Wireless solutions specialist and BlackBerry creator Research In Motion
introduced BlackBerry Enterprise Server Express, free server software that
wirelessly and securely synchronizes BlackBerry smartphones with Microsoft
Exchange or Windows Small Business Server.
RIM said Enterprise Server Express software will be provided free of charge to
address two key market opportunities.
First, the company argues free software offers economical advantages to
small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) that desire the security and
manageability of BlackBerry Enterprise Server but don't require all of its
advanced features. Second, the free software provides a cost-effective solution
that enables IT departments to meet the growing demand from employees to connect
their personal BlackBerry smartphones to their work e-mail.
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 e-mail, calendar, contacts, notes and
tasks, as well as other business applications and enterprise systems behind the
firewall. RIM noted the new server software utilizes the same security
architecture found in BlackBerry Enterprise Server.
With Enterprise Server Express connected to Microsoft Exchange or Microsoft
Windows Small Business Server, BlackBerry smartphone users will be able to
wirelessly synchronize their e-mail, calendar, contacts, notes and tasks;
manage e-mail folders; search e-mail 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; and use mobile
applications to access business systems behind the firewall.
"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 of RIM. "In a
marketplace where smartphones are becoming ubiquitous, BlackBerry Enterprise
Server Express [provides] 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, Enterprise Server Express offers the ability to run
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. The software provides more than 35 IT controls and policies,
including the ability to remotely wipe a smartphone and enforce and reset
passwords. Finally, the Web-based interface allows remote administration and
makes it easier to install the software, connect BlackBerry smartphones and
apply usage policies, the company argued.
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