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.

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Featured keynote speakers included John T Chambers, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer from Cisco, Meg Whitman, President and Chief Executive Officer from Hewlett-Packard, and General Colin Powell, Retired U.S. General.

RIM held a number of information sessions to highlight the upcoming launch of BlackBerry 10. Featured speakers included Jeff Holleran, Senior Director of Enterprise Product Management and Vivek Bhardwaj, Head of Software Portfolio. Throughout his session, Jeff talked to over 100 Gartner session attendees about the future of the mobile enterprise, which requires a unified solution that gives employees access to the information they need, without compromise. Jeff’s session shed light on what’s in store for BlackBerry 10 and BlackBerry Enterprise Service 10, RIM’s enterprise mobility management solution. Representing the Enterprise Business Unit, Jeff explained how “BlackBerry Enterprise Service 10 supports a heterogeneous mobile environment with greater security, flexibility, cost-savings, and manageability.”

Following Jeff’s engaging presentation, Vivek Bhardwaj, Head of Software Portfolio, shared an overview of the BlackBerry 10 experience with over 200 session attendees. By demonstrating the BlackBerry 10 features and functionality in action, Vivek captivated the audience with a series of live demos. Vivek also expertly balanced the end user perspective from both a Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) consumerization mindset, and a management perspective targeted to the CIO’s and IT decision makers in attendance.

In addition to two BlackBerry 10 focused information sessions from RIM leadership, a BlackBerry booth was set up on the 2012 Gartner Symposium/ITxpo show floor to demonstrate the various BlackBerry product and service offerings available in the North American market today. Visitors to the BlackBerry show floor booth were able to learn more about BlackBerry Mobile Fusion, RIM’s mobile device management solution for BlackBerry, iOS and Android devices, BlackBerry PlayBook and the BlackBerry Bold 9900 smartphone. A “cell spa” was also set up as a service to attendees. BlackBerry staff were on hand to charge BlackBerry, iOS and Android device batteries and freshen up smartphone display screens at the cell spa for conference attendees.

Were you in attendance at the 2012 Gartner Symposium/ITxpo? If you were able to listen to our BlackBerry information sessions or visit us on the show floor, let us know what you thought by commenting below!

The BlackBerry® 10 Jam World Tour – Enterprise Edition kicked off yesterday in Toronto, Canada and London, England in a whirlwind of sessions, demonstrations, and workshops for enterprise developers. These one-day events are designed to help enterprise developers get up to speed on the upcoming BlackBerry 10 platform, as well as to help them become familiar with the clear benefits of developing for an enterprise with the BlackBerry solution deployed. These include:

• Connectivity to data behind the firewall using BlackBerry MDS-CS
• A security advantage with the BlackBerry Infrastructure and BlackBerry Balance capabilities on BlackBerry 10 devices, keeping work apps within a secure perimeter
• Wide variety in development framework options, including HTML5 for cross-platform compatibility, the Native SDK with Cascades, and Adobe AIR
• Rich application management capabilities via BlackBerry Mobile Fusion and the upcoming BlackBerry Enterprise Service 10

The morning kicked off with a welcome keynote by Michael K. Brown, RIM’s VP of Security Product Management and Research. John Mutter, Sr. Manager of Technical Solutions, followed with an in-depth demonstration of the BlackBerry 10 platform on a Dev Alpha device, a walk-through of BlackBerry Mobile Fusion and the features that are key to enabling enterprise applications, and an overview of enterprise app development with BlackBerry. For more information on developing and deploying applications on the BlackBerry 10 platform, check out the resources available within the BlackBerry for Business Blog and the BlackBerry Developer Blog.

The rest of the day held sessions on how to write a BlackBerry 10 app including enterprise mobility, enterprise architecture, and enterprise design, as well as hands-on labs with the BlackBerry® WebWorks™ and Cascades NDK tooling. Enterprise developers were excited to both get the big picture on how to successfully design and introduce productive enterprise apps into their organizations, and to dive in with a hands-on experience.

BlackBerry Dev Alpha devices were distributed to qualifying enterprise developers to help kick off projects within their organizations as they take the information that they learned at the event and dive into designing and developing enterprise apps that will help employees be more productive and provide access to crucial corporate data.

The Toronto and London events are just the beginning! We’ll be hitting 9 more cities in North America, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Latin America. Get all of the details, dates, and register at www.blackberryjamenterprise.com.

If you attended one of the events yesterday, what was your favorite part? If you will be attending one of the events later on this month or next, what are you most looking forward to? 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.

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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?

