If needing to know about BlackBerry Enterprise applications is your thing, then you may want to check out RIM's upcoming BlackBerry Enterprise application showcase. The event, to be held online on May 30th will offer a look at some of the enterprise solutions available from some of RIM's key partners including Citrix, SAP, and Box.

The BlackBerry® Enterprise Application Showcase is a one-day virtual event that highlights key partner applications that are designed to fully enable a productive mobile office. This virtual conference offers all of the same benefits you'd experience attending a physical conference, all without ever leaving your desk.

• Timely, Relevant Information - Gain key insights from the leading minds in enterprise mobility today.
• Savvy Keynote Speakers - See innovative apps from top enterprise partners Citrix, SAP, and Box.
• Instant Takeaway Collateral - Download all the relevant information to review and share
• Real-time exhibitor interaction - Visit booths and ask questions in a content-rich virtual 3D environment

Things will kick off at 10:30am ET and run until 2:30pm ET. If you're interested in learning more, you can hit the link below for further details and to get yourself registered if you do so with to attend the event.

Learn more and register for the BlackBerry Enterprise application showcase

RIM has announced today that their BlackBerry Mobile Voice System now supports OpenScape Voice from Siemens Enterprise Communications. The BlackBerry MVS service allows users to access the functionality of their desk phones right from their BlackBerry device. BlackBerry MVS is an amazing tool that lets users extend their desk phone when on the go, essentially serving as an extension of their corporate phone line.

Press Release

LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM--(Marketwire - April 17, 2012) - Research In Motion (RIM) (NASDAQ:RIMM)(TSX:RIM) today announced that BlackBerry® Mobile Voice System (MVS) 5.1 now supports OpenScape Voice V6 from Siemens Enterprise Communications. The solution allows customers to access desk phone functionality on their BlackBerry® smartphone.

BlackBerry MVS, together with OpenScape Voice, can be used to provide a comprehensive Fixed-Mobile Convergence (FMC) solution for BlackBerry smartphone users. Siemens Enterprise Communications customers will now be able to place and receive desk phone calls on their BlackBerry smartphones and enjoy the convenience of single number reach, extension dialing and phone features such as hold, transfer and ad-hoc conferencing.

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RIM has announced today that BlackBerry Mobile Fusion is now available. Mobile Fusion enables IT departments to manage and support BlackBerry, iOS and Android devices and also allows end users the freedom to choose their own device. An initial release for BlackBerry phones and the PlayBook launched in February and today's release brings Mobile Fusion to iOS and Android devices as well.  

Press Release

Introducing BlackBerry Mobile Fusion - RIM Launches Next Generation Mobile Device Management Solution for Government and Business Customers

Cost-Efficient Solution Delivers Secure, Reliable, Scalable and Easy Management of BlackBerry, iOS and Android Devices

Waterloo - Research In Motion (RIM) (NASDAQ: RIMM; TSX: RIM) today launched the highly-anticipated BlackBerry® Mobile Fusion, RIM's next-generation mobile device management (MDM) solution for enterprise customers. Built on the foundation that has established BlackBerry® Enterprise Server as the gold standard for government and businesses, BlackBerry Mobile Fusion delivers a cost-efficient, secure, reliable and scalable solution that consolidates the management of smartphones and tablets running BlackBerry® OS (including support for BlackBerry PlayBook^TM and future BlackBerry® 10 devices) as well as Android^TM and iOS®*, and provides a single, unified, web-based console for easily managing all devices.

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In the event you missed it, BlackBerry PlayBook OS 2.0 launched today and most of the world in rejoicing. I say most, because in the security conscious corporate world new shiny products and updates are approached cautiously.

When a BlackBerry Enterprise Server (BES) in engaged the IT department is less guarded to new devices since the BES is a rock solid security solution. With PlayBook OS 2.0 there is cause for some concern now that your PlayBook can connect directly to the corporate mail server using Exchange Active Sync and bypassing the traditional BES.

Good news today from RIM, they have made Mobile Fusion for PlayBook Administration available for a free 90-trial download today! Look for a more deeper look at how the Mobile Fusion sausage is made a little later, but for now hit the RIM site to signup for the 90 trial.

More information and download Mobile Fusion Trial

In the last week we've seen two significant stories that further suggest RIM is losing what was once its iron-clad grip on corporate IT departments.

The giant energy company Halliburton, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) are both said to be giving up BlackBerry deployments in favor of Apple's iPhone and iPad.

In fact, in the case of NOAA, an official memo obtained by The Loop reportedly says that BlackBerry is being removed from the administration's list of supported devices.

