Whether a big innovation or small, we tend to always get hyped up at CrackBerry.com when Research In Motion introduces a new product or service to BlackBerry users (what can we say.. we love BlackBerrys!). Today's official word of the coming of BlackBerry Protect, which will be available in limited beta later this week and open beta later this year via the App World test center, is totally deserving of some genuine excitement. BlackBerry Protect is a free service offering from RIM that allows BlackBerry smartphone customers to remotely backup, restore and locate their BlackBerry smartphone, from wherever they are via their destkop computer. CrackBerry readers will be familiar with SmrtGuard, an application we've raved about here since it was still in beta... you can think of BlackBerry Protect as free RIM-built version that mainly accomplishes the same things. Key BlackBerry Protect features include:
- Remote Device Management: Locate on map; Activate lound ringer; Lock / password change; Lost and Found screen; Device wipe
- OTA Backup and Restore: Contacts and Calendar; Memos and Tasks; Browser bookmarks; Text messages
- Administration: Based on new BlackBerry user account system (BlackBerry ID); Web-based end user portal; operator call center access
I had a chance to get a sneak peek of BlackBerry Protect and and am definitely happy to see RIM bring this service offering to its (consumer/BIS) customers for FREE of charge. Bottom line is it works as advertised and as you'd expect - the features/capabilities of BlackBerry Protect sort of speak for themselves. While the OTA backup and restore features are nice (would have love to have had these for a long time now), it's the remote device management that will make you say THANK YOU RIM if and when you ever have to use it (like if you ever misplace your device). Definitely another compelling reason to be a BlackBerry owner. Keep reading for some more images and details!
BlackBerry Protect Preview and Walk Through
BlackBerry Protect is comprised of two parts that work together to provide the total experience: an on-device BlackBerry application that runs in the background where you can modify settings, and a dedicated web-portal where you can login to manage the remote features.
Features | Details | Images |
Desktop: Wipe Device |
|
|
Desktop: Lock device |
|
|
Desktop: Display message |
|
|
Desktop: Loud ringer |
|
|
Desktop: Locate device |
|
|
Backup data from device |
|
|
Restore data from device |
|
|
Security |
|
Hard to argue with all of the above when the price is right, right? All in all I think the BlackBerry Protect service is a more than welcome addition to what BlackBerry already has to offer. To existing BlackBerry owners it's a no brainer to put it to work, and for those looking at making their first smartphone purchase it's another compelling reason to go BlackBerry. One thing I'd still love to see the BlackBerry platform offer (be it via BlackBerry Protect, a third party app, or via all app devs themselves) is the ability for individual third party BlackBerry application settings to be backup up. When you customize app settings (something like BerryBuzz for example) it sucks to have to upgrade your OS or switch over to a new device as you lose all those settings. Or even more basic is the example of a BlackBerry theme. Once you get all of your homescreen folders setup and icons placed in the order you want, there's currently no way to save that theme setup. Switching to a different theme forces you to start fresh, as does switching to a different device. Mega annoying and something I'd love to have the ability to backup and restore.
BlackBerry Protect aside, what also excites me here is that this is all a strong indicator of where RIM is going. We saw RIM introduce remote backup of contacts with BlackBerry Messenger 5.0, and now with App World 2.0 and BlackBerry Protect RIM is tying this in-the-cloud storage with to the new BlackBerry ID account system, which really starts to make things less messy as a BlackBerry owner. We all know the way Apple works their magic with iTunes and the iTunes account. BlackBerry ID is RIM's way of bringing everything BlackBerry together for a customer, and hopefully they will quickly build on this with more service offerings that take advantage of it and the cloud (on investors calls RIM's Co-CEO Jim Balsillie has mentioned many times that RIM is going to be doing big things in media). I guess time will tell!
Stay tuned to CrackBerry.com for more BlackBerry Protect information and details. We'll let you know more on its public availability as we hear it. In the meantime, we hope you're liking what you see!
Read more
BlackBerry Protect now available in Europe and the Middle East
When BlackBerry Protect launched as an open beta a few weeks back, the service was limited to BlackBerry users in the Americas only. Now, however, the service was expanded to support Europe as well as the Middle East. This only leaves out BlackBerry users in Asia, but rest assured BlackBerry Protect will arrive there at some point too. And remember, when used consistently and correctly...
BlackBerry Protect now available (open beta) in North America and Latin America
RIM just let us know that the long talked about BlackBerry Protect app/service is now available to users. We took a detailed look at this wayyy back in July 2010, so check out our BlackBerry Protect Preview to get up to speed. BlackBerry Protect is a free application that allows users to wirelessly backup, restore and locate their BlackBerry smartphone. In the event that their...
BlackBerry Shield images and features leaked
We have heard bits and pieces about the upcoming BlackBerry Shield, but nothing very solid as of yet. Today BBNews.pl dropped a few images as well as some features to be included. The service will be free for BIS users and is said to be entering the testing phase "soon". Features look to include: Remote Device Wipe - Users will be able to remove all data from the device and memory...
BlackBerry Protect update for BlackBerry 10.3.2 users
Here's a little bit of an FYI for anyone out there who might be running the BlackBerry 10.3.2 beta but are not actually part of the beta program. BlackBerry has just sent out an email highlighting an important update happening with BlackBerry Protect that will affect ALL BlackBerry 10.3.2 users whether you're in the beta officially or you used the leaked files to get it installed. If...