BlackBerry
For BlackBerry device software updates, please visit the BlackBerry Software Update site - http://na.blackberry.com/eng/update/
Click HERE to access the Brightpoint BlackBerry Partner Portal
Or visit the BlackBerry YouTube Channel - http://youtube.com/blackberry
Or the Inside BlackBerry Help Blog - http://helpblog.blackberry.com/
For help with troubleshooting hardware or software problems on your BlackBerry Smartphone, try visiting the BlackBerry Troubleshooting Toolkit
Or access the BlackBerry HelpMe portal to access all of RIM's online support resources - http://content.blackberry.com/blackberrytraining/_content/kiosk/index.html
For BlackBerry success case studies, visit this site - http://uk.blackberry.com/newsroom/success/
Brightpoint is a RIM-certified BlackBerry Enterprise Server System Administrator
BlackBerry Balance Explained
BlackBerry Balance is a new feature from RIM designed to give administrators the control they need over BlackBerry devices connected to a corporate BES deployment, whilst simultaneously allowing users to enjoy the more personal capabilities of their devices, such as social networking services.
With the increasing trend for employees to own their Smartphones but use them for business purposes, the need to be able to secure corporate data without interfering with a user's personal content is a burgeoning one. It is this aspect of personal ownership of a business-capable device that RIM are addressing with Balance.
As I detailed with the release of Service Pack 3 for BlackBerry Enterprise Server 5, the BES solution already features a number of IT policies that allow the administrator to define that "work" content should be kept separate from "personal" content on supported devices:
This essentially means that "work" content (email, calendar, documents, etc accessed on the device via the connection to the BES) can only be accessed by applications defined as "work" applications (which can also be defined on the BES) and also cannot be copied and pasted or otherwise shared via a "personal" application (Twitter, Facebook, Hotmail, GMail, etc).
Users can also optionally be prevented from backing up work data locally.
If a user attempts an action that is prohibited by IT policy, they will receive a notification on their device indicating so.
Applications can be classed as falling into either "work" or "personal" categories by the administrator.
The solution also gives administrators the ability to only remove all work content from a device should that user leave the company, leaving any personal content on that device untouched:
RIM have confirmed that this same functionality will also be coming to the BES Express product in the very near future.
The latest version of BlackBerry device software 6.0 is required. Future software releases will include the feature as standard. Supported devices include:
- 9800 bundle 1478 or later
- 9780 bundle 1478 or later
- 9700 bundle 1478 or later
- 9300 bundle 1478 or later
- 9100 bundle 1478 or later
- 9330 bundle 1830 or later
- 9650 bundle 1830 or later
- 9670 bundle 1830 or later
If the policy is enabled on the BES, a BlackBerry device will consider the following as "work" content:
- email messages and attachments that are sent to the user's work email account, and sent from it as well as draft email messages
- calendar entries in the user's work calendar
- contacts in the user's work address book
- tasks and memos in the work account
- any applications sent to the device by the BES and classified as a "work" application
- files accessed from a work shared folder
- files stored on the media card created by or accessed by work applications
It is not possible for the user to reclassify work content as personal content.
NOTE - phone data (call history, etc) is NOT considered as work data, but IS removed from the device when a command to erase all work data is issued.
BES IT Policies
Enable separation of work content
If this policy is enabled, the user will not be able paste content from a work application into a personal application. Data can still be copied and pasted between 2 work applications and between 2 personal applications. Users can transfer data from a personal application to a work application, but not vice versa.
Disable forwarding of work content using personal channels
Personal channels include the BlackBerry Internet Service (BIS), SMS, MMS, PIN messages and BlackBerry Messenger. Once enabled, this policy prevents users from forwarding work email messages, contacts, calendar entries, tasks or memos over any of these channels.
Require work resources or conducting work activities
This policy prevents the user from sending email messages to a member of the work contacts list from a personal email account, and also prevents them from arranging meetings with a member of the work contacts list from a personal calendar.
Miscellaneous
BES administrators have long had the ability to prevent users from using the BlackBerry Desktop Manager software to create backups of device data locally on their PC. This control has now been updated to include as well as the options for "Yes" and "No", the option for "No organizational databases"
If the option to "enable separation of work content" is enabled on the BES by the administrator, all work content saved to the device memory card is automatically encrypted using an encryption key generated by the device
Software configuration
After the option to "enable separation of work content" is enabled, to grant an application access to corporate resources it must be defined on the BES in a software configuration policy with the rule "IS access to the corporate data API allowed" to "Allow".
