Enterprise apps are changing the way that we work, undoubtedly for the better. Access to behind-the-firewall data for a workforce that is constantly on the move provides increased productivity, can reduce the margin of error in reporting, fosters collaboration, and the list goes on.

Building push technology into your enterprise apps takes things to a whole new level. Push is an essential component of the real-time, always-on experience of BlackBerry devices. It offers an incredibly efficient and reliable way of sending information to your users in real time. Check out the video below for our take on push technology in enterprise apps:

[ YouTube link for mobile viewing ]

Let’s take a look at how you can build push technology into your enterprise apps.

Before I begin I have to pass mad props to Garett Beukeboom here at BlackBerry who wrote the original Simple Push Sample. I took his code and modified it for use with enterprise applications.

Getting the sample client that we used in the video to get up and running is nice and easy. Follow these steps to get started:

1. Download the ServerNotify sample (Note: Client and Server code is located here)
2. Import the project in to Cascades
3. Modify the bar-descriptor.xml file:

<invoke-target id="com.abccompany.servernotify">
     <type>APPLICATION</type>
     <filter>
          <action>bb.action.PUSH</action>
          <mime-type>application/vnd.push</mime-type>
     </filter>
</invoke-target>

The Key piece is the invoke-target id. Set this to something unique to your company and app.

4. Next, open up PushManager.cpp
5. Modify the following line to match the invoke target id you used in your bar-descriptor

const QString PushManager::BLACKBERRY_INVOKE_TARGET_ID = 
     "com.abccompany.servernotify";

6. Modify the following application ID to match the application ID you use in the server code

const QString PushManager::BLACKBERRY_PUSH_APPLICATION_ID = "bb_server_notify";

7. Package and sign your application.
8. IMPORTANT: Do not load the app by side loading as it loads to the personal space. Your application needs to be deployed from BlackBerry Enterprise Service 10 in order to make use of enterprise push. This way the app will appear in the work space and can be received through BlackBerry World for Work.
9. Once deployed, launch your application (You must run your application at least once to have it register with the push service).
10. Start pushing

Breaking it down – The Important Stuff

Taking a look at PushManager.cpp, here is what happens in the code:

You kick off by registering your application with the Push Service using your Application ID and Invoke-target ID.

const QString PushManager::BLACKBERRY_PUSH_APPLICATION_ID = "bb_server_notify";
const QString PushManager::BLACKBERRY_INVOKE_TARGET_ID = "com.abccompany.servernotify";
m_pushService = new PushService(BLACKBERRY_PUSH_APPLICATION_ID, BLACKBERRY_INVOKE_TARGET_ID);
m_pushService->createSession();

When the session is completed successfully you need to create a channel. You will notice that we pass a URL to the createChannel function. For enterprise we are passing the empty string.

const QString PushManager::BLACKBERRY_PUSH_URL = "";
m_pushService->createChannel(QUrl(BLACKBERRY_PUSH_URL));

Once the channel is completed successfully, push is ready to go. There are a few additionally items you will want to take care of. In our code you will see:

m_pushService->registerToLaunch();

This tells the push service to launch the application when a push arrives. This needs to happen if you plan on processing the push. If you only want to see push data when the app is open, this step is not needed.

Now for the most important piece of the puzzle, what to do with the push payload? When a push arrives on the device the Push Service checks what Application ID in the push header matches an application on the device that has registered with the same Application ID. It then invokes the application associated with that ID.

In the constructor of the PushHandler class we registered the invoked SIGNAL with an invoked SLOT function.

invokeManager = new InvokeManager(this);
     connect(invokeManager,
          SIGNAL(invoked(const bb::system::InvokeRequest&)), this,
          SLOT(invoked(const bb::system::InvokeRequest&)));

The void PushManager::invoked(const InvokeRequest& request) function takes in the invoke request that includes the push payload and processes it like so:

• Check the invoke came from the push service:

if (request.action().compare("bb.action.PUSH") != 0)

• Convert the request to a payload object now that we know it’s from push

PushPayload payload(request);

• Check that the payload is valid.

if (payload.isValid()) {

• If you require notification that the push has been received (via the Notify URL) you need to acknowledge the push.

if (payload.isAckRequired()) { 
          m_pushService->acceptPush(payload.id());
     }

• Finally, grab the push data

//Read all the push data from the payload
QString message = payload.data();

You can choose to process the data however you like. In our case we interpret the priority and update the UI and notifications accordingly.