So what does all this mean in the short term and long term? What is RIM doing to address it? That's what I'd like to talk about.

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Sweet! Things are continuing to grow around here on all fronts. Building upon our already broad network of podcasts, CrackBerry's longtime resident Enterprise Editors and Experts Craig Johnston and Isaac Kendall have fittingly kicked off a new Enterprise focused podcast for Mobile Nations (joined by good 'ole Rene Ritchie, who also has a lot of experience in IT and Enterprise). So join Craig, Isaac, and Rene as they kick off the new Mobile Nations Enterprise show with an introduction and look at the consumerization of IT. Heck, I haven't even watched this one... so am going to hit play on the video as soon as I hit publish on this post. Let's hope it's good! ;)

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BlackBerry Users Can Now Send Encrypted and Verified Email

RPost has extended its Registered Email services to create a new class of mobile messaging, bringing the security of BlackBerry email to any recipient regardless of where they access their email. This new RPost app for BlackBerry is tightly integrated into the native ‘compose email’ function, permitting users to scroll up one position to ‘Send Registered’ email messages.

The sender can choose to:

• Encrypt to any recipient address regardless of how the recipient accesses their email, with proof of compliance with HIPAA and other data privacy mandates;
• Track email opening with an official time-stamp of the content opened;
• Send documents specially formatted to obtain recipient electronic signatures on the attached document;
• Include a client reference code with the message. RPost will later embed this code into the Registered Receipt emails and usage reports; and
• Receive auditable and time-stamped proof of content in replies to the BlackBerry sender's email, serving as records of responses to offers, messages, and negotiations.

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Earlier today we posted the RIM press release announcing BlackBerry Mobile Fusion. They just wrapped up a webinar which gave more details about this coming service, but the question many have is just what is BlackBerry Mobile Fusion?

The simplest answer is that Mobile Fusion is a Mobile Device Management(MDM) platform that fuses the deployment and management of multiple device platforms to on console. It should be said that this is nothing new and there are many MDM options out there, but for my it's exciting because with the Fusion announcement we have a better look at how the PlayBook and BBX devices will be handled at the corporate enterprise level.

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Press Release

WATERLOO, ONTARIO - Research In Motion (RIM) (NASDAQ:RIMM)(TSX:RIM) announced today the BlackBerry® Client for Microsoft SharePoint, delivering the most advanced mobile SharePoint solution on the market. The BlackBerry Client app provides a deeply integrated and intuitive mobile experience for users together with the market-leading manageability and security of BlackBerry® Enterprise Server, providing a secure and cost-effective solution for businesses and government organizations.

"Our enterprise and government customers asked us to bring a highly refined mobile experience to SharePoint and we are delivering that today with the BlackBerry Client for Microsoft SharePoint," said Alan Panezic, Vice President, Enterprise Product Management and Marketing at Research In Motion.

Connectivity between BlackBerry® smartphones and SharePoint servers is made possible with the market-leading BlackBerry® Enterprise Server software. The complete solution features:

• Client app integration with core BlackBerry features and functions such as email, calendar, browser, and Universal Search providing an intuitive user experience
• Check-out, check-in, and versioning of files reflected on the SharePoint server
• Microsoft Office document editing using Documents To Go® (pre-installed on BlackBerry smartphones) to download, create, revise and upload documents
• Access to Blogs, Wikis and Lists and the ability to update from a BlackBerry smartphone
• Content searches across multiple SharePoint sites from a BlackBerry smartphone

In addition to user benefits, the complete solution also comes with many benefits for organizations and their IT departments. Application management and over-the-air provisioning of the Client app is made easy for IT departments with BlackBerry® Enterprise Server. The DataSmart™ efficiency of the BlackBerry solution transmits more data with less monthly data plan usage, allowing organizations to consider smaller or more budget-friendly plans. And CIOs will welcome the fact that confidential company information is being transmitted securely over the wireless network between BlackBerry Enterprise Server and BlackBerry smartphones.

"In a world of continuous connectivity, businesses and governments require products, services and information faster and more reliably than ever before," said Victor Garcia, Chief Technology Officer at HP Canada. "The BlackBerry Client for Microsoft SharePoint helps to address the needs of today's mobile workforce with new tools and mobile applications to enable collaboration and productivity."

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Press Release

WATERLOO, ONTARIO and CLEARWATER, FLORIDA - Research In Motion (RIM) (NASDAQ:RIMM)(TSX:RIM) and Tech Data Corporation (NASDAQ:TECD) today announced a new agreement that enables Tech Data to distribute BlackBerry® devices, software and technical support services to its channel of over 60,000 value-added resellers in the United States. The agreement also allows Tech Data to support the end-to-end sale of BlackBerry solutions for small to mid-sized businesses through Tech Data's new TDMobility offering operated by ActivateIT, a Tech Data and Brightstar Corp. joint venture company.

