When you’re on the move with your BlackBerry 10 smartphone, a quick swipe into the BlackBerry Hub is all you need to read and respond to emails, text messages, BBM messages, tweets, Facebook posts, check your agenda for the day, and even more. Your social platforms are bundled into one location, and you can interact with your networks without ever leaving the Hub. Check out the video below to learn more:

[ YouTube link for mobile viewing ]

Social integration extends beyond the Hub, and works within BlackBerry Calendar for seamless access to contacts and content, making it easy to view and invite contacts to events while staying up to date on their social activity. Before you head into a meeting, check your colleague’s recent social activity to stay up to date on the latest news and what’s important to them.

The social integration built into the BlackBerry 10 platform helps you to collaborate faster and more efficiently with those that matter most to you and your business. How do you use social integration on your BlackBerry 10 smartphone to manage both your personal and business life? Share in the comments below.

[ YouTube link for mobile viewing ]

When your BlackBerry 10 smartphone is managed by BlackBerry Enterprise Service 10, File Manager becomes an invaluable tool no business should be without. You can use BlackBerry Work Drives to map a network drive to your device’s File Manager, allowing you to browse and interact with files on your corporate drives.

This app allows for seamless access and transfer of files that are externally or internally stored on your BlackBerry device, as well as files managed by Dropbox or your business’ server. This mix of offline and online storage means you can create, edit, save and transfer any kind of office document while on the go, from the comfort of your device. And with BES 10 you can be sure that your content will remain protected and secure.

How do you use the File Manager on BlackBerry 10? Share in the comments below.

First year engineering students at Dalhousie University received something extra when they started last year – a BlackBerry PlayBook. Professors took advantage of the new teaching opportunities created when every student is connected.

“Given its ultra portability and power, the PlayBook has given the students the ability to interact with professors at an unprecedented level,” explains Dalhousie Professor George Jarjoura.

Having every student using a PlayBook opened up new ways to teach. Students could follow along with course presentations on their PlayBooks, annotating slides with their own notes. Equally as important, given the size of first-year lectures, was the ability to ask questions and take quizzes electronically, in real time.

“For some first year students, participation during the question period is very intimidating, especially in large classes with hundreds of students,” says Professor Jarjoura. “With the PlayBooks, students could ask questions, submit answers and interact with me in real time, as I lecture.”

The initial pilot year was considered a success and Dalhousie is planning to continue experimenting with instruction using PlayBooks.

“Students told me that they quite liked having e-books and notes together – and that they could attend and participate in my lectures from wherever they were,” says Professor Jarjoura. “The success and popularity of the program means we’re eager to continue.”

For further information, see the article on page 10 of Dalhousie’s Faculty of Engineering Winter 2013 newsletter.

It’s time to get your business migrated to the latest enterprise mobility management technology. Whether you’re considering adopting a BYOD approach, looking to integrate enterprise apps into your processes and workflow, or everything in between, BlackBerry Enterprise Service 10 version 10.1 has got what you need.

We recently published an overview of the features of BlackBerry Enterprise Service 10 version 10.1. The update includes a simplified deployment experience, more extensive EMM controls for customers in regulated industries, dashboard enhancements, and unified cross-platform administration. Today I’d like to focus on how you can upgrade to BlackBerry Enterprise Service 10 version 10.1, including some new offers and discounts that you can take advantage of.

So you’ve got a BlackBerry Enterprise Server 4…

If you’re still running BlackBerry Enterprise Server version 4, the first thing that you’ll want to do is upgrade to BlackBerry Enterprise Server version 5.0.4. This way, you’ll be able to add on BlackBerry Enterprise Service 10 and take advantage of all of the fantastic functionality and consolidate your view to all your BlackBerry devices. The good news is that we’re offering upgrades from BlackBerry Enterprise Server 4 to BlackBerry Enterprise Server 5 for FREE (a $995 USD value)! Learn more and take advantage of the offer by heading over to www.blackberry.com/blackberry10ready.

Once you’ve updated to BlackBerry Enterprise Server version 5.0.4, read on to continue on your migration path to BlackBerry Enterprise Service 10 version 10.1.

So you’ve got a BlackBerry Enterprise Server 5…

With BlackBerry Enterprise Service 10 version 10.1, you can now install the software on a single physical or virtual server and eliminate a separate server for BlackBerry Enterprise Server 5. Head over to www.blackberry.com/bes10 and download a free 60-day trial, purchase licenses, or find a reseller.

If you’re updating your fleet of BlackBerry smartphones to BlackBerry 10 models, you can trade up Client Access Licenses (CAL’s) from BlackBerry Enterprise Server 5 to BlackBerry Enterprise Service 10 for free on a one-for-one basis until December 31st, 2013. Learn more and trade up licenses at www.blackberry.com/licensetradeup.

