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RIM introduces BlackBerry Mobile Fusion - The Next Generation Enterprise Mobility Solution for BlackBerry, Android and iOS

by DJ Reyes on 29 Nov 2011 05:36 AM
54
 

RIM 

Press Release 

RIM Announces BlackBerry Mobile Fusion - The Next Generation Enterprise Mobility Solution for BlackBerry, Android and iOS Smartphones and Tablets 

Simplifies Management of Smartphones and Tablets for Business and Government

Waterloo, ON - Research In Motion (RIM) (NASDAQ: RIMM; TSX: RIM) today introduced BlackBerry® Mobile Fusion - the Company's next-generation enterprise mobility solution and RIM's entry into the multi-platform Mobile Device Management (MDM) marketplace. Building on years of leading enterprise mobility management solutions from RIM, BlackBerry Mobile Fusion will simplify the management of smartphones and tablets running BlackBerry®, Google® Android® and Apple® iOS® operating systems.

"We are pleased to introduce BlackBerry Mobile Fusion - RIM's next generation enterprise mobility solution - to make it easier for our business and government customers to manage the diversity of devices in their operations today," said Alan Panezic, Vice President, Enterprise Product Management and Marketing at Research In Motion. "BlackBerry Mobile Fusion brings together our industry-leading BlackBerry Enterprise Server technology for BlackBerry devices with mobile device management capabilities for iOS and Android devices, all managed from one web-based console. It provides the necessary management capabilities to allow IT departments to confidently oversee the use of both company-owned and employee-owned mobile devices within their organizations."

RIM is the leading provider of enterprise mobility solutions with over 90 percent of the Fortune 500 provisioning BlackBerry devices today. The enterprise market for smartphones and tablets continues to grow in both the company-provisioned and employee-owned (Bring Your Own Device or BYOD) categories. BYOD in particular has led to an increase in the diversity of mobile devices in use in the enterprise and new challenges for CIOs and IT departments as they struggle to manage and control wireless access to confidential company information on the corporate network. This has resulted in increased demand for mobile device management solutions.

BlackBerry Mobile Fusion brings together the market-leading BlackBerry® Enterprise Server (version 5.0.3) for BlackBerry smartphones; new management capabilities for BlackBerry PlayBook tablets built on BlackBerry Enterprise Server technology; and mobile device management for smartphones and tablets running Android and iOS operating systems.

BlackBerry Mobile Fusion will provide the following mobile device management capabilities for all supported mobile devices*:

• Asset management
• Configuration management
• Security and policy definition and management
• Secure and protect lost or stolen devices (remote lock, wipe)
• User- and group-based administration
• Multiple device per user capable
• Application and software management
• Connectivity management (Wi-Fi®, VPN, certificate)
• Centralized console
• High scalability

BlackBerry smartphones will continue to benefit from the many advantages of the end-to-end BlackBerry solution including the same advanced IT management, security and control available with BlackBerry Enterprise Server 5.0.3, which is part of BlackBerry Mobile Fusion. These advanced features include BlackBerry® BalanceTM technology supporting the use of a single device for both work and personal purposes without compromising the organization's need to secure, manage and control confidential information; over 500 IT policies; over-the-air app and software installation and management; high availability; and much more. BlackBerry Mobile Fusion will also introduce new self-service functionality for employees to secure lost or stolen BlackBerry smartphones and BlackBerry PlayBook tablets.

BlackBerry Mobile Fusion is currently in early beta testing with select enterprise customers. RIM is now accepting customer nominations for the closed beta program which will start in January, and general availability is expected in late March.

For more information, visit www.blackberry.com/mobilefusion.

* Device security, manageability and controls will continue to vary according to the inherent capabilities of the individual device operating systems.

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.

Filed Under: News & Rumors; Tags: android, Enterprise, iOS, Mobile Fusion
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54 Comments

Posted by Bold_until_Hybrid_Comes Tuesday, Nov 29, 2011 178 days ago

Kevin, podcast needed to explain this to the layman!!! Thanks

 
 
Posted by lcfut Tuesday, Nov 29, 2011 178 days ago

There it is - what people have been missing, the reason native email was missing from the Playbook:
" new management capabilities for BlackBerry PlayBook tablets built on BlackBerry Enterprise Server technology"

RIM needs a way to manage the device from the Enterprise Server for IT policy and security. This is the solution they are rolling out.
Now that companies can upgrade their existing BES licenses to Mobile Fusion (if they want to), then CIO's will have the control over the device they require.