The mobile communications landscape for businesses is rapidly changing, and it’s important to keep up and maintain consistent and reliable support for your ever-growing needs. In addition to being faced with managing multiple mobile platforms, like BlackBerry®, iOS, and Android™, many large enterprises are also faced with the unique challenges that come with having an international business presence. A major challenge is finding scalable, worldwide mobility solutions and the organization that can support deployments across borders and regions.

That’s where GEMA (Global Enterprise Mobility Alliance) comes in. GEMA is a collaborative group of seven regional managed mobility service providers, all with local knowledge and in-country resources to help support your multinational business requirements. Today both GEMA and RIM announced an agreement to jointly deliver these services. By leveraging BlackBerry® Mobile Fusion and a support structure like GEMA, your business can be well prepared to face future challenges as the mobile landscape expands and shifts within your organization.

GEMA partners will offer BlackBerry Mobile Fusion as a managed service, building on RIM’s strength of worldwide partnerships with vendors, solution providers, and support offerings. Learn more about the announcement by checking out the GEMA/RIM press release. Learn more about GEMA by visiting the GEMA website.

Would your international organization benefit from support and managed services that extend around the globe? Share in the comments below.

A free service pack update is now available for BlackBerry® Mobile Fusion. The service pack includes enhancements to further help you manage mobile devices in your organization. Updates include BlackBerry® Device Service 6.1, Universal Device Service 6.1, and BlackBerry® Mobile Fusion Studio 6.2.

BlackBerry Mobile Fusion is designed to allow you to manage and secure BlackBerry®, iOS, and Android™ smartphones and tablets. The management tool is a unified web-based console called BlackBerry Mobile Fusion Studio. A few of the features include application management, setting user and group policies, and support for BlackBerry® Balance™ technology for BlackBerry devices. BlackBerry Balance technology helps add a layer of security and is designed to allow a user to use a BlackBerry device for both work and personal purposes by helping to keep business information secure and separate from personal information.

New Features Contained in the Service Pack 1 Update

Universal Device Service

• Improved iOS 5 support, including new features for Wi-Fi®, VPN, Microsoft® ActiveSync®, and managed app distribution
• iOS enterprise app distribution via web client
• Simplified error messages and notifications for updates
• Enhancements to iOS device enrollment
• iOS 6 compatibility
• Touchdown email configuration for Android devices (requires update to the BlackBerry Mobile Fusion client from Google Play – available today)

BlackBerry Device Service

• Over The Air (OTA) enrollment directly from a BlackBerry® PlayBook™ tablet. Once enrolled, enterprise configurations such as email, Wi-Fi, VPN profiles, and enterprise applications can be wirelessly pushed to the device
• Full device encryption option as a new IT policy (including personal and work areas)
• Developer mode can be disabled on enterprise-connected BlackBerry PlayBook tablets
• Support for Microsoft ActiveSync certificate-based authentication

Note: Updates for BlackBerry Device Service that involve functionality for managing BlackBerry PlayBook tablets will become functional after the upcoming release of BlackBerry PlayBook OS 2.1

Regional availability of BlackBerry Mobile Fusion has also been expanded to include additional countries in Europe, Latin America, and Asia. To find out if it’s available in your country, check the list of BlackBerry Mobile Fusion availability.

Stay up to date and get ready for BlackBerry Enterprise Service 10! Download Service Pack 1 today.

Does your organization embrace a BYOD policy? What are some of the challenges that come along with it? Share in the comments below.

What is BlackBerry Enterprise Service 10?

BlackBerry Enterprise Service 10 represents a consolidation of our enterprise mobility management (EMM) product portfolio, which includes our mobile device management (MDM), security, infrastructure, and app management products. It will prepare your organization for the future of mobile diversity, as well as integrate with your existing BlackBerry Enterprise Server (BES) deployment. From a single unified web-based console, BES 10 will manage the following devices:

• BlackBerry 7 OS and prior smartphones
• BlackBerry 10 devices
• BlackBerry PlayBook tablets
• iOS and Android™ smartphones and tablets

BES 10 will be the ultimate management solution for all BlackBerry platform devices, as well as iOS and Android devices. BES 10 will launch with the first BlackBerry 10 devices in Q1 of calendar year 2013.

RIM remains committed to our enterprise customers by providing advanced, innovative, and flexible options for a straight-forward migration to BlackBerry 10 smartphones, as well as cross-platform management of your mobile device deployment.

What will the components and requirements be for BES 10?

BlackBerry Enterprise Service 10 will be a complete solution that includes several components to manage multiple smartphones and tablets. Management occurs through a single, unified web-based administration console that will provide one place to manage all of the devices listed above.

