email on your BlackBerry, it also gets deleted from the desktop. There are other benefits to BES. For example, Version 4.0 of BES also adds wireless over-the--air Addressbook/Calendar/Notes/Tasks synchronization. More information for the
full corporate version is found here Alternatively, you can get BES Hosting Service if you don't want to purchase the full server. This service is offered by several third parties. The full server itself can cost over a thousand dollars, while getting hosting service for one BlackBerry typically costs less than $25 per month. All five of the above can be used simultaneously on different email addresses, into the same BlackBerry "Inbox" (Messages screen).