North America BIS 2.5 Upgrade Complete: Say Hello to Native HTML Email Viewing (OS 4.5 Required)!

on 29 Jun 2008 01:01 PM

BIS 2.5 HTML Email Viewing on OS4.5

RIM completed their upgrades to BIS 2.5 in North America this weekend. If you're not running OS 4.5 on your BlackBerry much of this won't benefit you just yet (have patience, the widespread 4.5 rollout is coming!), but for those of you that are, a whole bunch of new features have just come your way, including HTML Email Viewing!

The image above tells the tale. On your left you have the latest CrackBerry.com Newsletter when viewed on a non-4.5 equipped BlackBerry (keep in mind we've always had designed it for full html viewing from your PC - full newsletter archive here). On the right we have the newsletter when viewed on a BlackBerry equipped with OS4.5 (beta) now that BIS 2.5 is turned on. As you can see, it's a LOT better. A hugely welcome change and big improvement. Although it does still irk me that the CrackBerry Newsletter looks better when viewed on an iPhone over a BlackBerry (see image). More pixels should solve a lot of this problem... I can't wait for the BlackBerry Bold!

Other BIS 2.5 feature improvements include the ability to download and save audio and video attachments and a whole bunch of other file types as well: .doc, .xls, .ppt, .wpd, .pdf, .zip, .txt, .html. Push email for Hotmail/MSN and AOL accounts is also included in the upgrade. Overall, it's darn sweet. As Bla1ze just mentioned to me in an email, overall email is a lot smoother and it's REALLY nice to be able to receive a video attachment in an email, save it and view it right on the BlackBerry.

Filed Under: News & Rumors;

71 Comments

Posted by Eddyj90 Sunday, Jun 29, 2008 1323 days ago

I have 4.5 but its not working.....

Posted by Anonymous Sunday, Jun 29, 2008 1323 days ago

resend your service books and do a battery pull for good measure

Posted by timatl Sunday, Jun 29, 2008 1323 days ago

i am enjoying 4.5.46 on my tmobile curve 8320 but i am not getting the html email as of now. i am using uma at home, this could be the problem. it does seem to be a little faster on the uma for web surfing. i can finally get hotmail on my blackberry. just need my html email.

Posted by artie Sunday, Jun 29, 2008 1323 days ago

When I finally have OS 4.5 on my 8130 will not need BBSmart email viewer?

Posted by ngshcd Sunday, Jun 29, 2008 1323 days ago

I am on AT&T where can i find a beta copy of 4.5?

Posted by Captain_Zero Monday, Jun 30, 2008 1322 days ago

What model do you have? I can send you links.

Posted by Anonymous Friday, Jul 11, 2008 1311 days ago

Hey I got a 8310 and was wondering if you can send me the link as well?

Posted by MrPeaceMR2 Saturday, Jul 26, 2008 1296 days ago

Can you send me the link(s) to the 4.5 OS for AT&T, too?
Thanks!

Posted by Monday, Aug 11, 2008 1280 days ago

I would love to get the link for the software update. I have an AT&T Curve 8310.
Thanks

Posted by evrydayzawrkday Sunday, Jun 29, 2008 1323 days ago

Is there an AntiVirus software available for the BB? With the ability to download these attachments I can see a lot of problems brewing in the future (especially with JDE 4.5 being out)...

Posted by spasell Sunday, Jun 29, 2008 1323 days ago

I have ATT, 8310, and OS 4.5.0.37. I have pulled battery, resent service books, etc. Not only does it NOT display HTML but I cannot even download and attachments at ALL NOW!! No Word Docs, not PPT, no XLS, no nothing, and it was working fine yesterday.

I am now getting a message that says "Password not supported for this format. Resend?" I resend and says the same thing.

Looks like it not only didn't work properly, but anyone that did in fact download the beta copies of 4.5 might find it will not work at all. That was my fear and it looks like that is now coming true.

Posted by safri Sunday, Jun 29, 2008 1323 days ago

Will Empower PRO be useless if BIS 2.5 is FULLY operational?

Posted by Angie D300 Sunday, Jun 29, 2008 1323 days ago

I have Empower using OS 4.5. I can read HTML with the BIS 2.5 update, but i noticed that there are still some parts of an email that are not readable w/out Empower. For example, i recvd an email that i could read just fine, except for one image part. i hit the menu button, "toggled" to Empower & was able to read it perfectly. BUT, i recvd an email from eBay that looked much better w/out the Empower. So,personally, i like having Empower Pro installed. Either way, if you have OS 4.5 & BIS 2.5, then you will always be able to view HTML email. hopes this helps.

Posted by dmd1272 Sunday, Jun 29, 2008 1323 days ago

I have an unlocked 8310 from ATT now on Tmobile and I have nothing either, I was just able to setup my hotmail email.

Posted by AZBear Sunday, Jun 29, 2008 1323 days ago

I have 4.5.42 and have resent service books and done a battery pull but still no HTML email.

EDIT - Got it to work. discovered the email i sent as a test was sent as plain text.

Posted by SOUJAH345 Sunday, Jun 29, 2008 1323 days ago

how do i resend service books?

Posted by matt.weum Sunday, Jun 29, 2008 1323 days ago

Has anybody had any luck receiving their hotmail email yet?

Posted by SteveO86 Sunday, Jun 29, 2008 1323 days ago

Man I wish they official release 4.5 already.... This update will forever change BlackBerry!

