*Update: We got our hands on an official email from RIM, and it looks like BIS 3.0 is set to drop on March 21st. Hit the jump for the details.*
Seems like we won't have to wait much longer for the next BIS rollout. While some will be happy and some will walk away unimpressed BIS 3.0 is coming at some point followed up by BIS 3.1 as well. Details about the two new BIS offerings have been anything less then short as we already have covered the details in previous posts. As expected, the BIS 3.0 rollout was to come in early 2010 and March seems to fit that bill just right provided RIM keeps target.
The good folks over at BerryReview have posted the possibility of a roll out coming as soon as next week that is, if RIM plans on keeping their rumored internal release date. While we can't say with 100% certainty this will happen, it does indeed seem plausible at this point. You excited for the BIS 3.0 options or is it something that will pretty much go unnoticed? I mean, they are great additions but OpenOffice support alongside WMA support coupled with GMail 2 way synch for read/unread status isn't exactly on par with the likes of say the new webkit browser by any means. Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
In an email from RIM:
Hello Everyone
I wanted to advise you that RIM will be launching the newest version of BlackBerry Internet Service (BIS) version 3.0 on March 21, 2010. To help you prepare your team as necessary, I've attached a Support Readiness Document as well as BIS 3.0 overview presentation and a Document summarizing the key new features. PLEASE share this information with your Technical Support Teams.
Also, please find below a summary of the RIM Web Based Training courses that have been created and posted to the Wind Mobile Course catalogue in the BlackBerry Universe learning management system.
Some of the key new features of this latest release are summarized below but the big news with the latest release is the Admin tool as the site has undergone many UI changes and your teams will need to become familiar with pre-launch.
BlackBerry Email Administration Tool
BlackBerry Internet Service 3.0 includes the upgrade of the BlackBerry Email Administration Tool. New features include:
• Enhanced user interface providing clearer, easier access to information and functions within the tool
• The introduction of ‘Groups' for managing support staff who utilize the system
• Enhanced permissions capabilities for administrators to more easily define which features should be available to their support staff users
• Link to BlackBerry Technical Solutions Centre
• Expanded browser support
• Additional subscriber search options
Features
• Updates to the Enhanced Google MailTM plug-in for BlackBerry smartphones
• Increased attachment compatibility
⋅ OpenDocument presentations (.odp)
⋅ OpenDocument spreadsheets (.ods)
⋅ OpenDocument text (.odt)
⋅ OpenDocument text templates (.ott)
⋅ Windows Media® Audio (.wma)
• Improved email setup flow for HTML access
· xHTML Support for non-Thick Clients
• Device switch revalidation
• Carrier Friendly Names
• Hosted email address passwords
Troubleshooting Information
http://na.blackberry.com/eng/support/
KB20613 - Provides information on the new features of BlackBerry Internet Service 3.0
KB20652 - Provides information on how to use labels using the Enhanced Google Email plug-in on a BlackBerry Smartphone
KB03265 - Provides information on BIS supported attachments KB to include OpenDoc and WMA formats
KB04553 - Provides information on setting up a hosted email address to include password requirements
KB18405 - Provides information on the Enhanced Google Mail plug-in
BlackBerry Training and Supporting Documentation
Online BlackBerry® Training and supporting documentation for BlackBerry Internet Service 3.0 is available at www.blackberryuniverse.com.
Training Format Course Name Course Code Duration
Job Aid BlackBerry Internet Service 3.0 711-01924-123 15 minutes
Web Based Training Introducing the BlackBerry Email Administration Tool to Administrators 718-01847-123 30 minutes
Introducing the BlackBerry Email Administration Tool to Representatives 718-01916-123 30 Minutes
For more information about BlackBerry Training, contact blackberrytraining@rim.com.
For assistance with BlackBerry Universe, contact support@blackberryuniverse.com.