By default any application developed by RIM will be granted access. If you want to prevent bundled applications such as Facebook and MySpace from accessing work data, you should set the separate BES IT policy rule "Disable Organizer Data Access for Social Networking Applications" to Yes. Any other bundled application that you wish to block must be defined in a Software Configuration with the "IS access to the corporate data API allowed" rule set to "Deny".
You can read more on the RIM web site - http://us.blackberry.com//apps-software/business/server/full/balance.jsp
BlackBerry Balance demonstration [Video]
BlackBerry Balance makes it possible for BlackBerry Smartphones to be used for both business and personal use, enabling your organisation to offer greater flexibility without compromising security or management.
BlackBerry Business Cloud Services
BlackBerry Business Cloud Services is the name given to RIM's new hosted BlackBerry Enterprise Server offering that they have partnered with Microsoft and the Office 365 platform to provide, giving a cloud-based Exchange mailbox and secure BlackBerry mobile email and PIM synchronisation with no need for any locally installed hardware or software.
Any BlackBerry Smartphone running device software 4.5 or later can be used with the service, and administration is performed entirely from the web browser.
For administrators, the following features are available:
- Authentication - administrators can log in using the same credentials used to access Microsoft Exchange Online.
- User Account Management - manage how email messages and PIM data are synchronised for individual users or the entire organisation.
- User Group Management - create groups to share administrative roles, IT policies and other configurations among similar user accounts. Groups can also be nested.
- User Statistics Tracking - view user statistics, including email messages that are sent and received, pending email messages, reconciliation and last contact time with a BlackBerry device.
- Support for personal devices - for BlackBerry device users that have both personal and work data on a device, administrators have the ability to delete only work data from the device (for example if that person leaves the organisation). This feature requires BlackBerry device software 6.0 or later.
- Language support - the following languages are available: English, French, Italian, German, Spanish, Japanese, Brazilian-Portuguese.
For users, the following email messaging features are available:
- Email reconciliation - compose, read, move, reply, forward, delete messages. Message read and unread status is also synchronised.
- Email filters - users and administrators can create and change filters, dtermining an action to apply to a message if it meets specific criteria. Actions include forward, forward with priority, or do not forward to BlackBerry device.
- Email message forwarding - users can turn off email forwarding to their device.
- Signatures - users can add a signature to all email messages sent from their device. Administrators can add disclaimers to all messages sent from users and groups.
- Out of office reply - users can set their out of office message and status from their device. Users can also set an expiry date for out of office replies.
- Contact lookup - users can search for a contact's first name, last name or both in the organisation's user directory.
- Attachment support - users can send email messages containing attachments from their devices, up to a maximum of 3MB for an individual file, and up to a total maximum of 5MB per individual email. Administrators can reduce these limits if desired.
- Personal distribution lists - users with devices running software 5.0 or later can view personal distribution lists in their contact lists.
- Follow-up flag - users with devices running software 5.0 or later can flag email messages and set reminder times.
- Calendar entry forwarding - users with devices running software 5.0 or later can forward meeting invitations and calendar entries from their devices
- Availability of meeting invitees - users can view the availability of meeting invitees on their BlackBerry devices. Administrators can disable this feature if desired.
- Remote search for email messages - users can search for email messages that are located on the messaging server from their device.
Supported attachment file formats:
The following IT policies are also available:
- Individual liable devices - this policy prevents users from accessing organiser data from the social netowrking applications on their devices. Users are permitted to access their personal calendar services and email services (for example BIS accounts), make calls when the device is locked, and cut, copy and paste text. Users cannot forward email messages from one messaging service to another.
- Basic password security - this policy requires a basic password that users can use to unlock their devices. Users must change the passwrod regularly. The policy also includes a password timeout that locks devices.
- Medium password security - similar to the above policy but requires a complex password and also turns off Bluetooth technology on devices.
- Medium security with no third party applications - similar to the above policy but also includes a maximum password history. This policy prevents users from making their devices discoverable by other Bluetooth enabled devices and prevents devices from downloading third party applications.
- Advanced security - this policy also requires a complex password that users must change frequently, a password timeout that locks devices, and a maximum password history. This policy restricts Bluetooth technology on devices, turns on strong content protection, turns off USB mass storage, and requires devices to encrypt external file systems (storage cards).
- Advanced security with no third party applications - similar to the advanced security policy but also prevents users from installing third party applications.
You can download a more detailed feature and technical overview document HERE
Read more on the BlackBerry web site - http://uk.blackberry.com/business/software-and-services/cloudservices/
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BlackBerry Client for Microsoft SharePoint
RIM have released a dedicated SharePoint client for BlackBerry Smartphones, enabling secure enterprise collaboration and putting document managements tools into the hands of mobile workers.
