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.

In recent weeks, we’ve highlighted several organizations that are working to incorporate the BlackBerry 10 platform into their mobile strategy, such as Air Canada and Ricoh. We’ve been pleased with the positive feedback from these organizations, along with the strong early customer reviews for both BlackBerry 10 and BlackBerry Enterprise Service 10.

Today, we’d like to share how McCain Foods Ltd. is building on their long-term partnership with BlackBerry with BlackBerry 10. Headquartered in Toronto, McCain Foods sells food products in more than 160 countries around the globe. The company has incorporated BlackBerry devices in all of its markets.

We chatted recently with Mark Kirby, the Vice President of Global Technology Services at McCain Foods Ltd. to get his first impressions of the BlackBerry 10 platform. He discussed his ideas for incorporating BlackBerry Balance and BlackBerry Enterprise Service 10 into McCain’s mobile strategy, as well as how BlackBerry 10 will help address employee demands.

“Employees are…demanding the ability to be unchained from their traditional desktop or laptop environment. BlackBerry 10 is going to enhance that experience.”

-Mark Kirby, Vice President of Global Technology Services, McCain Foods

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What kind of mobile experience are your employees asking for? Share with us in the comments section below.

We’ve enjoyed hearing feedback from business customers who have started using BlackBerry Enterprise Service 10 over the last month. Upgrading to BlackBerry Enterprise Service 10 is an important step for businesses preparing to deploy the new BlackBerry 10 smartphones and manage them securely.

To help you and your business transition smoothly to BlackBerry Enterprise Service 10, we’ve launched the BlackBerry Enterprise Service License Trade Up Program. This program will allow you to leverage your existing license investment to secure and manage your new BlackBerry 10 smartphones. The trade up process is easy and can be done in minutes – here’s a five-step guide to show you how:

1. Preparation

Before beginning the trade up process, you’ll want to make sure you have the following items at hand:

• Client Access Licenses that you want to trade up
• The BlackBerry Enterprise Server IDs currently in use in your environment
• The BlackBerry Enterprise Service 10 ID to which you are migrating

2. Setup

Once you’ve collected the three items listed above, head over to the BlackBerry Enterprise Service License Trade Up Program webpage. You’ll then be greeted by the following welcome screen, where you can select which language to proceed in.

You can choose either to complete the trade up process by yourself as a customer, or your carrier and/or IT partner can do so by changing the drop-down selection as seen here:

3. Account specifications

For the next steps, input the Client Access License keys, BlackBerry Enterprise Server ID, and BlackBerry Enterprise Service 10 ID you collected earlier in Step 1. You will also need to provide shipping details, including your company address, email address and, if registered, your BlackBerry Technical Support Services Subscription Code.

4. Trade Up

Based on information you’ve already entered, you will then be presented the quantity of licenses available for you to trade up. Partial trades are allowed. This means that if, for example, you currently own 2,000 BlackBerry Enterprise Server CALs, you can trade up 1,000 CALs on today’s transaction and redeem the remaining 1,000 on a later date. Once you’ve selected a quantity, you will be asked to accept the terms and conditions of the Trade Up.

5. Review and Download

After you’ve accepted the terms and conditions of the trade up, you can confirm and submit your order! Once you’ve submitted, you’ll see a trade up license download screen, pre-populated based on the information you’ve already entered. Now you’re set to download BlackBerry Enterprise Service 10 and start deploying BlackBerry 10 to employees.

As you can see, we’ve really tried to make upgrading to BlackBerry Enterprise Service 10 a quick and straightforward process. If you have any questions, concerns, or feedback, feel free to share in the comments section!

Have you already completed a BlackBerry Enterprise Service 10 Trade Up? Tell us about your experience on our LinkedIn Company Page or in the comments below!

Fresh on the heels of the launch of BlackBerry 10 and BlackBerry Enterprise Service 10 comes an update for in-market BlackBerry OS customers looking to support the latest version of Microsoft Exchange in their businesses. We’re pleased to announce that BlackBerry Enterprise Server 5.0.4 Maintenance Release 2 is now available. Take a look at the top features in this update:

Support for Stand-Alone Microsoft Exchange 2013 (E15) and Microsoft Windows Server 2012

As promised in a previous Inside BlackBerry for Business blog post, BlackBerry remains committed to offering our customers compatibility with the latest Microsoft technologies. With the release of this BES update we are excited to announce support and certification of Microsoft Exchange Server 2013 as well as Microsoft Windows Server 2012. We’ll continue to update our compatibility matrix with the latest certifications to ensure that our customers keep getting the most from their BlackBerry technology.

