Today, we’re happy to announce that the latest LinkedIn app update for BlackBerry 6 and 7 smartphones is now available for download on BlackBerry World. The new 2.2 version provides more tools to keep you connected to your LinkedIn professional network while on the go. New features to check out include the ability to share updates with BlackBerry Messenger contacts and follow companies.

BBM-Connected Status Updates

BlackBerry Messenger (BBM) has always been an integral component of the BlackBerry platform, providing a valuable communication tool for messaging between friends and business users alike. With the launch of version 2.2, the LinkedIn app for BlackBerry is now integrated with BBM. This allows you to share your LinkedIn posts with your BBM contacts, maximizing the experience over both networks. You will also see LinkedIn updates reflected on the “BBM Recent Updates” screen.

Follow Companies

LinkedIn is a great channel for connecting with companies and receiving information on their products and services, resources, job openings, and other updates. The LinkedIn 2.2 update on BlackBerry enables you to follow the companies you’re interested in by subscribing to LinkedIn company pages.

To download LinkedIn 2.2 for BlackBerry, head on over to the BlackBerry World store front. Note that it may take up to 24 hours for the app to appear, depending on your location. Also, make sure you’re following the BlackBerry company page on LinkedIn for the latest BlackBerry news!

Download LinkedIn 2.2 for BlackBerry 6 and 7 smartphones

What LinkedIn features do you use to stay connected with your professional network? Share with us in the comments section below.

The LinkedIn app update makes it even easier to stay connected on the go by allowing you to sync and merge your LinkedIn connections with existing BlackBerry contacts in your address book. And, with the new “Groups and More” tab, you can view saved and recommended jobs and access, add, view and participate in the groups that matter to you most.

Jobs

The new LinkedIn “Groups and More” tab allows you to access even more key areas of LinkedIn right from the navigation screen, including jobs. With this feature, you can easily access the jobs you’ve saved and browse ones that are recommended for you. And remember, when you’re done looking at jobs you can get back to the main navigation screen by tapping the LinkedIn logo at the top left-hand corner of the app.

Groups

LinkedIn 2.1 makes it even easier to stay up-to-date with the groups that are most important to you. The “Groups and More” tab makes it simple to access groups that you’ve already joined and participate by viewing and adding content. You can also easily view pending group memberships and access a list of groups that LinkedIn recommends for you and join them with just one tap.

Contact Sync

With the new Contact Sync feature, finding out detailed professional information about the colleagues in your next business meeting is as easy as looking them up in your address book. The app allows you to connect your existing BlackBerry contacts with your LinkedIn connections, and where no contact exists, the app can optionally create a new one for you. This helps to make keeping track of your business connections and interactions easier than ever.

We can’t wait for you to try these new features that make the new LinkedIn app even more interactive and in turn make you more productive. Download LinkedIn 2.1 for BlackBerry smartphones today to ensure that you have the latest tools to put your professional network in the palm of your hands.

Once you’ve gotten the update, check out our BlackBerry for Business discussion group on LinkedIn – a place for professionals, administrators, and business owners discuss the latest on BlackBerry solutions and trends, as well as a touch-point for you to speak with us directly.

Which new feature are you most excited to try out? Let us know in the comments below.

Note: The LinkedIn app for BlackBerry smartphones requires BlackBerry OS 6 or higher, as well as a Wi-Fi connection or data plan in order to function properly. Learn more about regional availability and language preferences on the BlackBerry World storefront.

Many businesses and IT departments are looking forward to deploying Microsoft® Exchange 2013. Flexible options, hybrid deployments, cloud offerings, and efficiencies are all compelling features that encourage the shift. But, it’s important to take stock of your infrastructure and make plans for a smooth upgrade.

We remain dedicated to the support of our enterprise customers as they move to Microsoft Exchange 2013 and we’re working closely with Microsoft to ensure that we are aligned to certify BlackBerry Enterprise Server v5.0 Service Pack 4 for compatibility with Exchange 2013. RIM will continue to update our compatibility matrix with the latest compatibility certifications. We also intend to announce support for Exchange 2013 in 2 phases, the first for native Exchange 2013 environments and the second for mixed-mode Exchange environments aligned with Microsoft support plans.

For Exchange 2013 customers, BlackBerry 7 OS and prior devices will be supported via BES v5.0 Service Pack 4 and continue to utilize the MAPI interfaces exposed by Microsoft (Exchange 2013 customers will need to install Microsoft’s updated MAPI/CDO Download for Exchange 2013 for compatibility upon release by Microsoft).