SharePoint versions 2007 and 2010 are supported. The solution requires BlackBerry Enterprise Server 5, and an additional RIM server component, the BlackBerry Social Networking Application Proxy Server, which should ideally be hosted on a separate physical server from the BES.
Device software version 5 or later is required on the Smartphone.
Features
Document based collaboration optimised for BlackBerry smartphones
- The BlackBerry Client for Microsoft SharePoint delivers highly secure file sharing, and document management, optimised for use on the BlackBerry smartphone.
- Check out, edit, check-in – Download, edit, and upload documents when out of the office, while version control keeps collaborative efforts in synch.
- Navigate folders and files – Search for and browse content to locate needed files, and add frequently used contents as favourites for quick access.
- Create and view content – Set up folders, and upload files.
- View details such as author, size, date modified and created, and preview documents before downloading.
- Calendar event support – view, open, and add calendar events from the client to the calendar on the BlackBerry smartphone, and vice-versa.
Simplified and intuitive user experience
- Built as a BlackBerry application means faster access to information. There’s no need to launch the browser and log in, and no time spent waiting for web pages to render.
- Tight integration with core BlackBerry smartphone features and applications such as Email, and Documents To Go®. For example, easily email colleagues links to files, contact document authors without leaving the BlackBerry Client for Microsoft SharePoint, and open, edit, and save downloaded documents with Documents To Go.
Highly Secure and Manageable for IT
Organisations can leverage the existing BlackBerry® Enterprise Solution, plus gain additional reporting and data optimisation with the BlackBerry® Social Networking Application Proxy.
Information Protection
- Existing permissions for Microsoft SharePoint are respected, and shared content is only available to those who have access.
- The advanced security features of the BlackBerry® Enterprise Server employ high encryption standards to help protect intellectual property.
Managed from the BlackBerry Enterprise Server - IT can enable or disable the “Tell A Friend” feature, or wirelessly push the application to users.
- Implement IT policies and set application permissions.
BlackBerry Social Networking Application Proxy
- Designed to optimise the data sent from Microsoft SharePoint to BlackBerry smartphones for improved performance.
- High Capacity infrastructure enables multiple Social Networking Application Proxy servers to be deployed to better serve a large number of users.
- High Availability infrastructure enables server traffic to be routed to other active servers if Social Networking Application Proxy server(s) become unresponsive or unavailable, to help ensure little to no impact on end users.
- Tracks how many BlackBerry smartphones are using the client, giving administrators the ability to ensure sufficient client access licenses have been purchased.
You can read more on the BlackBerry web site - http://us.blackberry.com/business/software/sharepoint.jsp
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BlackBerry Desktop Manager 6
The next version of the BlackBerry Desktop Manager software, version 6.0, announced alongside BlackBerry OS 6 and the new Torch 9800 Smartphone (http://na.blackberry.com/eng/devices/blackberrytorch/), boasts a completely revised interface, new features and streamlined setup wizards.
The home screen displays information about your connected device and functionality is accessed by selecting one of the left-hand menu items or from the drop-down menus arranged at the top of the window. The software displays those options that are available for your device, so a new OS6 device will have more features available than an older OS5 device.
Wizards can be accessed under the Device menu, including the Backup / Restore, Switch Devices and Software Update features:
The Applications section displays information on currently installed software on the device as well as memory usage. New apps can be installed and existing apps removed via the wizard as with previous versions:
Included also is the ability to synchronise contacts, calendar, tasks and notes information with desktop PIM applications including Microsoft Outlook as before:
The Music manager enables bidirectional synchronisation of music files between your device and either Windows Media Player or iTunes:
When used with a device running OS 6, a new feature is available which enables you to synchronise changes to your music collection automatically via WiFi: as soon as your device connects to your home wireless network it can synchronise with iTunes or Windows Media Player automatically (provided that the PC hosting the music collection is turned on).
The Pictures and Videos sections enable synchronisation of media files between your device and PC:
The Device Options menu allows you to specify how frequently you want your device to be automatically backed up, and which data you want to be included in that backup:
As well as specifying which media player on the desktop you wish to synchronise music files with and how much memory on the device your music library should be able to occupy:
And specifying where backups should be stored:
The Device Properties view displays detailed information about the device including software version and PIN / IMEI information:
The Desktop Options settings view allows you to enable and configure synchronisation via Bluetooth if available on your PC:
The Mobile Internet feature allows you to use your connected BlackBerry device as a modem to connect your PC to the Internet via the device's cellular connection. When launching the feature for the first time you will be prompted to run through a configuration wizard:
The wizard contains all of the required settings for most major cellular operators, select your provider from the list:
Or alternatively to enter settings manually for a private APN or a non-listed operator select the option to Add a Custom Profile:
You will be prompted to confirm your understanding that using the device as amodem may incur additional charges from your operator:
Once the settings have been applied, you can initiate the connection simply by selecting the menu option, after a few moments you will be connected to the Internet and the data usage will be indicated in the bottom left hand corner:
BlackBerry Desktop Manager 6 is available for download for PC users here - http://na.blackberry.com/eng/services/desktop/
BlackBerry Desktop Manager for Mac
RIM will soon be releasing a version of the BlackBerry Desktop Manager software for the Mac platform, although a version has already surfaced on the web, which was used to create this post.
