When users first hear about a BlackBerry service book they usually give me a quizzical look. Its not something any other phone really does or requires. Some carriers will push out configuration files but that’s a one time deal. For a BlackBerry a service book details how your BlackBerry will connect with RIM’s servers and enables certain features that require a different configuration. Without specific service books your BlackBerry will be limited in its functionality. For example, the browser and each email address you have each have their own service book needed for them to function.
The problem is that it is quite difficult to understand some of these service books by their name. For example, Browserconfig is pretty self explanatory but IPPP for BIBS is cryptic.
One of our dedicated readers, Nathanael, sent me this great table he found in some RIM documentation that details exactly what each service book does based on the type it is. Not sure exactly where the source is but I found it enlightening.
| Service Book | Functionality |
| 5 Click [BrowserConfig] | Contains settings that are used by the E-mail Settings icon to create a new BlackBerry® Internet Service account or maintain an existing one. |
| 5 Click [IPPP] or 5 Click [WAP] | Contains routing information that is used by the E-mail Settings icon for BlackBerry Internet Service accounts. |
| Browserconfig for IPPP [BrowserConfig] | Contains settings for the BlackBerry Internet Browser Service such as a preconfigured homepage or bookmarks. |
| IPPP for BIBS [IPPP] | Contains information about BlackBerry Internet Browser Service routing information. |
| Desktop [ALP] or BlackBerry [ALP]* | Contains information that is required to perform wireless Global Address Book searches. |
| Desktop [BBIM] or BlackBerry [BBIM]* | Contains the record information that is used to send instant messages with an enterprise instant messaging service such as Microsoft® Live Communications Server. |
| Desktop [BrowserConfig] or BlackBerry [BrowserConfig]* | Contains settings for the BlackBerry® Browser such as preconfigured homepage or bookmarks. |
| Desktop [CICAL] or BlackBerry [CICAL]* | Contains information that is required for BlackBerry wireless calendar operations. |
| Desktop [CMIME] or BlackBerry [CMIME]* | Contains information that is required to send messages and perform functions such as wireless email message reconciliation. |
| Desktop [IPPP] or BlackBerry [IPPP]* | Contains information that is required to use and browse the Internet using the BlackBerry® Mobile Data System (BlackBerry MDS). |
| Desktop [SYNC] or BlackBerry [SYNC]* | Contains information that is used to wirelessly synchronize organizer databases and to wirelessly backup and restore BlackBerry smartphone data. Note: The BlackBerry smartphone must be running BlackBerry® Device Software 4.0 or later and be connected to a BlackBerry® Enterprise Server software version 4.0 or later. |
| Provisioning [Provisioning] | Contains information that is used to turn on or off the Enterprise Activation icon for BlackBerry Device Software 4.0 and later. |
| MMS Transport [WAP] | Contains information that is required to send Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS) messages over Wireless Application Protocol (WAP) 1.x. |
| MMS Transport [WPTCP] | Contains infromation that is required to send MMS messages over WAP 2.x. |
| MMS client [MMS] | Contains information regarding the wireless provider’s MMS settings. |
| WAP Browser [BrowserConfig] | Contains settings for the WAP Browser such as a preconfigured homepage or bookmarks. |
| WAP Transport [WAP] | Contains information that is required to connect to a wireless provider’s WAP 1.x gateway. |
| WAP2 Transport [WPTCP] | Contains information that is required to connect to a wireless provider’s WAP 2.x gateway. |
| WAP Push Config [WAPPushConfig] | Contains information that is used to setup a WAP-push connection on a BlackBerry smartphone for WAP dependent applications and is also used for new MMS message notifications sent using WAP Push. |
| Web Client [CMIME] | Contains information that is required to send messages and perform functions such as wireless email reconciliation with the BlackBerry Internet Service 1.8. Note: BlackBerry Internet Service 1.8 is no longer available and has been replaced by the BlackBerry Internet Service 2.x. |
| Yahoo Messenger [YHO] | Contains the record information that is used to send instant messages using the Yahoo!® Messenger client. Note: This service book is available from the wireless service provider. |
| <Retail_Instant_Messaging_Application> [BBIMConfig] | Contains configuration and carrier information for a retail instant messaging application and is also used in the creation of the [KEYNOGO] service book. |
| <Retail_Instant_Messaging_Application> [BBIM] | Contains information that is required for sending instant messages with a retail instant messaging application. |
| <Retail_Instant_Messaging_Application> [KEYNOGO] | Contains information that is used for the encryption and decryption of instant messages that are sent using a retail instant messaging application. For example, the algorithm used by Google Talk™ is Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) 256 bits. |
| <your_email_address> [CMIME] | Contains information that is required to send email messages and perform functions such as wireless email reconciliation with the BlackBerry Internet Service. |
| <your_email_address> [CICAL] | Contains information that is required for BlackBerry wireless calendar operations with the BlackBerry Internet Service running BlackBerry Device Software 4.2 or later. |
* The service books marked with an asterisk appear on the BlackBerry smartphone with either Desktop or BlackBerry in the title. Additionally, they are named according to the message service display name in BlackBerry Redirector Settings which is a part of the BlackBerry® Desktop Manager. Although the names are different, both service books function in exactly the same way.