Common Push issues in the Enterprise:

1. If you have any other samples that were built in cascades and aren’t working: Make sure you remove the following from the bar-descriptor.xml file. It is for public push only.

<permission system="true">_sys_use_consumer_push</permission>

2. If you have read about the Push Service SDK anywhere for the server, you can use this in the enterprise, but it is not necessary. It is much easier to build the HTTP POST yourself on the server. The Push Service SDK is a great tool for consumer push.
3. Make sure your invoke-target id’s are unique and match between the code and the bar-descriptor.xml file.

Fun Fact of the day

You can register an app target with multiple application ID’s if you like. That way, a different Push transaction can perform different tasks within the same application.

m_pushService1 = newPushService(BLACKBERRY_PUSH_APPLICATION_ID1, BLACKBERRY_INVOKE_TARGET_ID);
m_pushService2 = newPushService(BLACKBERRY_PUSH_APPLICATION_ID2, BLACKBERRY_INVOKE_TARGET_ID);

The Push Server

Building applications that leverage Enterprise Push is easier than you think. The process involves a server-initiated HTTP POST transaction to the BlackBerry Enterprise Service hosted by your company. Before you begin, you need a few details from your BlackBerry Server Administrator to be successful.

1. BlackBerry Enterprise Service Host Name
2. BlackBerry Enterprise Service Push Port
3. E-Mail Address or PIN of the Application User (Although the E-Mail address is recommended)

You will also need the following details from the Developer of the client application on the BlackBerry.

1. The unique BlackBerry Application ID from the BlackBerry Application you are pushing to
2. The format of the data payload you intend to push (e.g. JSON, XML, Text, etc…)

Once you have obtained this information, I have written a C# sample Method that will complete the HTTP POST transaction for you. Keep in mind, there are a lot of additional options and headers you can find on the BlackBerry Developer Website.

public boolean pushData(String besName, String besPushPort, String recipientEMail, String appIdOnBlackBerry, String pushPayload)
     {
          Boolean result = false;
          // Examples of Data format
          //String besName = "myServer.abcCompany.net”;
          //String besPushPort = "8080";
          //String recipientEMail = "my.address@abcCompany.com";
          //String appIdOnBlackBerry = "bb_server_notify";
          // Please note the appIdOnBlackBerry can
          // be the PORT for previous implementations
          // of the Push Initiator.
          //String pushPayload = "Data that is sent to the Push Application on the BlackBerry";

          // Now we are going to build the POST URL
          String httpURL = "http://" + besName
               + ":" + besPushPort
               + "/push?DESTINATION=" + recipientEmail
               + "&PORT=" + appIdOnBlackBerry
               + "&REQUESTURI=/";
          try
          {
               // Instantiate and define the Web Request
               HttpWebRequest HttpWReq = (HttpWebRequest)WebRequest.Create(httpURL);
               HttpWReq.Method = ("POST");
               HttpWReq.Headers.Add("ContentType", "text/plain");
               // Convert the payload to a Byte Array
               byte[] data = System.Text.ASCIIEncoding.UTF8.GetBytes(pushPayload);
               // Instantiating and writing the communication stream
               Stream requestStream = HttpWReq.GetRequestStream();
               requestStream.Write(data, 0, data.Length);
               HttpWebResponse HttpWRes = (HttpWebResponse)HttpWReq.GetResponse();
               if (HttpWRes.StatusCode == HttpStatusCode.OK)
               {
                    result = true;
               }
               requestStream.Close();
               HttpWRes.Close();
               }
                    catch (Exception err)
               {
               //Handle Exception here
          }
          return result;
     }

There you have it; the guide for using push technology in your enterprise apps. Have questions? Share in the comments below or head over to the BlackBerry Developer Support Forums.