The installation procedure is quick and painless. If the PocketMac for BlackBerry software has already been installed you will be warned that installing this application will cause PocketMac to no longer function correctly. A reboot will be required:
Once installed an icon will be added to the Applications folder, and the software will also launch automatically when your BlackBerry device is connected via USB
When connecting your device for the first time you will be prompted to enter a name to identify it:
The main window will then be displayed:
The software enables bi-directional synchronisation with Address Book and iCal as well as Entourage
Music playlists can be synchronised from iTunes, provided that the device has a storage card inserted.
Applications can be installed and removed, and device software updates downloaded and installed:
Full and partial device backups can also be made and restored:
Modem Tethering
Provided that you have data service enabled on your SIM card (besides the BlackBerry service), you can use your BlackBerry as a USB modem with your Mac to connect to the Internet.
When connected to your Mac for the first time, you will be prompted to open System Preferences because a new network interface has been detected:
To configure Internet access, select the entry for the RIM Composite Device. Enter a telephone number of *99#
Enter the appropriate username and password for your service provider. Click on the Advanced button:
On the Modem tab, set the Vendor to Research In Motion, and the Model to BlackBerry IP Modem (GSM).
In the APN field enter the appropriate Access Point Name for your service provider:
Vodafone - internet
Orange - orangeinternet
O2 - mobile.o2.co.uk
T-Mobile - general.t-mobile.uk
Three - three.co.uk
Click OK and then Apply. To initiate the connection to the Internet click the Connect button.
BlackBerry Devices
BlackBerry "old versus new" product comparisons [Video]
Torch 9810 versus 9800
Curve 9360 versus 8520
Bold 9900 versus 9700
BlackBerry 9800 Device Simulator
A device simulator is available for the BlackBerry 9800 Torch running version 6 of the BlackBerry Device Software, ideal if you want to test the look and feel of the new OS, test your applications if you're a developer, or verify compatibility with your BES if you're a network administrator.
The simulator is available for download from the BlackBerry web site - https://www.blackberry.com/Downloads/entry.do?code=060AD92489947D410D897...
BlackBerry Bold 9900 - Touch and type in harmony [Video]
Touch. Type. Together. Create and connect with the new BlackBerry® Bold™.
BlackBerry Device Demos
On the BlackBerry web site are a number of interactive device demonstrations, perfect for getting your virtual hands on a BlackBerry to 'try before you buy'.
Available demos include:
Pearl
http://demos.blackberry.com/8100/eu/en/gen/
http://demos.blackberry.com/8110/eu/en/gen/
http://demos.blackberry.com/8120/eu/en/gen/
Curve
http://demos.blackberry.com/8300/eu/en/gen/
http://demos.blackberry.com/8310/eu/en/gen/
http://demos.blackberry.com/8320/eu/en/gen/
http://demos.blackberry.com/8520/eu/en/gen/
http://demos.blackberry.com/8900/eu/en/gen/
8800
http://demos.blackberry.com/8800/eu/en/gen/
Bold
http://demos.blackberry.com/9000/eu/en/gen/
http://demos.blackberry.com/9700/eu/en/gen/
Storm
http://demos.blackberry.com/9500/eu/en/gen/
http://demos.blackberry.com/9520/eu/en/gen/
BlackBerry Torch 9800 and OS 6 Promotional Video
BlackBerry Torch 9860 - Break Free [Video]
Discover the new BlackBerry Torch 9800
Introducing the BlackBerry Bold 9790
True to the BlackBerry Bold brand, the new BlackBerry Bold 9790 smartphone is powerful, full-featured and built with premium materials and finishes. It combines a high-resolution and highly responsive touch display with a highly tactile keyboard and a precise optical trackpad, but comes in a narrow design that is easy to carry and exceptionally comfortable to hold. With the BlackBerry 7 OS and powerful 1 GHz processor, the BlackBerry Bold 9790 delivers fast, smooth performance for browsing the web, running apps, working with documents, and enjoying multimedia. It includes 8GB of onboard memory and an expandable memory card slot that supports up to 32 GB of additional storage.