At minimum, Messaging Application Programming Interface (MAPI) and Collaboration Data Object (CDO.DLL) 8.03.0.8309.000 or higher is required. Learn more in the BlackBerry Knowledge Base.

Enterprise Instant Messaging Support for Microsoft Lync 2013

We know that many organizations use Microsoft Lync instant messaging for collaboration and communication. With this update, we’re providing updated BlackBerry enterprise instant messaging to include support for Microsoft Lync 2013. We also intend to announce BlackBerry 10 support for Microsoft Office Communication Server 2007 R2, Microsoft Lync 2010, and Microsoft Lync 2013. BlackBerry will continue to ensure that our customers can instantly collaborate securely on a number of platforms.

If you’ve got a BlackBerry Enterprise Server, the good news is that there’s a simple upgrade path to the new BlackBerry Enterprise Service 10, which allows administrators to manage existing BlackBerry devices and new BlackBerry 10 devices, along with iOS and Android devices from one unified console. Get more information at www.blackberry.com/bes10.

To download the Maintenance Release update for BlackBerry Enterprise Server, head over to www.blackberry.com/go/serverdownloads

Have questions about the latest release? Share in the comments below.

With the launch of BlackBerry Enterprise Service 10, now is the perfect time to prepare your business to tackle future trends in mobility, and to harness the advantages of a mobile strategy. We know that implementing new enterprise mobility management solutions is a serious consideration, and so we’ve worked to provide you with the tools that you need to explore, learn, and save as you look to upgrade to BlackBerry Enterprise Service 10.

The BlackBerry Technical Preview program served to provide top enterprise and government customers with BlackBerry Enterprise Service 10 and BlackBerry 10 test devices ahead of launch. The BlackBerry 10 Ready Program serves to provide a robust set of tools and educational resources for all businesses to get up to speed. The launch of BlackBerry Enterprise Service 10 offers a free 60-day trial. And today, we’re offering the BlackBerry Enterprise Service License Trade Up Program to make it even easier to upgrade.

The trade up program runs until December 31, 2013, and offers customers who purchase new BlackBerry 10 smartphones the ability to trade up their existing BlackBerry Enterprise Server licenses on a one-for-one basis, for free. The new standard license will allow you to manage and secure BlackBerry 10 smartphones with BlackBerry Enterprise Service 10.

Get the details at the BlackBerry 10 Ready program web site, and start the trade-up process at www.blackberry.com/licensetradeup. You’ll need Client Access Licenses that you want to trade up, BlackBerry Enterprise Server ID’s currently in use in your environment, and the BlackBerry Enterprise Service 10 ID to which you’re migrating.

With this set of tools, offers, and resources, we’re hopeful that you have everything you need to transition smoothly to this re-engineered and enhanced mobility management solution.

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.

Tis’ the season for planning a BlackBerry Enterprise Server upgrade, particularly with the recent BES 5.0.4 update for Novell GroupWise, and the upcoming BlackBerry Enterprise Service 10 on its way in the new year. When planning and implementing an upgrade for your mobility management solution, it’s critical to consider and minimize downtime, maximize the speed and convenience of the upgrade, and make sure that the impact is low so that you can start enjoying the benefits of new features and functionality as an organization.

United Bank is a North American financial services company that has been in business since 1839 (just a few years before the first BES server). The company uses Novell GroupWise as their preferred mail platform, employing over 1,500 experts in over 100 full-service banking offices across the United States. Recently the Technical Services team at United Bank pursued an upgrade of their BES server to a pre-release version of the latest 5.0.4 update for Novell GroupWise deployments. In the financial services industry in particular, it’s important to minimize the impact of server upgrades.

“BlackBerry Enterprise Server for Novell GroupWise – 4.0 had worked perfectly for the longest time and we were reluctant to upgrade because it was a rock solid build. I knew it was time to upgrade and I knew our success would be evaluated on our ability to provide bank employees and executives with complete continuity throughout the process.” -Willem Bagchus, Computer Systems Analyst at United Bank

Experts from Research In Motion (RIM®) were able to come alongside the United Bank technical team and aid with both planning and execution. “RIM was there when we flipped the switch,” said Bagchus. “We know it was a seamless and successful transition because through our monitoring, we verified that we didn’t receive a single call from users experiencing any issues with our internal upgrade.” Minimal downtime and business continuity allows an organization to experience the benefits of a server upgrade, rather than dreading the potential interruptions.

One of the factors that allowed such a seamless upgrade was the fact that BlackBerry Enterprise Server for Novell GroupWise can be broken down into components and installed over a series of days. This allows for a thoughtful construction of the upgrade and the achievement of reliability and availability of services. We know that major technology upgrades, particularly those that can affect the flow of information and mobile data, are a serious concern. The BlackBerry technical support teams are available to assist with these types of upgrades and to help ensure that your business continues uninterrupted.

