In addition to the BlackBerry 10 Jam: Enterprise Edition tours happening around the world, RIM is working in various other ways to get Enterprise customers on board with BlackBerry 10 as well. As announced today, they're now offering a BlackBerry 10 Enterprise Readiness Program that will help with the transition to BlackBerry 10 for Enterprise customers out there already invested in BlackBerry services:
We remain committed to our enterprise customers and want to provide them with a head start on understanding the power of BlackBerry 10 and preparing their existing environments for the new mobile computing platform," said Bryan Lee, Senior Director, Enterprise at RIM. "The BlackBerry 10 Ready Program gives customers access to a variety of services, information, tools, and special offers to help ease their transition to BlackBerry 10 and BlackBerry Enterprise Service 10."
The program is quite extensive in its offerings. With webcasts, free BlackBerry 10 device offers and even a one-for-one BlackBerry Enterprise Server License trade up program now in place, RIM is putting action behind their words of commitment to Enterprise.
Press Release
New BlackBerry 10 Ready Program to Help BlackBerry Enterprise Customers Leverage Existing Investments
WATERLOO, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - Dec. 6, 2012) - Research In Motion (RIM) (NASDAQ:RIMM)(TSX:RIM) today announced the BlackBerry® 10 Ready Program. The program is designed to address the needs of BlackBerry enterprise customers as they prepare their environments for the launch of BlackBerry 10 and BlackBerry® Enterprise Service 10, RIM's powerful new multiplatform enterprise mobility management solution. The program will be introduced in a phased approach with four components. Two of the components - The BlackBerry 10 Ready Offer and the BlackBerry 10 Ready Webcast Series - are available today. The BlackBerry Enterprise Server License Trade Up and BlackBerry 10 Readiness Services components will be available ahead of the global BlackBerry 10 launch on January 30, 2013.
"We remain committed to our enterprise customers and want to provide them with a head start on understanding the power of BlackBerry 10 and preparing their existing environments for the new mobile computing platform," said Bryan Lee, Senior Director, Enterprise at RIM. "The BlackBerry 10 Ready Program gives customers access to a variety of services, information, tools, and special offers to help ease their transition to BlackBerry 10 and BlackBerry Enterprise Service 10."
BlackBerry 10 Ready Offer
BlackBerry customers with BlackBerry Technical Support at the Advantage level or higher are eligible to receive a free BlackBerry 10 smartphone.* Customers will need to install and run BlackBerry® Mobile Fusion (which will be succeeded by BlackBerry Enterprise Service 10), and successfully complete an exclusive online learning course to qualify. Upon the launch of BlackBerry 10, the organization will receive a free BlackBerry 10 smartphone.
BlackBerry 10 Webcast Series
The weekly BlackBerry 10 webcast series is designed to share information, answer questions about RIM's enterprise product portfolio, and prepare enterprise customers with the tools they need ahead of launch. The webcasts will be supported in multiple languages.
BlackBerry Enterprise Server License Trade Up
RIM will be offering customers who purchase BlackBerry 10 smartphones the ability to trade up their existing BlackBerry Enterprise Server licenses on a one for one basis for free, until December 31, 2013.** The license trade up offer will allow customers to secure and manage their BlackBerry 10 smartphones with BlackBerry Enterprise Service 10. Customers will be able to access an online tool for the BlackBerry Enterprise Server License Trade Up in January 2013.
BlackBerry 10 Readiness Services
This set of services will provide customers with a smooth migration path to BlackBerry 10. Change management and planning migration tools, and application development services will be available in January 2013. For more details customers can email BB10EnterpriseServices@rim.com.
For more information about the BlackBerry 10 Ready Program please visit www.blackberry.com/blackberry10ready.
To register for the BlackBerry 10 Webcast Series, and to get a complete list of dates and times, please visit www.blackberry.com/blackberry10webcasts.
* Offer available while supplies last. Limit one (1) device per company. Offer currently only available for customers in North America. (Additional countries are expected to follow with similar offers.) Offer deadline: February 28, 2013. For complete details see Terms and Conditions: http://www.blackberry.com/business/blackberry-10-ready/free-blackberry-10-device/terms-and-conditions.html.
** Offer applies to BlackBerry Enterprise Server licenses only; not applicable for BlackBerry Enterprise Server Express licenses. Additional Terms and Conditions apply.
About Research In Motion
Research In Motion (RIM), a global leader in wireless innovation, revolutionized the mobile industry with the introduction of the BlackBerry® solution in 1999. Today, BlackBerry products and services are used by millions of customers around the world to stay connected to the people and content that matter most throughout their day. Founded in 1984 and based in Waterloo, Ontario, RIM operates offices in North America, Europe, Asia Pacific and Latin America. RIM is listed on the NASDAQ Stock Market (NASDAQ:RIMM) and the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX:RIM). For more information, visit www.rim.com or www.blackberry.com.