Native email will come next, just watch.

 
 
Posted by engin Tuesday, Nov 29, 2011 178 days ago

Playbooks will be managed via a BPAS server, not a BES. The BES, BPAS and other Admin functions will be converged into the Mobile Fusion interface.

Licensing for the PB will be covered under the CAL for BB handset users.

I suspect that tethering to a non BB handset will require a seperate CAL.

I was hoping that the BPAS would be released by now but think I will have to wait for the release of PB OS2 before BPAS se's the light of day.

:-(

 
 
Posted by bryan144 Tuesday, Nov 29, 2011 178 days ago

I've said they should do this for years. Now, BB will survive, if only as a software company.

 
 
Posted by ODAAT Tuesday, Nov 29, 2011 178 days ago

I agree, but it means there is now much less need for Enterprise to buy BB handsets. And as far as I am aware, without enterprise, RIM don't have a whole lot of other customers left.

 
 
Posted by Chronos88 Tuesday, Nov 29, 2011 178 days ago

I've had the idea that RIM will become the IBM of the mobile world, which is great considering how well they're doing now. They seem to be following their footsteps exactly. Allowing the leading OS's programs to run on their OS was the point where it became obvious. Maybe RIM is considering adopting Android but giving their handset BIS and BES support for better email and BBM.

Obviously it's all speculation but if they continue the IBM path, that's where it would lead. Even if they end up as a consultant for enterprise, that could be a good position for them. I mean, a couple of weeks ago HP was willing to risk it all to fill that role until they came to their senses.

I think that even if the handset market doesn't bring them the growth they want, they'll be OK.

 
 
Posted by kpd001 Tuesday, Nov 29, 2011 178 days ago

So did RIM just give up on their own hardware/OS and are attemping to support BES on additional platforms to expand their userbase?

 
 
Posted by BerryDude28904 Tuesday, Nov 29, 2011 178 days ago

I Think saying this would be drawing absolute conclusions from minutia. I think this is the obvious step forward for RIM as an enterprise focused company. Business has a management problem, multiple device platforms, so RIM is offering a solution and creating a competitive service. Then again I'm not an economist, so i don't really know what i'm talking about either :P

 
 
Posted by kpd001 Tuesday, Nov 29, 2011 178 days ago

Ya I think I jumped to conclusions pretty quick but that's what I get for reading news as soon as I wake up :p Either way, its good they are diversifying accross multiple platforms. If it makes it easier for bussiness's I'm all for it

 
 
Posted by rjshahan Tuesday, Nov 29, 2011 178 days ago

RIM just leveraged their brand to ensure they are the dominant solutions vendor for enterprise MDM.

 
 
Posted by seb.hebert Tuesday, Nov 29, 2011 178 days ago

this is amaaaaaazzzzing!

 
 
Posted by eKafara Tuesday, Nov 29, 2011 178 days ago

I think they can still do well with hardware. They offer this in case a company wants to use other phones yet I believe they will still try and make the best phone for companies.

 
 
Posted by Bla1ze Tuesday, Nov 29, 2011 178 days ago

How quickly the World forgets.

http://crackberry.com/press-release-rim-announces-multi-platform-blackbe...

 
 
Posted by lcfut Tuesday, Nov 29, 2011 178 days ago

No where in that linked article does it mention Playbook support at the BES level.

 
 
Posted by Bla1ze Tuesday, Nov 29, 2011 178 days ago

The PlayBook wasn't even announced at that time. That came out in May, PlayBook was announced in Sept. Of course it's not going to mention a at the time unannounced, unofficial product.

 
 
Posted by taylortbb Tuesday, Nov 29, 2011 178 days ago

By May 2011 the PlayBook was very much announced and launched.