BlackBerry Mobile Fusion, and BlackBerry Enterprise Service 10, will also be compatible with Microsoft Exchange 2013, as they utilize Microsoft ActiveSync protocols. We’re all about helping tackle future challenges and opportunities when it comes to enterprise mobility management, and Microsoft Exchange 2013 support is just one of those opportunities that we know many of you are looking to take advantage of.

Have questions about Microsoft Exchange 2013 support? Share in the comments below.

[ YouTube link for mobile viewing ]

No one likes to carry two devices, but this is the reality for many individuals. Moreover, this represents a higher than necessary cost overall where one smartphone could be used. “Sorry honey, I thought our anniversary was next week…I must have put that into my work phone” isn’t something that anyone wants to hear!

Leading IT departments understand and are beginning to address this frustration, because it also represents a cost saving opportunity for organizations. BlackBerry Balance allows for the consideration of stability and security, but also the need for work-life balance and productivity for mobile workers.

An example can be found with Indiabulls Financial Services Ltd., one of India’s leading non-banking financial companies. Indiabulls deployed BlackBerry® 7 OS smartphones integrated with BlackBerry Balance software, and allows for both work and personal use. The security of corporate data is paramount in the financial industry, but in managing the devices using BlackBerry Balance technology, the employees are able to enjoy consumer-oriented features and apps. Check out the full case study below:

Learn more on the BlackBerry Balance website, or check out more case studies like the Indiabulls example. Does your organization use BlackBerry Balance technology? What benefits has it provided? Share in the comments below.

YouTube link for mobile viewing ]

Is your organization currently using BlackBerry 7 OS devices, or do you have yet to upgrade through the BlackBerry Trade Up program or your IT department? Share your upgrade strategy for the next year in the comments below.

[ YouTube link for mobile viewing ]

What is Near Field Communication?

NFC is a very short range (within a few centimeters) communications technology that allows a data connection to be created between two devices. Basically, it allows you to tap one device against another to create a connection between them to exchange data. NFC can also be used to bootstrap a Bluetooth® or Wi-Fi® connection, allowing you to continue to stay connected even when you pull your device away.

How will NFC affect business?

As Geoff discussed in the video, Near Field Communication has the capacity to change the landscape of business with things like information sharing, mobile payments or gaining access to a building. The use cases extend both internally to organizations as well as externally as part of the customer experience. Let’s look at a few of these ideas in further detail.

Sharing information at an end-user level

BlackBerry® Tag, which is available with the BlackBerry® 7.1 OS in NFC-enabled BlackBerry smartphones, offers a new way to share information at an individual level. Almost any type of media can be shared with a single tap to another NFC-enabled BlackBerry smartphone. Consider sharing contact information in this manner at a conference, passing around a document for review on the go, or providing a customer with a PDF product brochure just by tapping their smartphone. The ability to share while mobile is being significantly enhanced with NFC and apps like BlackBerry Tag, and businesses can experience a clear benefit as a result.

The mobile payment ecosystem

The concept of a digital wallet garners much press and discussion in the market. I think we can all agree that centralizing activity on your mobile phone so that you can leave your wallet at home is an exciting concept; many of us already own credit cards that we can pay with by tapping on a point of sale terminal. But I’m intentionally referring to this as an “ecosystem”, as it’s just that: building mobile payments requires collaboration between banks, merchants, carriers, point of sale technology producers, and several other service providers.

The good news is that much work has already been done to lay the groundwork for mobile payments with BlackBerry devices. In fact, mobile payments using NFC-enabled BlackBerry smartphones is already being done in several parts of the world. BlackBerry smartphones were the first to be certified for mobile payments by Visa and MasterCard. And we’ve been working with Turkcell in Turkey, the ISIS group in the U.S., Rogers in Canada, and many others worldwide to make mobile payments with BlackBerry smartphones a reality.

While security may be a concern held more by organizations than end users at this point in time, once you put your money where your phone is, it becomes a concern for everyone. And given our heritage in security, we continue to work closely with our partners around the world to help alleviate many of those concerns.

Physical and logical access

You may be able to leave your security badge and parking pass at home in the near future. NFC enables physical access, such as tapping your phone to gain entry into your office building, as well as logical access, such as tapping your computer to unlock it. These use cases will bring speed and convenience, not to mention cutting the cost of producing multiple access devices, and allowing you to digitally manage these assets. To that end, RIM has been working with companies like HID Global and Iris ID Systems Inc. to allow the use of NFC-enabled BlackBerry smartphones with their access systems.

