Features of BlackBerry Enterprise IM 3.0

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

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

Technical Requirements

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

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

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

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

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

Many businesses rely on desktop enterprise instant messaging so that employees can instantly chat with co-workers, collaborate in ad hoc groups, or even check their availability before calling them. With Enterprise Instant Messaging on BlackBerry smartphones, we’ve extended this benefit to those who are mobile, allowing seamless integration with the unified communications that many customers already have running within their businesses.

We’re pleased to announce that BlackBerry Enterprise Server 5.0.4 Maintenance Release 2 is now available. This server update extends support for Microsoft Lync 2013 to BlackBerry Enterprise IM. No new BlackBerry Enterprise IM client is required – the current client available on BlackBerry World for end users on BlackBerry OS 5.0-7.1 smartphones will now support Lync 2013.

BlackBerry Enterprise Instant Messaging Client: A Free and Secure Mobile App

Did you know that BlackBerry Enterprise IM Client is a free application for BlackBerry OS smartphones (versions 5.0 to 7.1) that are connected to BlackBerry Enterprise Server Version 5?

At the time of this update, BlackBerry Enterprise IM supports most popular messaging platforms, including:

• Microsoft Office Communications 2007 R2
• Microsoft Lync 2010
• Microsoft Lync 2013
• IBM Lotus Sametime
• Novell GroupWise Messenger

Enterprise Instant Messaging will be coming to BlackBerry 10 smartphones later this year.

Features and Benefits

BlackBerry Enterprise IM offers a number of features and benefits:

• Instantly collaborate, securely
• It integrates with native Email, Phone, and BlackBerry Mobile Voice System so that employees can instantly collaborate with individuals or groups.
• The combination of BlackBerry Enterprise Server 5 and BlackBerry Enterprise IM Client ensures that all communications are encrypted and kept confidential and private.
• Check presence
• Check the presence status of a co-worker, set your presence status manually, or let the BlackBerry Enterprise IM Client display your availability based on your calendar appointment or whether or not you’re on a phone call.
• Escalate a chat to a phone call
• Help put an end to long email threads by starting an IM chat with the email sender, or escalate a chat to a phone call with just a few taps.
• Contact Management
• Employees can manage their contacts with diverse functionality including search, view, add, and delete. You can also create contacts and group distribution lists on the fly.

BlackBerry Enterprise IM is available globally wherever BlackBerry Enterprise Server 5 is available. For more information including how to get it, visit www.blackberry.com/eim.

Already a BlackBerry Enterprise Server 5.0 customer?

Learn more about installing this BlackBerry Enterprise Server 5.0 upgrade to get Microsoft Lync 2013 support by browsing our knowledge base articles.

BlackBerry Enterprise IM Clients can be downloaded today at no charge today from BlackBerry World, but can only be used when a BlackBerry OS 5.0 to 7.1 smartphone is connected to BlackBerry Enterprise Server 5.

Does your organization use enterprise instant messaging? How would extending capabilities to the mobile space improve your collaboration? Share in the comments below.