Removal of BlackBerry Policy

Is there any way to permanently prevent my BES
server admin from sending me a new policy.
No. The only way to do this would be to never reconnect to that BES server. For example if you leave a company that runs BES and you take your blackberry with you you can wipe the policy and then start running your blackberry off your AOL or Yahoo account using BIS (Blackberry Inernet Service) or BWC (Blackberry Web Client) and the policy will never get applied again. However, if you plan to re-connect to your corporate BES then this solution to remove the policy is only temporary. As soon as you reconnect (actually before you get your first email) the BES server will exert control over your handheld and apply the current policy. This is the price of admission for connectiong to BES - plain and simple. More info on the difference between BES, BIS, and BWC can be found here  http://www.pcauthority.com.au/feature.aspx?CIaFID=3760  

If this is not permanent then why would I want to do it?
That's a good question - but there are multiple reasons to do this even if it is only temporary. There are some bits of setup work that you might not be able to do under a policy that will help you do other things once the policy returns.

One specific example pairing a bluetooth device. For some crazy reason - some BES admin will disable pairing a new device - but they will not disable bluetooth all together. Assuming all users have new devices that get the BES poilcy immediately then this effectively means that bluetooth can't be used. However, if you remove the policy and pair a device and then reconnect to your BES (thereby reapplying the policy) you will still be able to use your device - you just won't be able to pair any new devices.

Another example is third-party applications - like Google Maps - this fantastic third party app is not from an approved publisher for my companies blackberry policy. However the only time blackberry checks whether the publisher was approved is at the time of install. Therefore you can remove the policy, install google maps (and Magmic's Texas Hold'em II for fun) or Guitar Hero for Blackberry and then reconnect to BES. Even after the policy is reapplied you will still be able to run the apps.

Will this void my warranty?
 I'm not a lawyer (thank goodness) so don't take my word alone. However I have personally used this technique dozens of times on devices which have also later been replaced or repaired under warranty with no problem. I don't think the device keeps a history of it's various policies - and by the time you reconnect to your BES the fact that you had no poilcy on there for a time will be invisible to anyone.

Will this remove the SIM lock from my phone so I can use it with another carrier?
 No. In the blackberry the IT policy and the SIM lock are two separate things. SIM unlock codes are almost always avaialble from your cell provider assuming you have been a client for long enough. If they ask you for a reason tell them that you travel to Europe often and you have a local Vodafone SIM card that you want to use over there. If that doesn't work you can always purchase an unlock code on ebay. Prices are usually around $20.

What devices does this work on
It has worked on every blackberry produced since the 7230.  

If I am going to sell my old unit on ebay should I follow your directions here.
 Yes, please, absolutely! Stop the cycle of users buying a device on ebay only to be dumbfounded trying to figure out why certain features don't work as advertised. Plus the wipe process that we tell you how to do will protect you and your companies old data. Never tell a buyer your old password to allow them to make the device work. Have them follow our instructions for resetting the device when you don't know the password. Confirming to a

How will I be able to reconnect to my network after performing this?
Assuming your office allows you to connect via USB as most offices do then the reconnection should be automatic as soon as you go into the office and plug in the unit. If your office uses the remote activation process you will need to call your blackberry support team and tell them that something happened to your unit and it is asking you for a new enterprise activation code.