Powerful BlackBerry 7 OS
The BlackBerry Bold 9790 is powered by the new BlackBerry 7 OS, which delivers a faster and richer user experience with improved browsing, voice-activated searches, and support for Augmented Reality and NFC (Near Field Communications). It also includes the ability to manage personal content separately from corporate content, and comes with a variety of personal and productivity apps out of the box.
BlackBerry 7 also introduces an enhanced browser that provides a significantly faster, more fluid web browsing experience. The browser includes a new JIT (just in time) JavaScript compiler to improve the load time speed of web pages and it offers optimised HTML5 performance for incredible gaming and video experiences. The popular universal search capability has also been enhanced with support for voice-activated search, so users can simply speak to begin searching their device and the web for information.
The BlackBerry Bold 9790 smartphone includes built-in support for Augmented Reality and NFC, allowing users to connect with the world around them in fresh new ways. With the Wikitude Augmented Reality application, users can find nearby BBM (BlackBerry Messenger) contacts in real-time, read reviews on restaurants close to them, or get the story behind an interesting landmark and points of interest. NFC also enables many new and exciting capabilities, including the ability to make mobile payments, pair accessories or read SmartPoster tags with a simple tap of the smartphone.
BlackBerry 7 includes a number of preinstalled applications and integrated functionality for increasing productivity and easy sharing and collaboration right out of the box. The Premium version of Documents To Go is included free of charge, offering users powerful document editing features as well as a native PDF document viewer. BlackBerry® Protect is pre-loaded*, offering customers the peace of mind that personal data can be backed up and secured in the cloud. BlackBerry® Balance is integrated in BlackBerry 7, allowing users to enjoy the full BlackBerry smartphone experience for both work and personal purposes without compromising the IT department’s need for advanced security and IT controls. The Social Feeds (2.0) app has been extended to capture updates from media and favourites all in one consolidated view. The Facebook for BlackBerry smartphones (2.0) app introduces features like Facebook chat and BBM integration that makes it easier for users to connect with their Facebook friends in real time.
Technical Specifications
Available Features
- BlackBerry® 7 OS
- 5 MP camera
- Optical trackpad
- GPS
- Wi-Fi®
- Near Field Communication (NFC)
- Email and text messaging
- Social networking apps
- Bluetooth®
Size and Weight
- Height: 110 mm (4.33 inches)
- Width: 60 mm (2.36 inches)
- Depth: 11.4 mm (0.45 inches)
- Weight: 107 grams (3.77 ounces)
Display
- High-resolution colour TFT display
- 480x360 pixels, 246 dpi
- 16 million colours supported (24-bit)
- 2.45" (measured diagonally)
Voice Input/Output
- 3.5 mm stereo headset capable
- Bluetooth headset capable
- Integrated hands-free speakerphone
Media Player
- Video formats: .mp4, .m4a, .3gp, .avi, .asf,
- Audio formats: .3gp2, .m4v, .avi, .wmv, .wma, .mp3, .flac, .ogg, .aac, .amr, .wav, .mid, .mp4
- Picture formats: .bmp, .jpg, .gif, .png, .tif, .wbmp
Bluetooth
- Bluetooth v2.1 + EDR
- Headset Profile (HSP)
- Hands-Free Profile (HPF)
- Serial Port Profile (SPP)
- SIM Access Profile
- Dial-Up Networking (DUN)
- Audio Source (A2DP)
- A/V Remote Control Version 1.3
- Phone Book Access Profile (PBAP)
- Message Access Profile (MAP)
- OPP
Processor
- Marvel Tavor MG1 1 GHz
Memory
- Memory: 768 MB RAM, 8 GB eMMC
- Expandable memory: up to 32 GB with microSD card
Device Security
- Password protection
- Keyboard lock
- Sleep mode
Camera & Video Recording
- 5 MP camera
- VGA video recording (640x480)
- 2X digital zoom
- Flash
- Continuous auto focus
- Face detection and image stabilisation
- Scene modes
- Geo-tagging
Battery & Battery Life
- JM-1 removable/rechargeable lithium-ion battery
- Talk time: 5.2 hours (GSM®), up to 5.3 hours (UMTS®)
- Standby time: up to 18 days (GSM), up to 17 days (UMTS)
- Music playback: up to 33 hours
- Video playback: up to 6.3 hours
Wi-Fi
- 802.11 a/b/g/n UMA support
Carrier Networks
- UMTS: 2100/1900/850/800 MHz or 2100/1700/900 MHz
- GSM/GPRS/EDGE: 850/900/1800/1900 MHz
- HSUPA: 5.76 Mbps
- HSDPA: 7.2 Mbps
Ringtones & Notifications
- Polyphonic/MIDI/MP3 ringtones
- Vibrate mode
- On-screen or LED indicator
GPS
- Integrated GPS with A-GPS
- Includes BlackBerry® Maps
Near Field Communication
- Operating modes: reader/writer, card emulation
Data Input & Navigation
- Capacitive touch screen
- Optical trackpad
- ESC key to the right of trackpad
- Menu key to the left of trackpad
- 35-key backlit QWERTY keyboard
- Dedicated keys: Send, End (Power), Mute, Lock, Camera (user customisable), 2x
- Volume/Zoom
Contact Brightpoint today on 0870 849 0225 for more information or to reserve yours.