What does the future hold?

As these ecosystems develop and the use cases continue to expand into the daily activities of organizations and employees in a wide range of industries, it will be very exciting to see what comes next. We’re constantly working to enable application developers and many other stakeholders in NFC technology to integrate and succeed. RIM remains committed to Near Field Communication moving forward, including the upcoming BlackBerry® 10 platform.

What are your questions about NFC? How could you see NFC technology making your life at work easier and more convenient? Share in the comments below.

A couple weeks ago, I posted that BlackBerry® 7 OS had been approved in North America for Department of Defense use. This was great news, and apparently has now been extended to include BlackBerry® 7.1 OS devices as well. In fact, many US government organizations are responding to this certification quite positively and contacting dodsales@rim.com to take advantage of a variety of trade-up/trade-in programs.

However, within minutes of publishing that blog post, my Research In Motion® (RIM®) colleagues began BBMing me to point out that I’m not the only story in town. Apparently there’s a bigger story than I was aware of! As important as the USDOD approval is – and despite my local pride in the achievement of my North American friends on the security, regulatory compliance, and government marketing teams – apparently, RIM staff across the pond and around the world have their own bragging rights with governments globally certifying BlackBerry 7 OS for use.

In Australia, for example, the BlackBerry 7.0 and 7.1 Operating Systems (BlackBerry 7) were successfully evaluated and approved for Government use by the Defence Signals Directorate (DSD) of the Australian Government. This certification affirms that BlackBerry 7 OS meets the Australian and New Zealand Governments’ strict security standards for a wide range of scenarios, representing the majority of day-to-day operational communications. This includes potential use in securing information classified up to and including PROTECTED (Australia) and RESTRICTED (New Zealand).

Not to be outdone, my U.K. counterparts chimed in adding that the CESG (Communications-Electronics Security Group), the National Technical Authority for Information Assurance, has also approved BlackBerry 7 for government use across the U.K., making BlackBerry the only mobile solution approved by CESG to protect material ‘Restricted’ materials.

Whether it’s U.S., U.K., or Australia, governments around the world continue to use and officially approve the BlackBerry platform. For political reasons, it’s seldom they can speak about it publically, but time and again, after significant testing and review, our solutions pass with flying colors – acknowledging key facets of the BlackBerry solution including security, manageability, and scalability.

However, leading organizations, from both government and corporate sectors must look beyond certifications and focus simply on leveraging their investment in mobile infrastructure. Ensuring their staff have the tools they need to be the most productive often means accessing newer technology like the advanced features incorporated in the newest BlackBerry 7 OS smartphones – fast web browsing, NFC interoperability, augmented reality applications, and so on.

Moreover, in light of consumerization demands, IT organizations need to appease end user demands, opening up access to BlackBerry consumer features like the MP3 player, built-in radio, and camera functionality, not to mention access to fun and entertaining apps in the BlackBerry App World™ storefront.

So whether driven by regulatory approval or the built-in benefits (both personal and organizational), organizations are increasingly moving towards BlackBerry 7 OS. These governments have clearly defined their enterprise grade device choice, providing departments and staff with a much needed benchmark. Where is your organization at in defining your ‘approved’ mobile solution…are you leading or lagging public sector?

Your peers would be as grateful as I would be to hear your comments on mobile device selection and policy. Where is your organization at in defining and controlling device selection? Do you provide approved lists? Do you depend on analogous industry certifications or do you have your own approval program? Where does Mobile Strategy stop and Mobile Device Management start? What criteria do you use to evaluate whether a device is worthy of your organization’s staff and data?

While I was in Washington D.C. a few weeks ago, both on one of the BlackBerry® commuter shuttles and at the first Appy Hour event, I had a chance to help out with some more demonstrations of the BlackBerry® 7 OS and BlackBerry® PlayBook™ tablets. Even though I use these devices on a daily basis, I love to explore the functions and tie the features into everyday business and personal use cases. Showcasing them to those viewing the devices and software for the first time makes it even better!

After walking through a few demonstrations of BlackBerry 7 smartphones and BlackBerry PlayBook tablets, I think a few of the biggest hits were remote control via BlackBerry Bridge, the overall interface of the BlackBerry PlayBook tablet (including the intuitive bezel gestures), and the mini-HDMI output that allows you to present on a projector, TV, or monitor at full HD 1080p.