So you’ve got a BlackBerry Enterprise Service 10…

Good! Now all that you need is version 10.1. It’s available as a free download from www.blackberry.com/bes10 and can be installed quickly and simply onto your existing deployment. You’ll also need to migrate your BlackBerry Enterprise Service 10 Client Access Licenses to version 10.1. As always, it’s easy to migrate and it won’t cost you a thing.

Get up and running with BlackBerry Enterprise Service 10.1! All of the details, including why you should upgrade in the first place, can be found at the newly redesigned www.blackberry.com/blackberry10ready.

Take a look below to find out about what we saw, and what is soon to be released on BlackBerry 10.

harmon.ie BlackBerry 10 Edition

harmon.ie for BlackBerry 10 enables secure mobile collaboration for BlackBerry 10 business users. This allows users to use full-featured SharePoint on-premise and Office 365 Apps across desktop and mobile. By providing fully functional, secure connectivity and offline document access, you can keep work moving from your BlackBerry 10 smartphone.

Gwava’s Retain™ for BlackBerry Unified Archiving

At BlackBerry Live this week, Gwava has announced the availability of its Retain Unified Archiving solution for BlackBerry 10 smartphones. Gwava’s Retain for BlackBerry provides unified message archiving, eDiscovery, and publishing for organizations looking for a mobile archiving solution for organizational or regulatory compliance.

This solution enables organizations to archive email and social messaging into one unified location. All messages are securely stored in a single database and can be easily accessed through the Retain web access archive viewer.

Skype

We’re happy to announce that Skype is available for the newly launched BlackBerry Q10 as well as BlackBerry Z10 smartphones. Skype is an excellent tool to use both for business communication as well as to stay in touch with family and friends.

While you’re on the go with your BlackBerry smartphone and the Skype app, you’ll enjoy the ability to have:

• Free face to face video and voice calls
• Instant messages
• low cost voice calls and text messages to landlines and mobiles over WiFi® or wireless network connections.

BoxTone Mobile Service Management

This week at BlackBerry Live BoxTone announced support for BlackBerry 10. BoxTone’s Mobile Service Management platform enables organizations to proactively monitor and support their end-to-end mobile environment. BoxTone delivers the control IT needs, supportability users demand and reliability the business requires for wide-scale, mission-critical mobile deployments.

The below applications were shown around BlackBerry Live, but have yet to be officially released. Keep your eye on BlackBerry World in the near future to get your hands on these quality apps.

HP ePrint

This week HP was showing off the Hp ePrint app for BlackBerry 10, giving you the ability to wirelessly print from your BlackBerry smartphone to any connected ePrint enabled printer. These print stations can be at your home, in the office or “on-the-go”. There are now 30,000 HP Public Print Locations at partners like FedEx Office, The UPS Store in addition to airports and hotels. This lets you easily print your digital content to your HP Printer via the Cloud or secure business network. This app will be available in BlackBerry World very shortly!

Reuters Eikon

Thomson Reuters Eikon is designed to provide a powerful and intuitive next-generation solution for you to consume real-time and historical data, connect with the financial markets community and execute financial markets transactions. In summer 2013 Thomson Reuters Eikon will be delivered on BlackBerry 10 and fully integrated into the core OS features for a smooth user experience. You will be able to set custom alerts for market data and automatically sync news with your desktop. There are plans for a new dashboard for BlackBerry that will make finding the news and quotes you’re looking for easier than ever.

We are truly excited about all of the releases and announcements at BlackBerry Live this week, and continue to work with partners to bring even more applications and functionality to the BlackBerry smartphones. These top-notch partner apps give you, the business user even more tools to stay productive throughout the day, so you can keep business moving while you are.

I love accessories. Period! It doesn’t really matter if we’re talking shoes, watches, curtains, throw pillows, or garden gnomes, I love them all and my technology is no exception. I’ve recently started using a BlackBerry Q10 and I have really enjoyed choosing my accessories. I get the feeling everyone else does too. The accessory booth is hopping here at BlackBerry Live with people itching to get their hands on this incredible line up of accessories that have been designed specifically for the BlackBerry Q10 smartphone.

Don’t worry if you weren’t able to join us this year. Head over to www.BlackBerry.com/Q10accessories or your local retailer to pick up these awesome accessories.

What’s the first accessory you’d buy for your BlackBerry Q10?