The Datasheet is available for download HERE
Introducing the BlackBerry Bold 9900
The Bold 9900 is RIM's thinnest BlackBerry smartphone yet. With an elegantly brushed stainless steel frame, sculpted surfaces and advanced composite backing, the 9900 is as lightweight and durable as it is feature-packed.
Featuring the new BlackBerry OS 7 together with a blistering 1.2GHz processor and 24-bit high-resolution display, Liquid Graphics technology brings you fluid animations and instant response times.
The official product page is available here - http://us.blackberry.com/smartphones/blackberry-bold-9900-9930/#
Features
- Superior Performance
Faster loading, faster scrolling, faster zooming. It's the fastest BlackBerry experience to date. The premium BlackBerry Bold 9900 features the most powerful engine ever in a BlackBerry smartphone.
Move from home to the coffee shop to the airport and to the office without missing a beat while connecting to Wi-Fi® hotspots wherever they're available. - BlackBerry OS 7
BlackBerry® 7 is the next generation BlackBerry OS, packed with powerful new features and innovative apps. Augmented reality introduces exciting new ways to interact with the world around you, and with Near Field Communication (NFC) built-in, you can connect with other NFC-enabled devices and smart tags.
When you're done with work, turn your attention to the weekend - your BlackBerry Bold smartphone switches gears right with you. With BlackBerry® Balance™ technology, your work life and private life never mix—letting you use your BlackBerry smartphone for whatever life throws at you.
- Capture life in HD
Inspiring, special and funny moments happen on the fly. Capture it all with 720p HD video recording and an impressive
5 MP camera. - Works the way you do
You're a natural-born multi-tasker, and so is your BlackBerry® smartphone. Whatever you're busy doing, all of your messages, updates and notifications keep coming through. Easily bounce from one thing to another—all at once.
Running BlackBerry OS 7, the Bold 9900 comes with the premium version of Documents To Go as standard, providing the ability to create and edit Word, Excel and PowerPoint documents out of the box
FaceBook 2.0 and BlackBerry Messenger 6 are also supported.
To view a number of "How To" videos providing visual instructions on performing common tasks on the Bold 9900, visit this web site - http://demos.blackberry.com/bold-9900-9930/na/us/gen/
Specifications
- Height - 4.53in / 115mm
- Width - 2.60in / 66mm
- Depth - 0.41in / 10.5mm
- Weight - 4.59oz / 130g
- Operating System - BlackBerry OS 7
- Display
- VGA 640 x 480 high resolution
- 287 ppi
- Transmissive TFT LCD
- 2.8-inch screen (measured horizontally)
- 24-bit display
- Camera
- 5MP camera
- HD video recording (720p)
- 4X Digital Zoom
- Flash
- Face detection and Image Stabilisation
- Geo-tagging
- Zero shutter lag
- Multiple scene modes
- Near Field Communication - Operating modes: accessory pairing and smart tag reading / writing
- Processor - QC 8655 1.2 GHz
- WiFi
- Wi-Fi: 802.11 2.4 GHz b/g/n, 5GHz a/n
- Wi-Fi® access to BlackBerry® Enterprise Server
- Wi-Fi access to BlackBerry® Internet Bundle
- Direct IP web browsing over Wi-Fi
- Battery
- 1230 mAh removable/rechargeable lithium-ion battery
- GSM Talk Time: up to 6.3 hours
- GSM Standby Time: up to 12.8 days
- UMTS Talk Time: up to up to 5.9 hours
- UMTS Standby Time: up to 12.8 days
- Audio Playback Time: up to 50 hours
- Video Playback Time: up to 7.4 hours
- GPS - internal GPS antenna, comes with BlackBerry Maps
- Music and Video
- Video formats: .mp4, .m4a, .3gp, .m4v, .avi, .asf, .wmv
- Audio formats: .mp4, .m4a, .3gp, .m4v, .avi, .asf, .wma, .mp3, .flac, .ogg, .aac, .amr, .wav, .mid
- Picture formats: .bmp, .jpg, .gif, .png, .tif, .wbmp
- 3.5mm stereo headset capable
- Integrated hands-free speakerphone
The specification sheet is available to download in PDF format here.
