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Research in Motion's BlackBerry Enterprise Server

Posted by Dan Renfroe on February 10, 2006

Tags: BlackBerry Connect,  BlackBerry Enterprise Server,  IBM Lotus Notes,  IBM Lotus Sametime,  Live Communications Server 2005,  Microsoft Exchange,  Microsoft Windows Messenger,  Nokia,  Novell GroupWise,  Novell GroupWise Messenger,  PDAs,  Palm,  RIM,  Research in Motion,  WSDL,  database,  handhelds,  instant messaging,  product reviews section: wireless ,  server reviews,  smartphones,  BlackBerry,  Handheld Applications,  Other

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It seems like just yesterday Network Computing was evaluating BlackBerry Enterprise Server 4.0 for Microsoft Exchange in our mobile e-mail roundup. Since then, Research In Motion has made some significant upgrades to BES, forging ahead with its product offerings despite the current patent lawsuit with NTP. BES 4.1, the back-end platform that handles communications with BlackBerry handhelds, includes improvements in management and administration, adds instant messaging, and brings updates to the Mobile Data System (MDS).

Good • Unified management interface • User group administration facilitates management • Visual development tool eases the pain of creating mobile applications Bad • LMDS applications not fully integrated with other device management capabilities • Some features only available for newer BlackBerry handhelds meeting minimum memory requirements BlackBerry Enterprise Server 4.1, starts at $2,999, Small Business Edition starts at $1,099. Research In Motion, (877) 255-2377, (519) 888-7465. www.blackberry.com

I tested a late beta of 4.1 for Microsoft Exchange in our Syracuse University Real-World Labs®, analyzing new capabilities, such as its support for Web Services and a visual tool for creating forms-based applications. This version, as well as one for IBM Lotus, will be out later this month or early next; a version for Novell GroupWise will follow soon after.

BES 4.1 Click to enlarge in another window

RIM helped me unleash the gadget geek within by sending the newly released BlackBerry 8700c, though you can take advantage of the new capabilities on any BlackBerry with 32 MB or more of Flash memory. Other BlackBerry devices will continue to have baseline functionality for groupware sync and e-mail capabilities, but they won't be able to take advantage of BES' newer features, such as enterprise IM. BES 4.1 supports three enterprise IM servers: IBM Lotus Sametime, Microsoft Windows Messenger/Live Communications Server 2005 and Novell GroupWise Messenger.