So you purchased a BlackBerry on your own and you traveled down to the IT Dept hoping they will add you to the almighty BES only to be told you are not BES worthy. "What?!?" you ask, and the IT dude tells you that CALs (client access license) cost money and your department doesn't have a budget for everyone to be on the BES.
You are not alone in this situation. In my day job I've encountered this many times with my customers who won't put many employee's personal BlackBerry devices on the BES because they must preserve CALs for more "BES worthy staff". It's understandable from the CFO's standpoint - CALs cost money. However, from a corporate efficiency they should want everyone on the BES working more hours away from the office with no overtime pay.
RIM feels the same way and have recently released a business case for companies to have a two BES solution. They recommend a BlackBerry Enterprise Server Express in addition to their standard BES.
Reader comments
Two BlackBerry Enterprise Servers in one company?
nice... this is why blackberry is king
I sent a link to my IT guy when BESX first launched, he called me and said that corporate is very choosy on who gets to access their e-mail from their phone and who doesn't. Hell 75% of our company employees don't even have outside e-mail, intercompany e-mail only... it's a joke. Might as well be doing business back in 1985.
I can get you a P.O. Box and the USPS app lol!
We're looking for cost saving ideas at my work... I just passed this onto my CIO. Maybe I won't be on the chopping block for my berry anymore.
The cost of BB CALs isn't the only reason companies are not giving everyone a BB. Depending on your Microsoft agreement and environment, every BB must also be licensed with a Windows CAL, a SQL CAL, and Exchange CAL (in the example RIM gives in this plan). It adds up.
If I work for the company and would like my work email on my BlackBerry, than I'd assume I already had an exchange email box. Therefore additional Exchange CAL costs are irrelevant.
Same for a Microsoft license as I'd already have a desktop computer. SQL CAL doesn't matter either as BES Express comes with SQL already.
Cheers, Isaac
Like I said, it depends on your environment. If everyone has a user CAL for Windows, SQL and Exchange, then you're set. However if you have an EA with Microsoft (as most large companies do) you have device CALs. A BlackBerry does not count as a qualifying desktop in an EA so they are unlicensed for Windows, SQL and Exchange.
Check with your licensing managers before you make any assumptions.