The below video provides an overview of the device in action, including the full-touch screen:
Contact Brightpoint today on 0870 849 0225 for more information or to reserve yours.
Introducing the BlackBerry Curve 9360
The 9360 is the latest addition to the Curve series of BlackBerry Smartphones. Sleek and stylish, the 9360 feels "just right" in your hand and slides easily into your pocket. Plus, with an array of colour options and a ton of accessories, you can really make it your own.
The official product page is available here - http://us.blackberry.com/smartphones/blackberry-curve-9350-9360-9370/#
Features
- Socially minded
Get social from the get-go with Facebook and Twitter integration so you can easily connect to your social networks out of the box.
Featuring the new version of BlackBerry Messenger, make sure your friends never miss out on the fun. With BBM-connected apps, you can invite them to download that app you just can't get enough of or start chatting without leaving the app.
Never waste a moment wondering if you've just received an email or IM. With the ability to send and receive messages instantly, you'll always know what's happening.
- Ready for Anything
No matter what you're into, BlackBerry Curve 9350/9360/9370 smartphones have what you need to keep up, including a powerful processor and super fast browser. And with a 5 MP camera with flash, you'll be ready to capture all those fun and memorable moments. - BlackBerry OS 7
The easy-to-use next generation BlackBerry OS delivers the smoothest and fastest BlackBerry experience to date. It also comes with new, pre-installed apps and services like Social Feeds, Music Storefront and BlackBerry® Protect™.Enjoy fluid animations and instant response times with Liquid Graphics™ and get smoother surfing, gaming and multimedia experiences.
Experience the fastest BlackBerry® Browser ever with seamless panning and zooming, better web-based video and gaming, and HTML5 video support.
With Near Field Communication (NFC) built right in, you simply tap to connect. You can link up with other NFC-enabled devices and read smart tags to exchange data or launch an app.
- Height - 4.29in / 109mm
- Width - 2.36in / 60mm
- Depth - 0.43in / 11mm
- Weight - 3.49oz / 99g
- Display
- Processor - 800 MHz processor
- 480x360 pixel HVGA+ colour display
- Transmissive TFT LCD
- 2.44" (measured diagonally)
- 246 ppi
- Memory
- 512 MB eMMC/ 512 MB RAM
- Expandable up to 32 GB with Hot Swappable MicroSD
- Camera
- 5 MP camera
- Flash
- VGA video recording (640x480)
- Face detection
- Image stabilisation
- Scene modes
- Geo-tagging
- 4X digital zoom
- Battery
- 1000 mAhr removable/rechargeable lithium-ion battery
- Talk time: up to 5 hours
- Standby time: up to 14 days (GSM), up to 12 days (UMTS®)
- Music playback: up to 25 hours
- Video playback: up to 6 hours
- Multimedia
- Audio formats: .3gp2, .m4v, .avi, .wmv, .wma, .mp3, .flac, .ogg, .aac, .amr, .wav, .mid
- Video formats: .mp4, .m4a, .3gp, .avi, .asf
- Picture formats: .bmp, .jpg, .gif, .png, .tif, .wbmp
- WiFi
- 802.11 b/g/n enabled
- WPA/WPA2 Personal and Enterprise
- Wi-Fi® access to BlackBerry® Enterprise Server
- Wi-Fi access to BlackBerry® Internet Bundle
- Cisco CCX certification
- Direct IP Web Browsing over Wi-Fi
- Support for UMA (carrier-dependent)
- Bluetooth® headset capable
- Integrated hands-free speakerphone
- 3.5 mm stereo headset capable
Specifications
A collection of "How To" videos is available on the BlackBerry web site here - http://demos.blackberry.com/curve-9350-9360-9370/na/us/gen/?=topicsmartp...
Contact Brightpoint today on 0870 849 0225 today for more information or to reserve yours.
Introducing the BlackBerry Curve 9380
The finely crafted BlackBerry Curve 9380 is the first all-touch smartphone in the BlackBerry Curve family. It features a highly responsive and brilliant 3.2” high resolution display and comes with preinstalled social networking apps, including BBM™ (BlackBerry® Messenger), Facebook®, Twitter™ and Social Feeds apps, that offer a fun, easy and smoothly integrated mobile experience. This compact and stylish handset also features a 5MP camera with flash and video recording, allowing users to easily capture and share their favourite moments with family, friends and colleagues.