Today, any company that is creating mobile apps faces an important decision – should you develop in native or HTML5? Both have advantages and disadvantages, so the choice really depends on your requirements and available resources. Certainly, native apps can provide a better user experience, but developing for native usually takes longer and can be more costly. HTML5, on the other hand, allows you to reach a wider market sooner without the restrictions imposed by walled storefronts. So wouldn’t it be great if we could have the best of both worlds? Well, we can with hybrid apps like those built by BlackBerry WebWorks or PhoneGap. A hybrid app is actually a native app that runs on the device, but it is written using web technologies (i.e., HTML5, CSS3, JavaScript, Canvas, and others) Since hybrid apps run inside a native container, it can access native device capabilities and leverage native security features. This makes it ideal for most enterprise apps.

In fact, we worked with partners like SAP to help them develop WebWorks apps. The Customer Financial Fact Sheet and RealSpend apps are two examples that were developed in just a matter of weeks. By leveraging Responsive Web Design principles, these apps work on the latest BlackBerry 10 smartphones, BlackBerry PlayBook tablets, BlackBerry 6 and 7 smartphones, and even in a desktop browser. With some minor tweaking, these apps can also run on other platforms. This cross-device and cross-generation support is important because it allows companies to upgrade their inventory in a more cost-effective way, it allows their apps to reach a wider audience sooner rather than later, and it simplifies training and support.

For app developers, using HTML5 allows them to leverage and re-use their existing skillsets, workflow, and infrastructure. With dozens of solid frameworks (e.g., Sencha Touch and jQuery Mobile) and hundreds of libraries to choose from (see jsdb.io and microjs.com), developers can quickly prototype and focus on their business logic without reinventing libraries. Even companies that leverage enterprise solutions like SAP’s NetWeaver Gateway, which uses OData, can use the following libraries to get up and running quickly:

• datajs
• Sencha Touch’s oData Connector
• jquery.odata
• JayData
• Breeze OData Adapter

With datajs, for example, developers can read and display data, read paginated data, add data, and add data in batches. This API supports both JSON and ATOM-based formats, and it provides a mechanism for combining remote services with local storage.

As you can see, HTML5 and hybrid apps offer a compelling solution for enterprises. If you’d like to discuss web development for BlackBerry in person, we’ll be available at the BlackBerry booth at SAP Sapphire Now from May 14-16.

Also, don’t forget to go by the Enterprise Development pods at BlackBerry Live & BlackBerry Jam from May 14-16 and be sure to check out these sessions:

• JAM44 – Building for the Multi-Device Enterprise using Sencha
• JAM19 – Calling and Consuming Enterprise Web Services

[ YouTube link for mobile viewing ]

Apps to get you started

Cisco WebEx Meetings

With the Cisco WebEx app on BlackBerry 10 you’re able to schedule and join Cisco WebEx meetings, as well as invite and view attendees, chat, screen share, and more. Cisco WebEx has become a key business and collaboration tool, and on BlackBerry 10 it’s one of the key apps helping you connect with colleagues to get more done while on the go.

Box

Box has become known as one of the predominant cloud file storage and collaboration providers. On BlackBerry 10 smartphones Box is integrated into the file system on the device, making it simple for you to access and share your content stored in Box. It’s so easy to access Box files and folders on your BlackBerry 10 smartphone that it feels like they’re stored right there on your device, giving you the ability to quickly access and share important content anywhere you work.

Citrix Podio

Citrix Podio on BlackBerry 10 smartphones is built on HTML5, providing a powerful work collaboration platform that enables you to work the way you want to, where you want to, and using tools that perfectly fit your team’s projects and workflows.