Features of BlackBerry Enterprise IM 3.0

A value added service for BlackBerry Enterprise Service customers, BlackBerry Enterprise IM 3.0 is compatible with both BlackBerry Z10 and BlackBerry Q10 smartphones. Check out the list below for some of the key features that will keep your business moving:

• BlackBerry Security is built into both the app and the BlackBerry 10 platform, allowing you to discuss work matters confidently using your BlackBerry smartphone
• Chat with colleagues both one-on-one and in group conversations, allowing for flexible productivity
• Presence status is included to quickly indicate your availability
• Escalate a chat directly into a secure voice call from anywhere in the world
• Manage contacts by adding, editing, and deleting from your BlackBerry 10 smartphone
• Search for coworkers from your enterprise contact directory via the Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP) or Active Directory for Global Address Lookup (GAL)

Technical Requirements

You must be connected to an instant messaging platform* and BlackBerry Enterprise Service 10 version 10.1 in order to take advantage of the app and its functionality. Additionally, you’ll require a BlackBerry smartphone running version 10.1 of the BlackBerry 10 platform. Lastly, a BlackBerry Collaboration Service (BCS) 10.1 server component must be deployed by your IT administration.

*Note: Enterprise IM supports the following messaging platforms: Microsoft LyncTM 2010 and 2013; Microsoft Office Communication Server 2007 R2, or IBM Sametime 8.5 and 8.5.2.

Building on BlackBerry Enterprise IM for BlackBerry OS smartphones connected to a BlackBerry Enterprise Server, this updated BlackBerry Enterprise IM app supports regulatory compliance and delivers the security and controls required by many governments and industries. Messages are encrypted end-to-end, protecting the data as it travels through a corporate firewall.

Enterprise IM is definitely my preferred way to ask quick questions of my colleagues and to help everyone dodge email overload. Availability on BlackBerry 10 takes the productivity gains to a whole new level, and allows you to leverage your existing enterprise IM and BlackBerry Enterprise Service investments while expanding the offering to mobile devices for your employees.

Do you use enterprise IM to collaborate in your office? How would taking this functionality mobile benefit your work? Share in the comments below.

[ YouTube link for mobile viewing ]

BlackBerry Enterprise Service 10 version 10.1 is free to download and existing BlackBerry Enterprise Server 5 customers can exchange their client access licenses for free through 2013. To date, 12,000 BlackBerry Enterprise Service 10 servers have been installed by customers around the world.

What’s included in version 10.1?

• Regulated-level EMM. BlackBerry Enterprise Service 10 version 10.1 provides customers with an optional set of extended IT policy settings and controls that restricts the use of a BlackBerry 10 smartphone for work only (does not allow personal apps and content).
• Simplified deployment for a lower total cost of ownership. Following a simple installation process, customers will be able to use BlackBerry Enterprise Service 10 version 10.1 to manage BlackBerry 10 smartphones, BlackBerry® PlayBook™ tablets, iOS and Android devices, as well as earlier model BlackBerry smartphones. Upgrading to BlackBerry Enterprise Service 10 version 10.1 is simple and intuitive, and existing BlackBerry Enterprise Server 5 customers can quickly upgrade to BlackBerry Enterprise Service 10 version 10.1 with no firewall changes.
• Dashboard and reporting. New dashboard capabilities provide an “at-a-glance” graphical view of information and statistics associated with the customer’s complete fleet of devices, providing administrators with immediate access to the information they need. The dashboard displays a high level overview of information such as a device deployment summary by platform and carrier, device compliance state, application deployments, and more.
• High Availability. All components of BlackBerry Enterprise Service 10 can now be deployed in a highly available active/passive configuration, similar to the high availability support offered by BlackBerry Enterprise Server 5.0. It offers simple, easy to configure threshold settings and improved failover performance.
• BlackBerry Support is now included as standard. Care** now comes as standard with BlackBerry Enterprise Service 10 deployments***, providing 12×5 telephone access to BlackBerry experts, responsive online support, access to training, productivity and diagnostic tools. Extended technical support offerings are available.

Get the update

The BlackBerry Enterprise Service 10 version 10.1 server software is available as a free download at www.bes10.com. Annual client access licenses (CALs) are free for BlackBerry Enterprise Server 5 customers trading up existing BlackBerry Enterprise Server 5 CALs through 2013*, or can be purchased for $59 per year per device. For Regulated-level EMM capabilities, additional carrier charges may apply.

BlackBerry Enterprise Service 10 version 10.1 server software is also available as a sixty (60) day free trial including 20 CALs and can be downloaded here.

** For customers wanting access to higher levels of support, priority queuing, account management and strategic services, BlackBerry Technical Support Services are available.

