(WEB HOST INDUSTRY REVIEW) — Using the same robust security architecture developed for BlackBerry Enterprise Server, Research In Motion (www.rim.net) has unveiled plans to release BlackBerry Enterprise Server Express (blackberry.com/besexpress), a free new server software that wirelessly and securely synchronizes BlackBerry smartphones with Microsoft Exchange or Microsoft Windows Small Business Server.
According to its Tuesday announcement, BlackBerry Enterprise Server Express is expected to be available as a free download in March, providing companies with the power to provide all employees with wireless access to their corporate email without compromising security or manageability.
“Today we are announcing an exciting new offering that further expands the market opportunity for the BlackBerry platform,” Research In Motion president and co-chief executive officer Mike Lazaridis said in a statement. “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.”
The software provides users wireless email, calendar, contacts, notes and tasks synchronization, email folder management and remote email search, and also meeting and appointment booking with availability checking and calendar attachment forwarding. In addition, it also gives users the ability to set an out-of-office reply, edit Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint files using “Documents To Go,” as well as access files stored on the company network, and the use of mobile applications to access business systems behind the firewall.
BlackBerry Enterprise Server Express will be provided free of charge in order to address two key market opportunities. First, the software offers economical advantages to small and medium-sized businesses that want the enterprise-grade security and manageability of BlackBerry Enterprise Server but don’t need all its advanced features. Second, as consumers purchase BlackBerry phones for their personal use, the free BlackBerry Enterprise Server Express software provides a cost-effective solution so that IT departments can enable 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.
For IT administrators, BlackBerry Enterprise Server Express is significant because it can run on on either the same physical or virtual server as the Microsoft mail server, or on its own server. It is also certified for use with VMware ESX.
As well, it features more than 35 IT controls and policies, including the ability to remotely wipe a smartphone and enforce and reset passwords. And a web-based interface allows remote administration and makes it easy to install the software, connect BlackBerry smartphones and apply usage policies.