Citrix Podio on Blackberry 10 brings collaboration and business processes together through workspaces and apps that are powerful, collaborative, and social alternatives to spreadsheets, documents and email. You can also develop your own custom apps with easy building blocks (no tech skills required) for managing projects. Over 200,000 organizations around the world already use Podio and we’re excited to bring the power of Podio to the BlackBerry community. Learn more at blog.podio.com

Ricoh HotSpot Printing Application

Ricoh’s print app on BlackBerry 10 smartphones enables you to print documents and presentations on HotSpot enabled printers with the simple click of a button, making it more convenient to print hard copies right from your BlackBerry 10 device. The HotSpot service is available in many public venues such as airport club lounges and hotels. It may also be hosted on a private cloud service for enterprise customers, enabling mobile printing throughout the corporate network.

SalesNOW CRM for BlackBerry 10

SalesNOW on BlackBerry 10 enables you to manage all of your sales data with full access to your critical service and customer information when and where you need it. SalesNOW is also integrated with core BlackBerry 10 features such as email, contacts, phone, and maps functionality, and also automatically synchronizes with the SalesNOW server to give you access to the latest data. This lets you keep up to date with your accounts, and also update them while you’re out of the office, as well as making it easier for you to connect with key contacts.

BMC – BMC Mobility for Incident Management, and BMC Approvals applications

BMC’s applications on BlackBerry 10 smartphones enable you to interact with key business systems – Incident Management as well as Approvals systems while on the go. On BMC Mobility for ITSM Incidents you are able to view incident detals, and interact with incident management tickets to stay up to date, as well as provide updates to incident management items. With BMC Mobility for Approvals, you are able to view and update approval items while away from your desk. Both apps wirelessly synch with the back-end BMC systems to keep information up to date. This enables you to improve productivity by not having to return to your workstation to update trouble tickets, or check the status of approvals.

There you have it; go forth and explore business apps! Be sure to come back here and share your favorites in the comments below.

When evaluating solutions to enable your business with mobile applications that go far beyond email, calendar, and PIM, the best practice is to ensure you are making the most of what’s available. I’ve worked in this post to establish a benchmark of how BlackBerry solutions can enable business collaboration and enterprise applications with four key elements.

Connectivity

Although this sounds pretty basic, it’s really the core of what’s needed to get things done. When leveraging the BlackBerry Enterprise Solution, this aspect is built in from the ground up and really cannot be any easier. With a service called MDS-CS, you have that built-in “VPN-Like” connection to allow you easy access to the secure data stored behind the firewall. This is a key differentiator, as without this out-of-the-box connectivity behind the firewall, complex and potentially costly solutions would need to be created in order to achieve secure access to corporate data.

Push

Many of us are already familiar with the term “Push”. As a brief primer, push is a service that sends data to a device without the device having to send a request for that data. This is why you don’t have to manually check your email – new messages simply appear the moment that they arrive. It’s a great protocol for delivering information in real time and keeping you connected. But the story doesn’t end here – let’s look at what can be accomplished with Push technology in a business setting.

First and foremost, you have the ability to push data to an app and even notify the end user when something has arrived. Secondly, you can push that information directly to the BlackBerry Hub in BlackBerry 10. Consider how a business user works and the fact that they’re constantly in their inbox. When they wake up in the morning, they go to their inbox; before they go to bed, they are in their inbox. It follows, then, that your business applications should also have a presence here. For example, let’s say that you want to send your CEO the daily sales reports or business intelligence data. Put it right where they’ll be: the inbox! With the invocation framework introduced in BlackBerry 10 you can have them tap on the notification in their inbox and thereby invoke your app.

Secondly, Push also solves the issue that apps need to work offline. Executives often use their BlackBerry smartphones on flights and trips all around the world. Many “send” messages while in transit, and when they land their messages are sent without them even having to lift a finger. Your applications can work the same way; once you build into the workflow a system that can push down the requests to their devices, the requests will be waiting for them until your users have the downtime to go through and take action. They will absolutely love you if you make them more productive on the airplane, and especially if you design it so they do not need to go back to their PC to approve or interact with the information.