 
 
Posted by Bla1ze Wednesday, Nov 30, 2011 177 days ago

Oh my bad.. wrong years, lol. But that makes me even more confused since I said nothing abt the PlayBook to begin with only and the article I linked was for other platform support..

Meh, whatever.. I'm hopped up on Nyquil anyway. You win. *raises white flag*

 
 
Posted by vx1 Tuesday, Nov 29, 2011 178 days ago

good idea, nice play RIM

 
 
Posted by Robert22 Tuesday, Nov 29, 2011 178 days ago

Very interesting project! RIM should intruce BBM for another platforms as well.

 
 
Posted by guerllamo7 Tuesday, Nov 29, 2011 178 days ago

I would love this if they can ensure that the devices are not already infected with a virus. Otherwise, the virus would travel undetected to other devices.

Security should still be the Rock of Gibralta for RIM.

 
 
Posted by 4speed Tuesday, Nov 29, 2011 178 days ago

This will expose iOS and Andriod OS security deficiencies to CIOs who have fallen asleep. It will start a new movement call DBYOD ( Don't bring Your own Device to work)

 
 
Posted by cal919 Tuesday, Nov 29, 2011 178 days ago

My Torch 9810 died. In the past 3 to 4 months I have gone from a Blackberry addict to a non-supporter of blackberry. Face it, Blackberry is weak, non-inventive, and behind the times. Do yourself a favor and get an iPhone or Android device. I think I'm going to post this continually until my AT&T contract expires. BEWARE OF BLACKBERRY DEVICES - A WASTE OF MONEY AND TIME - NOT RELIABLE.

 
 
Posted by craig.macfadyen Tuesday, Nov 29, 2011 178 days ago

Ive gone from a blackberry deserter twice; each time to come back to blackberry.

I prefer them for thier reliablitly and thier intuitivness.

Great value and a real productivity tool.

 
 
Posted by guerllamo7 Tuesday, Nov 29, 2011 178 days ago

Maybe it is user error.

I have a small business with several new OS7 BlackBerry devices and tablets and no problems here.

If you can't find the power button that is not RIM's fault.

The OS7 devices are a dream to use. By the way, we have a Torch 9810 and it is rock solid. No problems at all.

 
 
Posted by Mathrin Tuesday, Nov 29, 2011 178 days ago

So all those other reliable Blackberries are negated because the very last one you got had an issue. So when your car breaks down you going to go out screaming what a piece of crap that car brand is as well?

Man, some people.

 
 
Posted by momantm Tuesday, Nov 29, 2011 178 days ago

go away troll.

CB needs to add id blocking.

 
 
Posted by BENZ_O Tuesday, Nov 29, 2011 178 days ago

Your a loser!

 
 
Posted by thecsman Tuesday, Nov 29, 2011 178 days ago

That's great! For every post you make, at least 5 people will support BB. Keep it coming!

 
 
Posted by rcheung135 Tuesday, Nov 29, 2011 178 days ago

Gone is the Playbook.

Secondly, Mobile Fusion sounds like fruit drink.

 
 
Posted by guerllamo7 Tuesday, Nov 29, 2011 178 days ago

The article confirms that the Playbook is here to stay. Did you read it?

 
 
Posted by rcheung135 Tuesday, Nov 29, 2011 178 days ago

Yep. Did you read between the lines? Rhetorical question.

 
 
Posted by thecsman Tuesday, Nov 29, 2011 178 days ago

You're not one of those Asians that are first in line to get the next Apple gadget, are you?

 
 
Posted by flapadlr Tuesday, Nov 29, 2011 178 days ago

Late: my enterprise has already bought an MDM solution. Also: as an enterprise infrastructure guy, we have a handful of enterprise non-Microsoft platforms. There are already one or TWO called "Fusion." Again, the marketing fails at RIM. It would be in our best financial interest to get rid of BES altogether, and at the rate the user base is converting to Apple and Android, that is a real possibility. Unrelated: Can't wait for Playbook 2.0 in 2013.

 
 
Posted by Disparishun Tuesday, Nov 29, 2011 178 days ago

What did you guys buy for MDM?

 
 
Posted by undone Tuesday, Nov 29, 2011 178 days ago

Great step in the right direction! Helping the backend support/control the users from a single point (BES) is a win.