"This agreement opens up new channels for BlackBerry solutions targeted at small to mid-sized businesses in the U.S.," said Derek Peper, Vice President, Enterprise Sales and Strategic Partnerships at Research In Motion. "RIM is also pleased to support the innovative TDMobility offering through this new relationship with Tech Data – an offering that supports the end-to-end sale of BlackBerry solutions, from devices and software through to training and technical support. This is a great win for RIM, Tech Data, Brightstar, the reseller community, our carrier partners and, most importantly, our business customers."

Bringing together two of the world's largest technology distribution companies, Tech Data and Brightstar, gives TDMobility tremendous size and a wide-ranging set of skills. Tech Data's existing operations allow TDMobility to simplify the entire mobility transaction for resellers, while providing access to state-of-the-art mobile devices, a streamlined activation process with leading mobile carriers, and a commission structure that can improve profitability and cash flow for resellers. Completing the solution, TDMobility enables resellers to create a recurring revenue stream by taking advantage of ActivateIT's Cell Manage platform to help resellers simplify their customers' deployments by offering consolidated billing.

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Exploring the ways to activate your BlackBerry on a BES

Back when the new BB7 devices launched I wrote an article about the Enterprise Activation application compatibility issues with OS7. The article stirred up quite a bit of controversy and some really "interesting" comments, some of which told me that there is a need for some clarification on the different methods of activating a BlackBerry on a BlackBerry Enterprise Server (BES).

So let's look at the many options for activating on a BES and what actually occurs duing this mysterious Enterprise Activation. Are you sitting comfortably? Than we'll begin.

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I'm an "Inbox Zero" guy - my goal is to empty my email inbox as quickly as possible. Once a message has been dealt with I file it in an appropriate folder immediately. Once it's filed I move on to the next one. This is also how I deal with my follow-up - if it's in the inbox it is not done yet.

Depending on how many folders and sub-folders you have it can be quite time consuming to file messages in Outlook, I'm forever dragging and scrolling messages from the Inbox to my labyrinth of sub-folders. I've moved to filing exclusively on my BlackBerry smartphone because it is just easier and for those of you who use Outlook can appreciate, the BlackBerry is actually smarter than Outlook.

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Always welcome news for me and the Enterprise BlackBerry faithful, late last week Google updated the Google Apps Connector for BES. It's great to see that this is a product Google plans to keep up-to-date and shows that BlackBerry and BES is critical to the business user.

In addition to supporting BES 5.0 service pack 3, version 4.0 of the Google Apps connector brings some of my favorite business features. Theses new features are Free/Busy look-up and support for read receipt.

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Press Release

COLUMBIA, MD – August 29, 2011 – BoxTone, the leader in Enterprise Mobility Management (EMM), today announced support for the BlackBerry® 7 operating system (OS), now running on new mobile devices including the BlackBerry® Bold™ 9900 and 9930 with touch display and keyboard, BlackBerry® Torch™ 9810 with touch display and slide-out keyboard, and the all-touch BlackBerry® Torch™ 9850 and 9860.

Across these new devices, key capabilities for the enterprise user include the faster processors, increased memory, sharper high resolution display, faster WebKit browser with HTML5, and pre-loaded Documents To Go®, across a variety of form factors to meet the need and preferences of enterprise users. The launch across 255 carriers and partners ensures global availability often required by the enterprise.

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Update: The Enterprise Activation app now supports all BlackBerry 7 devices including the new Curves. Download it from App World here. 

It's bitter sweet when a brand new series of BlackBerry and OS launches. Sweet because of the excitement of getting that shiny new device in your hands. Nobody was more excited than the fearless leader of the CrackBerry Nation Kevin. I don't think it could have been clearer in his unboxing video that he more excited than the 6 year old on Christmas morning when he finds that new red bike. For those of you who missed it, go back and watch the video, you can't fake that love for the BlackBerry.

The bitter part though is many of our favorite apps are not supported on the new series of devices. Today was no different when I went to setup my new Bold 9900. OK so my Audible.com app isn't working, the Cineplex Mobile app isn't' supported, nor is Copy2Contact; but Enterprise Activation for BESX isn't supported?!?

*Note: The article doesn't imply that BES isn't supported by BB7, just that the BlackBerry Enterprise Express Activation app in AppWorld isn't supported.*

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