Posts tagged BIS
BlackBerry Saved in Saudi Arabia
Aug 6th
BBC is reporting that the ban of BlackBerry service in Saudi Arabia has been lifted. Reports of devices not working for upwards of 4 hours have come in, while RIM has apparently found a solution that satisfies Saudi authorities.
In an earlier statement, RIM made the statement that they “cannot accommodate any request for a copy of a consumer’s encryption key, since at no time does RIM, or any wireless network operator or any third party, ever possess a copy of the key.”
This can be troubling news that some agreement was made as it means either the Saudi government backed down a little (unlikely), or RIM gave in and created access. Hopefully the latter isn’t the case as it would likely mean the same would be implemented around the globe.
What are your thoughts on this situation?
[Via: BBC News]
BIS 3.0 for North American Users Coming March 28th
Mar 20th
Get ready, folks, because the most exciting thing to happen to Blackberry users in months is coming soon. No, we’re not talking about another handset (where are you, 9650?), or OS6, we’re talking about the upgrade of BIS 2.8 to 3.0, replete with…
- Create and delete labels from the BlackBerry smartphone
- Increased Attachment Compatibility
- OpenDocument Presentations (.odp)
- OpenDocument Spreadsheets (.ods)
- OpenDocument Text (.odt)
- OpenDocument Text Templates (.ott)
- Windows Media Audio (.wma)
and a few other fairly minor updates and improvements. What users will most likely see immediately is the improved BIS User Interface when accessing from the web.
The timeframe for the update will be:
- There will be scheduled network maintenance by Research In Motion (RIM) affecting BIS customers between 0100 CT / 0200 EDT on March 28th and 0500 CT / 0600 EDT on March 28th.
- Blackberry will be performing a BlackBerry Internet Service v2.8 upgrade to BlackBerry Internet Service v3.0
- BlackBerry Internet Service subscribers may be unable to send or receive messages using their BlackBerry hosted email account or integrated third-party email accounts, view email attachments, activate email service, or request to see “”more”" text during the maintenance.
- Wireless service providers and device resellers may be unable to create subscriber accounts or provision services for subscribers.
- The estimated duration of impact is 4 hours and affects 100% of BIS customers.
Most people will be sleeping during those hours, and, assuming the upgrade goes seamlessly, everyone should look forward to the morning of the 28th.
Or not.
RIM doesn’t really seem to care either way.
(via Crackberry)
BlackBerry Shield rumors emerge
Mar 19th
The team over at BBLeaks has some info about a particularly interesting piece of software, BlackBerry Shield.
Shield is pretty much what it sounds like – added security features for BB users on BIS. While we only have rumored details at this time, it sounds like a nifty idea with features like remote device wiping, the ability to remotely set a password and GPS tracking.
For the full article, click here.
Picture and info courtesy of BBLeaks.
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BESX Made Official
Feb 16th
Press Release
RIM Introduces BlackBerry Enterprise Server Express
Free New BlackBerry Software for Microsoft Exchange and Microsoft Windows Small Business Server Allows Companies to Empower All Employees with Wireless Access to Their Corporate Email Without Compromising Security or Manageability
WATERLOO, ONTARIO–(Marketwire – Feb. 16, 2010) – Research In Motion (RIM) (NASDAQ:RIMM)(TSX:RIM) today introduced BlackBerry Enterprise Server Express – free new server software that wirelessly and securely synchronizes BlackBerry smartphones with Microsoft Exchange or Microsoft Windows Small Business Server.
The new BlackBerry Enterprise Server Express software will be provided free of charge in order to address two key market opportunities. First, the software offers economical advantages to small and mid-sized businesses (SMBs) that desire the enterprise-grade security and manageability of BlackBerry Enterprise Server but don’t require all of its advanced features. Second, more and more consumers are purchasing BlackBerry smartphones and the free BlackBerry Enterprise Server Express software provides a cost-effective solution that enables IT departments to meet the growing demand from employees to be able to connect their personal BlackBerry smartphones to their work email.
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.”
With BlackBerry Enterprise Server Express 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
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 Quickr (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
Sourced via Crackberry.com
Let’s get down to BIS-ness
Feb 16th
Looks like Today is going to be big in the BlackBerry world, with RIM expected to make a big announcment regarding changes to the way BIS works with your phone. We don’t know too much yet, but we (as always) do have some rumors to work with.
First, it looks like RIM is going to be making BIS work more like BES with “BlackBerry Shield for BIS”. These features (as reported yesterday by BBleaks) are likely to include OTA syncing and remote wiping, as well as al your other BES goodies. I’m on a BES server and I have to say, I think OTA syncing is probably my favorite thing about my BB. No matter where I am, I can add/update a contact and have it sync with my desktop – excellent for when traveling or on business trips. So, for all your BIS users (both consumers and small business users), you’ve got that going for you…which is nice.
Also, RIM is rumored to be announcing a little something called BESX – BlackBerry Enterprise Server Express. This is supposed to include a free, and unlimited, BlackBerry Enterprise Server.
The features are allegedly debuting March 1.
That’s about all we know for now, but we’ll keep you updated. And be ready for big news later today!
****UPDATE****
We just received word that BESX has been confirmed via Blackberry.com
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