 
 
Posted by Crashdmmy39 Tuesday, Nov 29, 2011 178 days ago

WOW, whoooaaaa, ummmm, speechless, etc.; however, excited, can't wait, giddy. While this isn't the first news of this. It does explain RIMs recent activities of holding so much information so close to their chests. It does appear as if the next coming weeks, months and years may be full of lots of new and exciting things. Keep it up RIM don't lay down on us now!

8330 - 8530 - 9630 - 9650 - PlayBook - 9930!
Once you go Bold, you never go back...

 
 
Posted by sofakingcdn Tuesday, Nov 29, 2011 178 days ago

What this means is RIM is throwing in the towel on being that "cool" device and sticking on their roots on what BlackBerry was fonded on, being a secure, safe and reliable device/network. Even with a lot of awesome ideas and devices, they still couldn't convince the apple fanboys there light on the other side. It make good business sense to me and good for RIM.

Don't get my wrong, I love my BlackBerry 9810 most of the time(its not prefect, mainly software but what is perfect) and I would never jump on another fruit bandwagon.

 
 
Posted by MattyC47 Tuesday, Nov 29, 2011 178 days ago

Google BlackBerry London...

With the porting of android apps, and 2.0 the new BBX software will be 100% BB secure/sticking to the roots, but adding the consumer look and feel to an all touch device.

 
 
Posted by rolltide78 Tuesday, Nov 29, 2011 178 days ago

What they say nothing about though which is concerning is anything about the user experience for an iOS or Android user when connected. Will it provide push email through BES to an app on the phone and what features? We have already had Good for Enterprise in our company for 2 years and it's surpassed BB devices now (140-60) so I don't see this being able to grab a foothold. Now there are lots of features that a BES connected blackberry has that a Good connected ios or android doesn't. I'm very skeptical until I see a demo of the user experience from these other devices.

 
 
Posted by MattyC47 Tuesday, Nov 29, 2011 178 days ago

Fusion is ONE management console for BES, PlayBook, and MDM... no one else does that. ONE look and feel for EVERYTHING. Will not effect user experience on the device one bit.

 
 
Posted by zhyrul Tuesday, Nov 29, 2011 178 days ago

I have to admit that I love Blackberries :D
They are completely outdated in terms of hardware and software capabilities, they are expensive, but there is nothing like a Blackberry! The native mail support and the BIS/BES itself it's the reason I own a Blackberry since 2008 (when BIS arrived in Italy). If I want to play and have 2000 useless apps I would take an Android, but if I want to work and manage my mail box, nothing is like a Blackberry.
The multiplatform approach is really appreciated, even thou I think will make lose RIM a lot of market when it comes to their devices. Looking forward to see how's going to evolve!

 
 
Posted by mykidsmom1964 Tuesday, Nov 29, 2011 178 days ago

I second your expression. Couldn't have said it better myself.

 
 
Posted by Beesh1 Tuesday, Nov 29, 2011 178 days ago

Well if this works it should be a great thing!!! Well done RIM!!!! Can't wait!

 
 
Posted by Chango_BB Tuesday, Nov 29, 2011 178 days ago

Apple cameback on top because of the ipod. ipod success was that it supported windows pc. If not,the ipod wouldn't had the success it has. With the moey they madeout of the ipods they were able to innovate and to invest in other things. If it is true that BES will be open to otherplatforms I'm glad they did it because that means cooler stuff for the future and overnight they should become the security standard earning cash from mobile phones sold byother companies. This is a huge competitive advantage because except for Microsoftwho earns $5 for each android sold because of patents issues, no other company is making any profit from phones sold by other companies as RIM is in a position to do.

 
 
Posted by Chango_BB Tuesday, Nov 29, 2011 178 days ago

Apple cameback on top because of the ipod. ipod success was that it supported windows pc. If not,the ipod wouldn't had the success it has. With the moey they madeout of the ipods they were able to innovate and to invest in other things. If it is true that BES will be open to otherplatforms I'm glad they did it because that means cooler stuff for the future and overnight they should become the security standard earning cash from mobile phones sold byother companies. This is a huge competitive advantage because except for Microsoftwho earns $5 for each android sold because of patents issues, no other company is making any profit from phones sold by other companies as RIM is in a position to do.