In addition to the unified management console, the components of BES 10 will initially include current products already in market:

• BlackBerry® Device Service (BDS) – supporting BlackBerry PlayBook tablets and BlackBerry 10 smartphones when they launch in Q1 2013 through the use of Microsoft ActiveSync for email and PIM synchronization
• Universal Device Service (UDS) – providing Enterprise Mobility Management functions for iOS and Android devices
• Integration with existing BlackBerry Enterprise Server (BES) 5.0.3 and above

During 2013 we will consolidate the multiple names that we have in our portfolio today into one single product name. The terms “BlackBerry Mobile Fusion”, “BlackBerry Device Service” and “Universal Device Service” will be phased out in favor of BlackBerry Enterprise Service 10.

What about servers? Will multiple physical deployments be required?

With the initial launch of BlackBerry Enterprise Service 10, BES 5+ will require its own server, while BlackBerry Device Service and Universal Device Service can reside on separate servers or be combined on the same physical or virtual server. Should you opt to work with virtual servers, we fully support this type of deployment. Today, BlackBerry Mobile Fusion operates in a similar fashion, with BES 5+ requiring one server, and both BDS and UDS able to be deployed on a single server or on separate servers.

The future of BlackBerry Enterprise Service 10

The roadmap for BES 10 includes an upgrade currently scheduled for BlackBerry World in May 2013. This upgrade will consolidate BDS and UDS into a single component, and will allow for BlackBerry Enterprise Service 10 and existing BlackBerry Enterprise Servers (BES 5.0.3+) to run on the same physical server; both seamlessly managed using a single fully featured management console. Additionally, with BES 10 there will no longer be a requirement to have the server connected to the same Local Area Network as the mail server. These developments will centralize mobility management into a single point and provide flexibility, convenience, and added functionality.

We are excited to share more about BES 10 through this autumn. Stay tuned for further details on pricing, the path forward from a current BES 5 deployment, and details on IT policies and management configurations. BlackBerry Enterprise Service 10 will launch with the first BlackBerry 10 devices in early 2013.

Frequently Asked Questions about BES 10

Is this a net new service or a name change?

BES 10 represents both an evolution and consolidation of RIM’s enterprise mobility management (EMM) offer to make things simple, flexible, and scalable for your organization. New functionality for managing BlackBerry 10 devices will be included, and existing functionality (currently in BlackBerry Mobile Fusion) will be incorporated into a single product offering.

The “BES 10″ name builds on our heritage as the leading provider of enterprise mobility management solutions. We are working to consolidate our product offerings, including our operating systems, smartphones, tablets, software, cloud services, and enterprise mobility management (EMM) solutions.

If the platform is changing to BlackBerry Enterprise Service 10, should I install BlackBerry Mobile Fusion today?

Yes. BlackBerry Mobile Fusion will allow you to manage BlackBerry PlayBook tablets as well as iOS and Android devices today; it will also prepare you for a simple and straightforward upgrade to BlackBerry Enterprise Service 10 once it’s available in early 2013, when it launches together with the first of our new BlackBerry 10 smartphones.

I have an existing BlackBerry Enterprise Server. Why should I add BES 10 to my infrastructure?

BES 10 is designed to integrate with your existing BlackBerry Enterprise Server deployment, allowing you to seamlessly manage not only your existing BlackBerry smartphones, but also upcoming BlackBerry 10 devices and BlackBerry PlayBook tablets, as well as iOS and Android smartphones and tablets. It will work with what you have, and set you up for success in the future.

How does RIM plan to support BlackBerry Enterprise Server (BES) moving forward?

We will continue to provide support for the many existing BES deployments, as well as provide updates and patches to make sure that you’re running the most secure mobile device management solution available. We’re committed to protecting your investment, while anticipating the challenges that your business will face moving forward when it comes to enterprise mobility. Updates for current BES deployments are planned throughout this Fall: The 5.0.4 update for BlackBerry Enterprise Server and BlackBerry Enterprise Server Express running Microsoft Exchange and Lotus Domino is scheduled for September 2012, with support for servers running Novell GroupWise planned to become available later in the Fall of 2012.

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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.

I’m Jeff Holleran, the Senior Director for Enterprise Product Management here at RIM. Since the launch of BlackBerry® PlayBook™ OS 2.0, which includes a native email and PIM client that is based on Microsoft’s Exchange ActiveSync protocol, one of the frequent questions that I am asked is, “Why ActiveSync?”