Management

Beyond building your enterprise app, it’s important to consider its deployment within your organization. With BlackBerry 10 we’ve created the App World for Work, which gives you the ability to host your confidential application behind the firewall, accessible only to employees within your business. This is enabled as soon as the device is activated against BlackBerry Enterprise Service 10, when the BlackBerry Balance feature comes alive during device activation. You can then make it available through App World for Work and the employees can download it, or you can make it a mandatory application which will then automatically be pushed to employee devices. Employees also have the ability to manage available upgrades within App World for Work to ensure that the latest maintenance releases and enhancements are available.

If you’re building applications which you’re looking to sell to enterprise customers, you can either provide them the application to host in their environment or you can submit your application to BlackBerry App World and simply recommend that your customers flag the application for work. Administrators can select publicly available apps from BlackBerry App World, which makes the application appear in App World for Work as a recommended download for employees, manageable like any other internal applications.

Standards-based Development

Let’s face it, when building applications for mobile devices there are many different tools and languages available, and it can be daunting to make a selection. Even some of the MDM providers who try to enable enterprise applications require you to learn their tools in order to build, manage, and secure mobile applications. With the security elements already built into the BlackBerry Enterprise Solution, all that is left to do is build the app. We’ve made it easier than ever by supporting standards-based development. First with HTML5, CSS and JavaScript, you can write and in many cases reuse samples of code which can then be compiled with our BlackBerry WebWorks tool to create a BlackBerry app. Aside from being simple to build, the beauty of the BlackBerry WebWorks development solution is that it supports BlackBerry 6 and BlackBerry 7 OS, BlackBerry PlayBook tablets, and the upcoming BlackBerry 10 platform. You can also go really deep to create customized extensions that leverage the core of the BlackBerry OS and hardware. We’ve got loads of samples for you to check out on http://developer.blackberry.com/

If you go a step further and would like to develop using our Native Software Development Kit, the core of the language is C++. Combined with our Cascades tool, you can build some serious applications that not only increase productivity at your company, but have a beautiful interface.

When you’re evaluating solutions to solve your business problems, take a look at Connectivity, Push, Management, and Standards-based Development to see how they can help you in your quest for designing and implementing functional and intuitive business apps. The Enterprise Partnerships team here at RIM is ready to help!

The BlackBerry Enterprise Developer Partnership team was on hand to showcase the latest in BlackBerry technology including BlackBerry 10, and show how easy HTML5 applications can be developed for or ported over to the BlackBerry platform. At each event, most of the developer teams built their apps using HTML5 and showed demonstrations of these applications running on BlackBerry devices, including both the BlackBerry PlayBook tablet and the BlackBerry 10 Dev Alpha device.

All of the BlackBerry versions of the applications were built with HTML5/BlackBerry WebWorks, and considering that they were built in a day and half – and that they all connected to theSAP HANA platform using oData – it was quite impressive. This really illustrates how quick and easy it is to develop effective enterprise applications on the BlackBerry platform, with very little time and development effort.

At the end of the day a winning app was selected. At the Healthcare focused Innojam hosted in Las Vegas as a part of SAP TechEd, the app “Nurse Assist” was crowned the victor. At The Innojam hosted at SAPPHIRE NOW in Madrid , the theme was connecting people in larger cities with each other, and the “WeCare” app emerged victorious:

Nurse Assist (winner in Las Vegas)

Nurse Assist is designed to help mobile nurses in their day to day activities, keeping them better informed about patients and providing an easy and effective way to update patient records. It even provides the quickest way to get to their next appointment. This app was designed to run on the BlackBerry platform using HTML5/WebWorks, and was integrated with SAP solutions on the back end to enable the user to pull the latest information, and to update patient records and information. The application was demonstrated on a BlackBerry 10 Dev Alpha device.

WeCare (winner in Madrid)

The WeCare application was the winner at the Madrid Innojam, and was designed to better connect people in large cities with their neighbors; similar to the experience of those living in smaller towns and communities. The app makes it easier for people living in large cities to easily and securely connect with their neighbors to help out with shopping, carpooling, babysitters, and more. The app connects to SAP HANA for the latest information and updates, and was integrated with various social media tools like Twitter & Facebook.