Posted by SteveO86 Sunday, Jun 29, 2008 1323 days ago

Man I wish they official release 4.5 already.... This update will forever change BlackBerry!

Posted by mscooley Sunday, Jun 29, 2008 1323 days ago

Yes. It works flawlessly. I even created a new Live account just to be sure.

Re: Empower - yes, if you're running 4.5, with the BIS upgrade, you won't need it. Now, you do have to manually get images, which is something Empower does for you. So if you don't mind that, and you don't use any of the other Pro features, then HTML email works just fine without Empower. I'm in limbo because I liked the "add to calendar" option for emails that I get with Empower, so I'm, personally in limbo.

Posted by brothamoveson Sunday, Jun 29, 2008 1323 days ago

It works for me I resent the service books, pulled the battery and bingo.

Posted by Anonymous Sunday, Jun 29, 2008 1323 days ago

What device and OS build are you running?

Posted by inc188 Sunday, Jun 29, 2008 1323 days ago

any one from canada got this to work? specifically Bell?

thanks

Posted by Stomp-It Sunday, Jun 29, 2008 1323 days ago

Yey, i noticed this option earlier today after id been fiddeling around removing/altering o2's default policy they ship on BIS based devices (the thing about no split network pipes).

Fully working html email makes such a difference to the few i get sent to bb, god knows when the eu servers changed over the last few days tho as it only showed after my fiddeling forced me to resend the service books.

Posted by dlgus Sunday, Jun 29, 2008 1323 days ago

I was starting to think I was the only one who got the update-lol

Posted by PhxBlue Sunday, Jun 29, 2008 1323 days ago

Its not working for me. Tried all the metioned tricks.

For reference sake:
T-mobile
8320
o.s 2.5.0.46
using Gmail

Posted by zinadork Sunday, Jun 29, 2008 1323 days ago

It is not working for Verizon. I am running 4.5.

Posted by yaya1223 Sunday, Jun 29, 2008 1323 days ago

how do you get 4.5??

Posted by TheNoZone Monday, Jun 30, 2008 1322 days ago

Can you tell me where to get OS 4.5 for Verizon? I didn't know CDMA had OS 4.5 out yet.

Thanks!

Posted by kuppy Monday, Jun 30, 2008 1322 days ago

Hi I'm new with the BB and site.

I wanted to know if you got it working on your phone, I'm with Verizon Curve (8330).

If you did get it to work could you let me know where I could get the downlaod, or if you could send it to me.

Thank you for your time

Posted by BlckBrryMD Sunday, Jun 29, 2008 1322 days ago

I'm not promoting it and I have NOT used any beta's my hope is that OS4.5 hits in the next couple of weeks and/or the BB Bold hits right after that.

Posted by Wusty Friday, Jul 04, 2008 1318 days ago

Thanks for posting! We're so glad to hear that! Oh wait....why did you post that?? Durrrrrrrrr

Posted by evrydayzawrkday Sunday, Jun 29, 2008 1322 days ago

Worked for me... sent all my service books once, did a battery pull and voila! As noted above, old emails do not render email, but the new incoming ones do (including pictures)...

BUT (always a but when its beta)

I cant download attachments :(

TMobile 8320
OS 4.5.46

Posted by ryrycalguy Sunday, Jun 29, 2008 1322 days ago

I got it to work! However, I already had a hotmail account that worked with my bb so I didn't really care about that upgrade all too much.

I have:

T-Mo
8320
OS 4.5.0.10
I resent service books then did a battery pull.....worked like a charm!

Posted by cyph3r Monday, Jun 30, 2008 1322 days ago

worked for me... resend books and pull and all is good

Posted by jtriplett1080 Monday, Jun 30, 2008 1322 days ago

How can I download thhe OS 4.5 Beta? I've got the 2.5 BIS and still have the standard 4.2 on my AT&T 8300. Someone please point me in the right direction.

Posted by briennedugas Monday, Jun 30, 2008 1322 days ago

Know how I can pm you? Newbie here, but have something you want......

Posted by juanjo Monday, Jun 30, 2008 1322 days ago

Hi Brien,
I'm a newbie here too and saw your post. I can not get the OS4.5 nowhere..can you help.

Much appreciated!

Juan

Posted by briennedugas Monday, Jun 30, 2008 1322 days ago

First post on here...updated to os 4.5.0.46 for 8100 last night, and updated bis just now. AWESOME to have free html email viewing...finally...i was running out of free trials! =)

Posted by Anonymous Monday, Jun 30, 2008 1322 days ago

I just got it to work on AT&T. OS 4.5, resend service books, device reset and you are good to go.

Posted by LegendKBizz Monday, Jun 30, 2008 1322 days ago

I havent received the update. My 8330 is still 4.3

Posted by Anonymous Monday, Jun 30, 2008 1322 days ago

is very funny how this feature is here now and i do not feel like a kid with a new toy, i guess having empower for so long took that away, oh well at least i can see videos in my emails.

Posted by KillingWthASmile Monday, Jun 30, 2008 1322 days ago

I just set up my hotmail account on my 8300. I sent myself a testing email, received it almost instantly, read it, and only deleted from the hand held. Checked online and when i logged into my hotmail the email was shown as read. Gmail needs to follow suit on this one.

Posted by asadun Monday, Jun 30, 2008 1322 days ago

Ecuador reporting here.
BIS 2.5 working perfectly.
Running BB OS 4.5.0.46 Blackberry Pearl 8100
Uninstall BB Smart view. HTML email looking good with BIS 2.5