There are a number of reasons that RIM made the choice to go with ActiveSync as the sync engine for our next generation of messaging on BlackBerry tablets and smartphones. Over the past decade, ActiveSync has matured as a protocol. We are able to use ActiveSync to provide a capable sync engine that is supported for both the traditional Enterprise email platforms that RIM currently supports, and for additional email platforms that support the Microsoft ActiveSync protocol. This ability to build a single sync engine increases the reach of BlackBerry devices, while reducing the complexity of the custom sync engine that exists in today’s BlackBerry® Enterprise Server (BES). By selecting ActiveSync, we are able to provide a set of additional options for email connectivity to our customers including growth to support multiple devices for each user. In addition, we increased scalability with BlackBerry Mobile Fusion when compared to the BlackBerry Enterprise Server. Customers also have expressed interest in taking advantage of different levels of security, from the basics that come with Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync through to the advanced security and controls that come with BlackBerry Mobile Fusion and the BlackBerry Infrastructure.

What this change didn’t mean was a move away from our core BlackBerry DNA: our full end-to-end encrypted email solution that our customers have come to depend upon. In particular, there is no need to open additional firewall ports or make any other changes that would cause an IT group to change their infrastructure. BlackBerry Mobile Fusion allows each PlayBook (and BlackBerry 10 in the future) user to connect through the secure BlackBerry Infrastructure. This configuration provides the same level of security as today’s BlackBerry Enterprise Server solution, with the encrypted message traffic flowing between the device and the BlackBerry Mobile Fusion server behind the firewall. The only difference is that we connect to the email server using the ActiveSync interface instead of the proprietary MAPI protocol that we used previously. Some customers may not realize that ActiveSync is enabled on their Microsoft Exchange server by default and no changes are required to get a BlackBerry PlayBook tablet up and running on BlackBerry Mobile Fusion.

How does all of this work?

From an end-user perspective, the steps to connect are straightforward. Conceptually, from a management perspective, there are three options to connect your ActiveSync-enabled BlackBerry PlayBook into your work messaging environment (and these steps will also work for BlackBerry 10 smartphones when they are in market):

1. Direct Connection – If the ActiveSync interface of your email server is exposed to the Internet, a user can simply configure their account by adding the email address and password of the account from their PlayBook. This will provide full email and PIM connectivity and adhere to ActiveSync configured policies (listed in the Knowledge Base article below):
Read more: Exchange ActiveSync support for the BlackBerry PlayBook

2. BlackBerry Mobile Fusion managed – An administrator can enable and configure an end user to use BlackBerry Mobile Fusion for device management, and provision the email settings so that when a user activates their PlayBook, their corporate email is configured, a work perimeter is created, and the IT policies set on the BlackBerry Mobile Fusion server are adhered to. Once the device is managed by BlackBerry Mobile Fusion, the ActiveSync policies are no longer applied or adhered to with the exception of the wipe command. This option also supports management of a BlackBerry PlayBook connected into a hosted email system (i.e. Microsoft Office 365).
Read more: ActiveSync policy behavior when a tablet is activated on BlackBerry Device Service

3. BlackBerry Mobile Fusion with Mobile Data Services (MDS) – Similar to a BlackBerry Mobile Fusion activation, this option differs in that all work traffic on the device can be configured to route through the MDS component of BlackBerry Mobile Fusion, effectively extending the boundary of the corporate network to include the BlackBerry PlayBook without the need for a VPN solution or exposing ActiveSync to the Internet to allow for email/PIM access. One outbound connection over port 3101 provides secure connectivity to your PlayBook users for secure remote access to email and applications – just like the BlackBerry Enterprise Server. This is the solution recommended for security-conscious organizations that need to protect their corporate data.
Read more:

• Security Technical Overview – BlackBerry Device Service 6.0 and BlackBerry PlayBook Tablet 2.0.1
• BlackBerry MDS Connection Service Helps Make Connectivity a Simple Task

In order to understand the connectivity and Email/PIM synchronization differences between BlackBerry Enterprise Server and BlackBerry Mobile Fusion, let’s first take a look at a BlackBerry 7 smartphone connected to a BlackBerry Enterprise Server:

The BlackBerry 7 smartphone connects to the BlackBerry Enterprise Server using a 256-bit AES encrypted connection that carries email and PIM traffic from the server behind the firewall to the BlackBerry smartphone. The BlackBerry Enterprise Server connects to the email server using native email vendor-specific protocols.

Examining the connection to the BlackBerry PlayBook below, you can see the same BlackBerry DNA in place; we maintain the 256-bit AES encryption between secure endpoints on the PlayBook and BlackBerry Mobile Fusion server when using the MDS functionality to route the traffic.

