RIM announced they will offering BlackBerry Enterprise Server Express for free in March. When BlackBerry Enterprise Server Express is connected to Microsoft
Exchange or Microsoft Windows Small Business Server, BlackBerry
smartphone users will be able to:
- Wirelessly synchronize their email, calendar, contacts, notes and tasks.
- Manage email folders and search email on the mail server remotely.
- Book meetings and appointments, check availability and forward calendar attachments.
- Set an out-of-office reply.
- Edit Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint files using Documents To Go.
- Access files stored on the company network.
- Use mobile applications to access business systems behind the firewall.
BlackBerry Enterprise Server Express works with Microsoft Exchange
2010, 2007 and 2003 and Microsoft Windows Small Business Server 2008
and 2003 to provide users with secure, push-based, wireless access to
email, calendar, contacts, notes and tasks, as well as other business
applications and enterprise systems behind the firewall. Importantly,
the new server software utilizes the same robust security architecture
found in BlackBerry Enterprise Server.
"Today we are announcing an exciting new offering that further
expands the market opportunity for the BlackBerry platform," said Mike
Lazaridis, President and Co-CEO, Research In Motion. "In a marketplace
where smartphones are becoming ubiquitous, BlackBerry Enterprise Server
Express significantly raises the bar by providing a cost-effective
solution that allows companies of all sizes to support enterprise-grade
mobile connectivity for all employees without compromising security or
manageability."
For IT administrators, BlackBerry Enterprise Server Express also offers the following:
- Runs on the same physical or virtual server as the Microsoft mail
server or on its own server. BlackBerry Enterprise Server Express is
also certified for use with VMware ESX - Over 35 IT controls and policies, including the ability to remotely wipe a smartphone and enforce and reset passwords
- A Web-based interface that allows remote administration and makes
it easy to install the software, connect BlackBerry smartphones and
apply usage policies
BlackBerry® Enterprise Server v5 continues to be the recommended
solution for deployments that require additional security policies,
monitoring features or high availability. BlackBerry Enterprise Server
also continues to be required for certain other enterprise solutions
such as BlackBerry® Mobile Voice System (for bringing desk phone
functionality to BlackBerry smartphones), BlackBerry® Clients for
Microsoft® Office Communications Server and IBM® Lotus® Sametime® (for
enterprise instant messaging), IBM Lotus Connections (for enterprise
social networking), IBM Lotus QuickrTM (for document sharing and collaboration), and Chalk® Pushcast Software (for corporate podcasting).
BlackBerry Enterprise Server Express is expected to be available as a free download in March. For more information, visit www.blackberry.com/besexpress.