*** Deployment includes installation of the BlackBerry Enterprise Service 10 version 10.1 server software and purchase of BlackBerry Enterprise Service 10 Client Access Licenses. Only new 10.1 annual licenses are eligible for Care, which is for BlackBerry Enterprise Service 10 support only.

As the BlackBerry Live keynote news keeps flowing in I’m happy to introduce you to the youthful and fun BlackBerry Q5 smartphone, running BlackBerry 10. With a QWERTY keyboard and a confident design, this new BlackBerry smartphone has been built to provide a fast, effortless experience that helps you explore, create and share while on the go. Thorsten Heins just revealed the device onstage at BlackBerry Live, but we’ve got all the details ready to share with you below.

I’ve been using this device for a few days now and I’m already in love. It fits into my lifestyle perfectly offering the powerful experience I need and allowing me to flow seamlessly from task to task throughout my day.

Highlights and features of the BlackBerry Q5

• The evolution of the classic BlackBerry Keyboard:
  The BlackBerry Q5 features a classic BlackBerry Keyboard with discrete keys that has been re-engineered and elegantly designed to help you type fast, accurately and with the least amount of effort. Plus with Instant Action shortcuts you can type to perform tasks faster. The BlackBerry Q5 smartphone gives you the best of both worlds – a classic QWERTY keyboard for optimized communications and a 3.1” touchscreen for all the rest.
• Create the perfect shot with BlackBerry Time Shift mode and Story Maker
  Create the picture perfect shot with BlackBerry Time Shift mode, then create and share your story, weaving together your photos, videos and music into a movie with BlackBerry Story Maker.
• Share and be seen with BBM Video with Screen Share
  Instantly switch your BBM (BlackBerry Messenger) chat to a BBM Video conversation and catch up face-to-face. You can even share your screen, whether it’s a photo, a page in the browser, an idea, or a view from your camera.
• Stay close to what’s important to you with BlackBerry Hub
  With BlackBerry Hub, all of your messages and social conversations are only one swipe away. There’s no need to stop what you’re doing. Simply peek into the BlackBerry Hub from anywhere with a swipe to effortlessly flow in and out of your messages and conversations.
• BlackBerry World delivers a rich, thriving app and content ecosystem
  Discovering and sharing great apps and content is easier than ever with recommendations based on similar purchases, and access to more than 100,000 apps on the BlackBerry World storefront.

Here’s what Thorsten had to say in a recent press release on the new BlackBerry Q5 smartphone:

“BlackBerry is excited to bring the new BlackBerry Q5 smartphone to our customers in selected markets around world,” said Thorsten Heins, President and CEO of BlackBerry. “The BlackBerry Q5 gives you the best of everything with its cutting-edge BlackBerry 10 functionality and a physical QWERTY keyboard. It is for youthful fans that are passionate, confident and bold, and it makes it easy for them to have fun, create, share and stay connected.”

Pricing and Availability
The new BlackBerry Q5 smartphone will be available in selected markets in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia (including the Asia Pacific region), and Latin America, with availability beginning in July.

There you have it folks – if you live in the areas listed above, you can look forward to getting your hands on the new BlackBerry Q5 with BlackBerry 10. What do you think of this phone? Let us know your thoughts on this stunning new BlackBerry device in the comments below.

Today, we’re pleased to announce that harmon.ie has launched a native Office 365 and SharePoint app for the BlackBerry Z10 and BlackBerry Q10, part of the harmon.ie 4.0 product suite and available for download at the BlackBerry World store. These apps will be showcased this week at BlackBerry Live in Orlando.

The harmon.ie app provides full-featured Office 365 and on premise SharePoint functionality, including secure connectivity and offline document access. With the combination of Office 365 and a native BlackBerry 10 app user experience, customers using the BlackBerry Q10 or the BlackBerry Z10 smartphones can increase their productivity in the workplace and use their BlackBerry devices as a business tool.

Using harmon.ie, you can now work on contracts, spreadsheets and presentations by securely accessing Office 365 from your BlackBerry 10 smartphone. You can also get real-time updates as colleagues update important documents, save Office 365 on your device for off-line availability, and securely upload documents from email attachments onto Office 365.

“BlackBerry has always been invested in providing enterprise customers with effective tools to get business done”, said Martyn Mallick, BlackBerry’s VP of Global Alliances and Business Development. “We are thrilled to have harmon.ie bring both SharePoint and Office 365 to the BlackBerry 10 platform and are confident BlackBerry users will appreciate the social nature of these business solutions.”

Download harmon.ie for BlackBerry 10

More information is available about system requirements and features. harmon.ie works with existing SharePoint credentials; there is no need to make application changes or server-side configurations.

How does your business use Office 365 and SharePoint for mobile collaboration? Share with us in the comments below.