Forward-looking statements in this news release are made pursuant to the "safe harbor" provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and applicable Canadian securities laws. When used herein, words such as "expect", "anticipate", "estimate", "may", "will", "should", "intend", "believe", and similar expressions, are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on estimates and assumptions made by RIM in light of its experience and its perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments, as well as other factors that RIM believes are appropriate in the circumstances. Many factors could cause RIM's actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements, including those described in the "Risk Factors" section of RIM's Annual Information Form, which is included in its Annual Report on Form 40-F (copies of which filings may be obtained at www.sedar.com or www.sec.gov). These factors should be considered carefully, and readers should not place undue reliance on RIM's forward-looking statements. RIM has no intention and undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.
BlackBerry, RIM, Research In Motion and related trademarks, names and logos are the property of Research In Motion Limited and are registered and/or used in the U.S. and countries around the world. All other brands, names and marks are the property of their respective owners. RIM is not responsible for any third party products or services.
CDM76 Dec 6, 2012 at 6:55 am
RIM is doing it right !!!
Now lets hope all this pays off :)
Since many companies and gov orgs "force" BlackBerries onto their employees, hopefully these enterprise customers will like the BB10 experience enough to recommend others to buy a BB10 phone.
RIM : Hopefully this time you can create the phone default settings to coincide with normal consumer expectations (privacy wise etc) but yet be easily customizable for the business users. Most public consumers will not play around with settings, but companies IT Depts will if required.
ciscobear Dec 6, 2012 at 7:04 am
Still waiting to hear what will happen to BESX customers :(
gunner-az Dec 6, 2012 at 9:34 am
Yes, that's my big concern too. Has there been any word on this?
SilkySunshine Dec 6, 2012 at 10:47 am
I attended the Enterprise forum that was held in Calgary, AB in Oct. RIM showed the different "flavors" of BES10 and there will be a version that will replace BESx. They didn't get into details or specifics about each version but someone asked the question you just asked and they said BESx customers would be covered.
Switch13 Dec 6, 2012 at 11:24 am
I've heard the time frame is end June for a version that will support v7 and v10 devices on the same BES.
If true - that's when we'll enter the BB10 game.
TripNFry Dec 6, 2012 at 8:35 am
too bad my company is dropping blackberry support. when they see what they're missing and decide to come back a year from now, they'll have missed out what sounds like a great transition program.
martinjdub Dec 6, 2012 at 1:09 pm
If your company uses Active Sync and iOS devices, I bet you will see BlackBerry 10 there soon.
I find that if a company removes BES....active sync become the standard management tool
Kiddo2050 Dec 6, 2012 at 9:36 am
I'm at a Uni, on BES but since my phone is not managed I'm wondering if there is ANY reason to try to get a BB10 phone on BES rather than BIS? Anyone know? Thanks
martinjdub Dec 6, 2012 at 1:02 pm
The short answer is BIS is for consumers, BES is for Enterprise. There is no benefit to be on bes unless you need access to enterprise data.
Does that answer your Questions?
parvezjj Dec 6, 2012 at 11:00 am
So wait, just one BB10 phone per company? I'm confused
Rootbrian Dec 8, 2012 at 11:30 pm
One per employee.
neteng1000 Dec 6, 2012 at 11:12 am
As a trial I suppose. In order to test it with the new software.
Switch13 Dec 6, 2012 at 11:22 am
First real good enterprise news from RIM in nearly 2 years!!! This may stop the bleeding on the enterprise side - although there's still a huge amount of damage done.
mechanoid Dec 6, 2012 at 11:46 am
I guess the question is what about CALs? it is good that they are offering a one to one upgrade path for the servers, but if you need to buy a "new" CAL rather than an "upgrade" when users migrate across, then this could cost a large amount dependent on your BES environment
martinjdub Dec 6, 2012 at 12:57 pm
Good question.
if a user migrates from bb to bb10, free cal. Net new bb10 users will need a cal. For us this is a significant savings as we are a RIM shop.
mechanoid Dec 6, 2012 at 1:29 pm
We just need confirmation of this from Rim then I shall be more than happy
martinjdub Dec 6, 2012 at 12:54 pm
Loaded up Fusion and BDS pilot....we are ready!
Superfly_FR Dec 6, 2012 at 2:50 pm
This is a great news. BYOD fans could cry the $$$ they will spent by dropping BES.
matisadan Dec 6, 2012 at 8:37 pm
They wil give you a free BB10 if you install Fusion... well go see your boss and tell him you need a fully complete infrastructure (not forgetting firewall, software) all the work hours just for getting a free BB10 (approx...±600$?)!!! I can already imagine the answer
k_a_s_m_i_t_h Dec 6, 2012 at 11:07 pm
Already had mobile fusion installed, just completed the online training and passed the 3 "tests". I'm ready to receive my free device.
As for CALs. When you migrate to BB10 devices, you can migrate your device CALs for free. If the user wants to also enterprise active a second device (playbook), you will need to buy an additional cal.
tstriegel Dec 13, 2012 at 12:40 pm
I rebuilt my BDS with the SRP and CAL from the BlackBerry 10 Ready Offer. I also completed the 3 tests. I am so ready for my device!
k_a_s_m_i_t_h -> Have you received any notification of completion or that your are all set now?