Does your business have a BlackBerry customer success story? Let us know at success@rim.com.

We’re pleased to announce that BlackBerry® Enterprise Server version 5.0.4 for Novell® GroupWise® is now available. The update continues to build on BlackBerry Enterprise Server as the most trusted mobility platform for Novell GroupWise. This latest release delivers additional features as well as quality and performance enhancements, helping to ensure that BlackBerry customers continue to get the best enterprise mobile communications experience.

New Features Included with this Release for GroupWise

• BlackBerry® Balance™ technology support
• BlackBerry® Mobile Fusion integration
• Microsoft® Office 2010 attachments are now supported, including password-protected attachments
• Email pre-population changes; the full body of a message can now be delivered to the smartphone and the default number of messages can be increased to 1000 or 14 days
• Email pre-population now takes place on every activation (it’s no longer dependent on PIN change)
• The Maximum Allowed Attachment size for viewing or downloading is increased to 10MB
• Common features and fixes for all BlackBerry Enterprise Server 5.0.4 updates from version 5.0.2 and 5.0.3 – including over 200 individual fixes
• All BlackBerry Enterprise Server for GroupWise maintenance releases and quick-fixes delivered since BlackBerry Enterprise Server for Novell GroupWise 5.0.1
• BlackBerry Monitoring Service will not be included as part of the BlackBerry Enterprise Server 5.0.4 installation package

Improvements for BlackBerry Administration Service Console

• Administrator can choose which columns are displayed and also have the ability to sort them
• Export data into .CSV or .XML files for reporting and reference
• Improved Online Help features
• Added efficiencies for IT policy and software configuration deployments, allowing for group or individual assignments

Protect Work Data and Manage BlackBerry, iOS, and Android Devices

A few key features worth noting are the support for BlackBerry Balance technology and compatibility with BlackBerry Mobile Fusion – an exciting development for administrators of Novell GroupWise deployments. BlackBerry Balance enables the use of personally owned BlackBerry devices for work by creating a secure and manageable perimeter to hold work data, complete with policies for restricting work data from being accessed by personal accounts or applications. This also provides peace of mind for employees, as when corporate data and accounts are wiped from the device, personal information remains intact.

The ability to integrate with BlackBerry Mobile Fusion is also an important consideration for enterprises looking to deploy BlackBerry® PlayBook™ tablets, and/or Android™ and iOS® based devices. BlackBerry Mobile Fusion provides functionality to manage smartphones and tablets in your organization from a single unified, web-based console. The component within BlackBerry Mobile Fusion for managing current BlackBerry smartphones would be your current BlackBerry Enterprise Server 5.0.4 deployment, providing a simple and straightforward upgrade path.

Get the Update Today

Head over to www.blackberry.com/besupdate to get the service pack update.

Does your organization use Novell GroupWise and BlackBerry smartphones? What features are you most looking forward to in the 5.0.4 update? Share in the comments below.

As the trend for Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) increases within the enterprise, organizations must establish criteria for an Enterprise Mobility Management (EMM) solution that provides a balance of freedom for employees and security of corporate data. While end users want freedom of choice when it comes to the smartphones and tablets they use, organizations must address the added risks in security this freedom can bring in addition to potential unexplored issues in critical areas such as compliance, data, liability and support. By successfully deploying an EMM solution, IT can enable a company’s mobile workers and make the business more productive, efficient, agile, and responsive to the needs of the customers and employees.

Here are 7 key factors to consider while in the discovery phase of the search for MDM solutions:

1. Functionality – for example, how well the solution manages multiple mobile platforms, including BlackBerry®, iOS and Android™
2. Security features for data in transit and at rest
3. Reputation and reliability of vendor
4. Vendor support, including technical, sales, and account support
5. Management capabilities and policies
6. Availability of a complete solution
7. Flexibility of the solution to manage IT and user needs, as well as scalability

The opportunity – and the challenge – of finding the right EMM or MDM solution is to make workers and organizations more productive through enhanced mobility and the expanded use of personal-liable devices. There is no doubt, though, that this is a trend that is here to stay. IT administrators need MDM solutions to deliver the security, management capabilities, scalability and stability required in this new paradigm.

RIM® offers BlackBerry® Mobile Fusion, which provides unified management of BlackBerry smartphones, BlackBerry® PlayBook™ tablets, and iOS or Android operating systems. BlackBerry Mobile Fusion also supports BlackBerry® Balance™ technology which enables IT to establish and enforce policies that separate personal and business data and allows IT admins to remote-wipe corporate data from devices if necessary, while leaving personal data untouched.