To learn more, check out a full video recap of the Las Vegas event and the Madrid event.

For more information on developing applications integrated with SAP solutions on the back end, check out the SAP for BlackBerry Development Guide, and for more on BlackBerry development best practices, check out the BlackBerry Enterprise Development Guide.

We also hope you will take the time to check out all the new and exciting news and information on the upcoming BlackBerry 10 platform. Have you developed business or government apps using BlackBerry WebWorks? Share your experience in the comments below.

[ YouTube link for mobile viewing ]

In his interview with us, Mike also mentions that he’s a BlackBerry PlayBook fan, and uses his tablet for both work and personal life. “I even used my BlackBerry PlayBook to pass my wedding vows back and forth with my wife.” It was great to connect with him – many Enterprise developers are, like Mike, excited to take advantage of BlackBerry 10 and BlackBerry PlayBook tablet capabilities within their workplace.

Have any questions we can help answer about deploying BlackBerry products and services within your business? Are you using BlackBerry Mobile Fusion as your mobile device management solution? Let us know by commenting below!

We once again had the privilege of connecting with Gregg Ostrowski, Senior Director of Enterprise Partnerships at RIM®, to get his thoughts on why the Enterprise Jam events resonate with attendees. Throughout the interview, Gregg discusses RIM’s vision for the BlackBerry App World™ storefront, as well as RIM’s commitment to providing tools and resources to the enterprise development community.

[ YouTube link for mobile viewing ]

According to Gregg, “When an enterprise developer is building an app, they typically don’t want their app stored in a place that can be accessed by the public. To address that specific requirement, we’ve enabled a simple user-interface [in BlackBerry App World] that Enterprise developers can use to host not only public apps, but also unique Enterprise apps that they have built for their business – all housed behind their corporate firewall.”

Are you an enterprise developer interested in building BlackBerry apps for your business? If so, let us know by commenting below. We will be sure to connect you to the right people inside RIM and resources you need to make this happen!

Last week the BlackBerry® 10 Jam World Tour – Enterprise Edition was held in Madrid, Spain. 121 developers took part in some very interesting sessions, demonstrations, and workshops. With these events, Research In Motion® (RIM®) aims to help enterprise developers find out what the BlackBerry® 10 platform has to offer and provide experts in building applications to show developers the wide variety of tools currently available. These tools include BlackBerry® WebWorks™ using HTML5, CSS and Javascript®, and the NDK/Cascades™ leveraging C++. On this occasion, attendees also become versed in BlackBerry MDS-CS, BlackBerry® Enterprise Service 10, and BlackBerry advantages in security.

Read more at the Inside BlackBerry Developer Blog »

The guide posted below will help developers understand SAP middleware solutions, which can help remove one of the complexities of SAP in the mobile space. Key topics covered are:

• SAP Mobile Continuum
• SAP Middleware
• Deploying and Managing Client Applications
• Securing Enterprise Content

Check out the development guide below and share your thoughts and feedback in the comments.

As more and more smartphones and tablets enter the enterprise, there is increasing desire to extend enterprise data beyond the desktop and into mobile. There are also more complexities when developing and deploying an app in an enterprise environment, such as data and device management, security, cross-platform and cross-device development, and connectivity for your application. With its core DNA rooted in the enterprise, the BlackBerry® platform addresses these issues with app development and deployment solutions – and as a developer, these can be leveraged to deliver a richer and more secure application.

The guide posted below will help developers make the right development decisions, leveraging the right tools and resources. This can save valuable time and money, and ultimately help build better applications. Key topics covered are:

• Overview of BlackBerry® WebWorks™
• Building HTML5 Applications with Native-Like Functionality
• Using Existing Web Development Frameworks
• BlackBerry WebWorks Resources
• Tools and Code to Help You Get Started Today
• Deploying and Managing Client Applications
• Securing Enterprise Content

Check out the guide below and share your thoughts and feedback in the comments.