As for BlackBerry 7 OS, the liquid graphics certainly pack a punch – but beyond the performance and sleek hardware, built-in apps like the updated BlackBerry® Travel, BlackBerry® Maps (with new contextual deals), and BlackBerry® Mobile Conferencing make the devices a must have for business.

The truth is, many organizations and individuals are using BlackBerry® 6 smartphones – and while we all have a soft spot for our original BlackBerry devices, we still want to get the latest and greatest into your hands! Unpacking some of the features of the top-of-the-line BlackBerry 7 OS models was a great experience, and the responses were fantastic as all involved were able to easily see how these can translate into more productivity at work and more intuitive connections to friends, family, and colleagues.

Cool phones…but what I get isn’t up to me!

Hands-on demos are great and all, but with many organizations in government providing the devices for work use, how can you actually make an upgrade happen? We’re trying to help with that too. Head over to www.upgrademenow.com to get some help on making that business case, or to learn how you can trade up a personally owned phone for a newer model (there are some amazing deals that can come along with this if you’re eligible!). Check it out today, and let us know how it goes.

Have you upgraded from BlackBerry 6 to a BlackBerry 7 OS smartphone? What do you like best about the new model? Share in the comments below.

Scott Totzke commented on the significance of the DoD accessing BlackBerry 7 OS technology: “The Army introduced a wide range of new apps and capabilities for their BlackBerry users last year, and these new BlackBerry 7 smartphones will now enable Army users, and all DoD users, to experience an even greater level of performance on new smartphones that include features such as voice activated universal search, Near Field Communications, Augmented Reality, and Social Feeds 2.0 just to name a few”.

But, even with all these great features, let me be clear – buying a device is not the same as crafting an enterprise grade mobility strategy. There’s back-end integration, security policy selection, budgetary considerations, and of course application deployment decisions. However, this pre-approval means that IT leaders can move from the tactical role of “device pickers” to a more strategic role of “mobile enablers” – providing greater value to the organization, and a more rewarding career for the IT staff.

Over the past year, the Inside BlackBerry for Business Blog has featured conversations with Mike K. Brown (Director Product Security, SVP BlackBerry Security Group) around the various certifications and approvals RIM has achieved, such as FIPS 140-2 validation and Common Criteria EAL4+. There are many reasons why these certifications are important, but one of the recurring themes is around “making it easy for IT”. Certifications and official approvals allow IT decision makers to deploy BlackBerry devices in their organizations with ease by removing a certain amount of organizational or political risk. You can proceed with confidence knowing that not only are you making the right decision, but there’s an external, neutral, trusted body that has your back.

In the end, this approval will help ensure that the DoD is able to fully leverage the power of BlackBerry smartphones and realize the full potential of their investment in the BlackBerry platform.

How do you handle device selection? Do you have a pre-approved list? Are device upgrades based on time periods or technology shifts? Is your organization on BlackBerry 7, or are you missing out on key features?

Business Class Commuting

That loud morning alarm, the coffee that takes too long to brew, the traffic that jams itself up faster than you thought possible… No one likes to commute, that’s for sure. But, we figured that if you’ve got to do it, we might as well provide a free and comfortable option for you to do it in style! Introducing “business class commuting” for the month of May: a BlackBerry shuttle service for those of you heading into and out of Washington D.C. If you see one of these shuttles, climb aboard! Not only will you handle the early morning trek in comfort, you’ll also have a chance to try out BlackBerry 7 smartphones and BlackBerry PlayBook tablets, which we’ve made available in the shuttles and loaded up with apps and bookmarks we think you might like.

The response that I’ve seen so far has been fantastic. Beyond the free ride, individuals are really learning new things about BlackBerry smartphones and tablets, and how they can be leveraged in amazing ways for both personal and work purposes. Don’t take my word for it – check out the video below:

[YouTube link for mobile viewing]

Appy Hours Have Arrived!

One more thing before you run out the door to find a BlackBerry commuter shuttle: “Appy Hours” are also being introduced in May. The first was on Thursday May 10th, and there will be a second on May 30th from 6-8pm at Bullfeathers. If you missed the opportunity to get your hands on a BlackBerry 7 smartphone or a BlackBerry PlayBook tablet, this is your chance! You’ll also be able to ask questions, explore some of the incredible government use cases going on with this technology, and unwind after a long day.

Have you upgraded to BlackBerry 7 yet? If not, head over to www.upgrademenow.com to get the full scoop. If you have, share your favorite feature in the comments below!