The key difference is that instead of using the Mobile Fusion server to translate the native messaging protocols into BlackBerry messaging traffic, the PlayBook is making a connection directly into the mail server using ActiveSync protocols to synchronize email and PIM data to the device. This connection is then encapsulated within the 256-bit AES encrypted BlackBerry security connection ensuring that the same level of security that you have depended on for BB7.0 devices is also delivered on the BlackBerry PlayBook.

The use of ActiveSync also provides support for customers who are using hosted or cloud-based email providers. End users are able to access their email while the IT group is able to maintain device security, as well as providing behind the firewall access to the Intranet and other applications.

Our Enterprise customers are very pleased that we have continued to use the trusted connectivity model in use today. With this model, there is no need to expose ActiveSync to the Internet or increase the investment in VPN solutions to include mobile devices—the PlayBook is simply able to access and synchronize email and PIM data from the server behind the firewall. Of course, email isn’t the only data that can be accessed. When using the MDS functions of BlackBerry Mobile Fusion, employees also have the ability to access enterprise data and applications that are hosted behind the firewall.

This same architecture will be in place to support the launch of BlackBerry 10 devices. We’ve made a small change to the synchronization engine, and we continue to leverage the convenient connectivity and world-class security that the BlackBerry solution has provided our enterprise and government customers for over a decade.

In summary, BlackBerry is as secure as ever.

• We are using ActiveSync to give us greater flexibility and scalability to support more devices per user and more email platforms
• The use of ActiveSync gives customers greater choice in how they connect BlackBerry PlayBooks and BlackBerry 10 smartphones to server-based, hosted and cloud email systems
• The secure BlackBerry DNA remains; single outbound connection over port 3101, 256-bit AES encryption between server and device, no need to invest in additional VPNs and no need to expose corporate data to the internet

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TRC Companies, Inc. is an engineering services, consulting and construction management firm that serves a broad range of clients in government and industry. With 2,700 technical professionals and support personnel spread between more than 100 offices throughout the United States, TRC implements complex projects that address business challenges in the energy, environmental and infrastructure markets.

With mobile innovation at an all-time high and a variety of devices available to consumers in the business community, enterprises are now faced with a new challenge – the “Bring Your Own Device” (BYOD) trend. Employees who use functional consumer devices now want to bring them to work and use them to handle the valuable tasks that businesses expect to be completed at any time and from any place.

Devank Kumar, Manager of Enterprise Systems and Network Security at TRC, understood that the BYOD trend could potentially save the company money in new devices and training, but only if he could meet the challenge of managing multiple mobile Operating System (“OS”) environments in the enterprise. A longtime BlackBerry® smartphone client, TRC wanted to avoid having to deploy multiple Mobile Device Management (MDM) solutions that would result in additional costs and training for help desk staff to handle separate interfaces.

The company initially integrated a different MDM provider to manage the BYOD trend but quickly found that it did not offer the appropriate solution that it needed. When Research In Motion® (RIM®) announced BlackBerry® Mobile Fusion in late 2011; TRC Solutions’ Chief Technology Officer requested that the company implement it as soon as it became available as its multi-platform MDM solution.

“Our company liked the assurances that the BlackBerry solution offered,” said Kumar. “We have had BlackBerry smartphones deployed for many years and still manage more than 500 BlackBerry devices on the BlackBerry Enterprise Server, so finding this simple, yet secure MDM solution was really important.”

TRC has started a gradual deployment process of BlackBerry Mobile Fusion to manage its employee’s mobile devices throughout its U.S. offices. The company can now connect its existing BlackBerry Enterprise Server with iOS® and Android™ smartphones and tablets and manage them all from one place, integrating existing BlackBerry Enterprise Server management and security capabilities for iOS and for Android devices.

“It is a logical evolution for companies like us who have leveraged BlackBerry Enterprise Server in the past,” said Kumar. “Rather than require the BlackBerry Enterprise Server to co-exist with an outside MDM solution, BlackBerry Mobile Fusion allows us to maintain all of the benefits of our current BlackBerry solution and evolve with BYOD trends with one MDM.”

This BlackBerry solution will help to avoid the duplication of effort involved with managing multiple platforms separately and prevent the need to train its helpdesk to learn two different systems.

Deploying BlackBerry Mobile Fusion will also mean that the company can avoid dealing with multiple vendors, contracts and support calls. The company can call one number to receive tech support for management on BlackBerry smartphones as well as for other devices.

“It just makes sense,” said Kumar. “Why would we integrate a completely new system that takes time to put through a test environment and train the help desk when BlackBerry Mobile Fusion allows us to move forward with one unified interface and management system?”