[ YouTube link for mobile viewing ]

In August, we introduced the next generation EMM solution, BlackBerry® Enterprise Service 10 (BES 10). BES 10 is the future of managing your organizations’ mobile deployment with a single platform and the evolution of the BlackBerry Enterprise Server, ActiveSync, and BlackBerry Mobile Fusion. BES 10 represents a consolidation of our enterprise mobility management (EMM) product portfolio, which includes our MDM, security, infrastructure, and app management products. In an update scheduled for May 2013, new features will allow you to upgrade your current BlackBerry Enterprise Server 5 to BlackBerry Enterprise Service 10, providing a solution which integrates with your current deployment.

To learn more about finding the right MDM solution for your enterprise, register for, or log into, the BlackBerry Resource Center and take a look at The 7 Key Factors in Choosing a Mobile Device Management Solution. The BlackBerry Resource Center is also your one stop BlackBerry Knowledge Source to access hundreds of resources including white papers, webcasts, and the Solutions Showcase.

What criteria are most important to your enterprise when deciding on an MDM solution?

For many organizations, BlackBerry® Enterprise Server or BlackBerry® Enterprise Server Express is the essential platform for mobilizing employees worldwide, and Research In Motion® (RIM®) continues to make improvements and enhancements to the solution. BlackBerry Enterprise Server is recognized as the gold standard in Enterprise Mobility Management (EMM), which also encompasses Mobile Device Management (MDM).

Features and Enhancements

BlackBerry Enterprise Server version 5 Service Pack 4 is available today for Microsoft® Exchange and IBM® Lotus® Domino®, and coming in November 2012 for Novell® GroupWise®. This free update introduces new features for both administrators and end-users. The service pack and all feature updates apply to both BlackBerry Enterprise Server and BlackBerry Enterprise Server Express deployments. Check out the details below:

Improvements for administrators

• Access control rules for groups
• BlackBerry Administration Service improvements
• The latest security patches and bug fixes are included

Improvements for the End User experience

• Improved handling of HTML email messages
• Support for larger email attachments
• Improved graphics rendering for Microsoft® PowerPoint® attachments
• Support for Microsoft Office password-protected attachments
• Calendar & message enhancements

Enterprises that utilize Novell GroupWise as their business email platform will be pleased to learn that BlackBerry Balance is now available to address the needs of their employee-owned BlackBerry® smartphones, or to extend the full BlackBerry experience to their corporately-owned BlackBerry smartphones. The BlackBerry Enterprise Server 5.0.4 update will be available for Novell GroupWise in November of 2012.

Getting ready for BlackBerry Enterprise Service 10

We’ve heard it from our customers – your enterprise mobility management needs are changing as you face new trends and challenges, and as you prepare for the future. We’re expanding and consolidating our enterprise product portfolio alongside you to make sure that you’re well prepared, by releasing solutions like BlackBerry Mobile Fusion and designing BlackBerry® Enterprise Service 10.

While these are exciting changes, RIM does remain firmly committed to supporting the BlackBerry Enterprise Server well into the future with care and attention paid to keeping security and management up to date with service packs and maintenance releases.

Upgrading to BlackBerry Enterprise Server version 5 Service Pack 4 prepares you for BlackBerry Enterprise Service 10 which will be launching with BlackBerry® 10 smartphones, with an update planned for BlackBerry World™ in May 2013. The May update is designed to enable BlackBerry Enterprise Service 10 to be installed on the same physical server that is currently running BlackBerry Enterprise Server version 5, enabling organizations to securely manage all of their BlackBerry smartphones & tablets, in addition to iOS® and Android™ devices, from a single platform.

Get the Service Pack Today

This Service Pack is available at no additional charge for existing BlackBerry Enterprise Server 5 customers, and can be downloaded from www.blackberry.com/besupdate

There is no change in server or Client Access License (CAL) pricing. If you currently run BlackBerry Enterprise Server 4, you can upgrade to the latest version of BlackBerry Enterprise Server 5 for $999 USD (plus any applicable fees/taxes), or for free for those with Advantage or higher BlackBerry® Technical Support Services subscriptions.

Need help upgrading to the latest Service Pack? Don’t forget that you can always contact BlackBerry Technical Support Services to assist you. BlackBerry Technical Support Services offers both incident-based pricing or annual subscriptions which provide 7x24x365 end-to-end technical support for BlackBerry Enterprise Server, BlackBerry Mobile Fusion, and BlackBerry smartphones and BlackBerry® PlayBookTM tablets. For more information on BlackBerry Technical Support Services, check out www.blackberry.com/btss