 
 
Posted by DaedalusIcarusHelios Tuesday, Nov 29, 2011 178 days ago

It would be great if the part that supports other devices is a module that could be added to BES Express, at a nominal cost. Or if this new BlackBerry Mobile Fusion is cost competitive enough for my company to embrace it (we have no solution for the increasing number of Droids and iPhones, and I switched to BES Express over our ancient unsupported BES so I could have HTML email on my BB).

 
 
Posted by 1canuck2 Tuesday, Nov 29, 2011 178 days ago

I am guessing this is the the RIM branded release of Ubitexx (http://www.ubitexx.com/)
RIM bought them in May (http://press.rim.com/release.jsp?id=5017)

Don't know if its "simply" RIM rebranded Ubitexx software, or if there's been additional work to integrate things more tightly with BES, etc. Given the purchase was in May, I'd hope its the latter...

 
 
Posted by rolltide78 Tuesday, Nov 29, 2011 178 days ago

yeah I know. They need to allow us to put this is in at a very minimal cost and provide very similar functionality of BES. We already have a Good for Enterprise server and I don't see this going away if RIM makes us purchase another product. Also, we have many BES licenses that are now freed up after users have bailed to other devices (and to Good) so if those license could be transferable that would be perfect. RIM better have thought about these scenarios.

 
 
Posted by manofice Tuesday, Nov 29, 2011 178 days ago

Our RIM rep told us about this a few weeks ago. Super pumped

 
 
Posted by Chango_BB Tuesday, Nov 29, 2011 178 days ago

Apple cameback on top because of the ipod. ipod success was that it supported windows pc. If not,the ipod wouldn't had the success it has. With the moey they madeout of the ipods they were able to innovate and to invest in other things. If it is true that BES will be open to otherplatforms I'm glad they did it because that means cooler stuff for the future and overnight they should become the security standard earning cash from mobile phones sold byother companies. This is a huge competitive advantage because except for Microsoftwho earns $5 for each android sold because of patents issues, no other company is making any profit from phones sold by other companies as RIM is in a position to do.

 
 
Posted by MattyC47 Tuesday, Nov 29, 2011 178 days ago

things to take a grasp on here folks
Fusion is ONE management console for BES, PlayBook, and MDM... no one else does that. ONE look and feel for EVERYTHING.

Is anyone seriously thinking that fusion, with its management capabilities of the PlayBook, would not be released at the same time as the 2.0 software for the PlayBook? What would be the point of releasing it with nothing to control. Read between the lines. Do they really have to spell it out for everyone as to the release date of this?

 
 
Posted by rolltide78 Tuesday, Nov 29, 2011 178 days ago

From what I am reading this will sit next to BES..

My guess is Fusion will manage ios/android/bb tablets and BES will manage Blackberries.
Now what will manage BBX going forward seems hazy. I definitely didn't take away that Fusion will manage everything including BES.

 
 
Posted by tweak_s Tuesday, Nov 29, 2011 178 days ago

Definitely agreed its the IBM route RIM's taking; a technology company solving a business problem.
I however, see this as a strange move for this time (though I'm sure this has been planned for a while), RIM has BBX up its sleeves which, let's be honest was developed mainy due to their faltering user base against Androids and iOS. They are supporting those other devices now when their new device is about to come out. If Androids and iOS gain management through a company such as RIM (whom non technical managers may recognize more easily) it'll be hard to convince why a company shuld stay with corporate issued Blackberries.

 
 
Posted by bergeronjc Tuesday, Nov 29, 2011 178 days ago

RIM is going to throw in the towel on mobile devices after the first BBX device and become 'service company'.

It's not really a shame, since it has been so long since RIM was innovative with mobile devices, that everyone has forgotten about it and now think of RIM/BlackBerry as that kid who desperately wants to be cool but doesn't know how so they just copy the "cool kids" and hope for the best.

In 5 years 'BlackBerry' will be used in the same sentence as 'Palm Pilot'.