BlackBerry Internet Service [BIS] Now Upgraded to 2.8

We reported yesterday about the scheduled BIS outage for maintenance yesterday evening, and as of early this morning — the upgrades are complete. As you may know, BlackBerry Internet Service is now upgraded to version 2.8. Now, many of us are curious to know what exactly has changed, and for some of you, this could be very exciting.

Here’s the change log:

• Two-way wireless synchronization with Google Mail Contacts and the Address Book on the BlackBerry smart phone:

1. Synchronize Google Mail contacts quickly and easily to the BlackBerry smart phone
2. Add or edit Contacts and the Contacts are automatically updated, whether they are updated on the computer or BlackBerry smart phone
3. Note: Two-way wireless Contact synchronization with Google Mail Contacts requires BlackBerry® Device Software 5.0 and configuration through email settings on the BlackBerry smart phone.  Additional requirements and constraints may be found within the BlackBerry Internet Service 2.8 Documentation Kit. This feature is not supported on BlackBerry smart phones with BlackBerry® Connect™ software.

• Enhancements to email setup and settings:

1. Automatic Login now supports most billing identifiers, which allows new subscribers with wireless service providers that use PIN, IMEI, or ESN as a billing identifier to create BlackBerry Internet Service accounts from the BlackBerry smart phone, without having to create a login user name and password
2. Note: This feature will be available approximately one week after the BlackBerry Internet Service upgrade.

• Windows Live Hotmail revalidation:

1. With BlackBerry Internet Service 2.8, new Windows Live Hotmail mail integrations will be defaulted to a protocol that is designed so as not to require 90 day reauthorization.
2. Note: Existing BlackBerry smart phone users accessing Windows Live Hotmail using Microsoft MSP will still be required to revalidate their Windows Live Hotmail account every 90 days.

How has this changed how you work with your BlackBerry, if at all?

[Courtesy: BGR]