Powerful BlackBerry 7 OS
The BlackBerry Curve 9380 is powered by the new BlackBerry 7 OS, which delivers a faster and richer user experience with improved browsing, voice-activated searches, and support for Augmented Reality and NFC (Near Field Communications). It also includes the ability to manage personal content separately from corporate content, and comes with a variety of personal and productivity apps out of the box.
BlackBerry 7 also introduces an enhanced browser that provides a significantly faster, more fluid web browsing experience. The browser includes a new JIT (just in time) JavaScript compiler to improve the load time speed of web pages and it offers optimised HTML5 performance for incredible gaming and video experiences. The popular universal search capability has also been enhanced with support for voice-activated search, so users can simply speak to begin searching their device and the web for information.
The BlackBerry Curve 9380 smartphone includes built-in support for Augmented Reality and NFC, allowing users to connect with the world around them in fresh new ways. With the Wikitude Augmented Reality application, users can find nearby BBM (BlackBerry Messenger) contacts in real-time, read reviews on restaurants close to them, or get the story behind an interesting landmark and points of interest. NFC also enables many new and exciting capabilities, including the ability to make mobile payments, pair accessories or read SmartPoster tags with a simple tap of the smartphone.
BlackBerry 7 includes a number of preinstalled applications and integrated functionality for increasing productivity and easy sharing and collaboration right out of the box. The Premium version of Documents To Go is included free of charge, offering users powerful document editing features as well as a native PDF document viewer. BlackBerry® Protect is pre-loaded*, offering customers the peace of mind that personal data can be backed up and secured in the cloud. BlackBerry® Balance is integrated in BlackBerry 7, allowing users to enjoy the full BlackBerry smartphone experience for both work and personal purposes without compromising the IT department’s need for advanced security and IT controls. The Social Feeds (2.0) app has been extended to capture updates from media and favourites all in one consolidated view. The Facebook for BlackBerry smartphones (2.0) app introduces features like Facebook chat and BBM integration that makes it easier for users to connect with their Facebook friends in real time.
Technical Specifications
Available Features
- BlackBerry® 7 OS
- All-touch screen
- The new BBM™
- Social feeds
- Pre-installed Facebook® and Twitter® apps
- VGA video recording (640x480)
- 5 MP camera
- Optical trackpad
- GPS
- Wi-Fi®
- Near Field Communication (NFC)
- Email and text messaging
- Bluetooth®
Size and Weight
- Height: 109 mm (4.29 inches)
- Width: 60 mm (2.36 inches)
- Depth: 11.2 mm (0.44 inches)
- Weight: 98 grams (3.46 ounces)
Display
- 480x360 pixel HVGA+ colour display
- 3.2” (measured diagonally)
- 188 ppi
- 24-bit colour TFT LCD
Data Input & Navigation
- All-touch screen
- Optical trackpad located on front of device
- Send and menu keys to the left of trackpad
- ESC and end keys to the right of trackpad
- On-screen keyboard: portrait SureType®, QWERTY and multitap, and landscape QWERTY
- Dedicated keys: Send, End (Power), Menu, Escape, User Configurable (Camera default),
- Volume Up/Down/Mute (Fwd/Back/Pause for media), Lock
Voice Input & Output
- Bluetooth® headset capable
- Integrated hands-free speakerphone
- 3.5 mm stereo headset capable
Media Player
- Audio formats: .3gp2, .m4v, .avi, .wma, .wmv, .mp3, .flac, .ogg, .aac,. amr, .wav, .mid, .mp4
- Video formats: .mp4, .m4a, .3gp, .avi, .asf
- Picture formats: .bmp, .jpg, .gif, .png, .tif, .wbmp
Camera & Video Recording
- 5 MP camera
- Flash
- VGA video recording (640x480)
- Face detection
- Image stabilisation
- Scene modes
- Geo-tagging
- 4X digital zoom
Ringtones & Notifications
- Tone
- Vibrate mode
- On-screen and LED indicator
Bluetooth
- Bluetooth v2.1 + EDR
- Headset Profile (HSP)
- Hands-Free Profile (HPF)
- Serial Port Profile (SPP)
- SIM Access Profile (SAP)
- Dial-Up Networking (DUN)
- Audio Source (A2DP)
- A/V Remote Control Version 1.3
- Phone Book Access Profile (PBAP)
- Message Access Profile (MAP)
- OPP
Memory
- 512 MB DDR SRAM / 512 MB eMMC
- Expandable up to 32 GB with Hot Swappable MicroSD card
Battery & Battery Life
- JM-1 removable/rechargeable lithium-ion battery
- Talk time: up to 5.5 hours (GSM®), up to 5.8 hours (UMTS®)
- Standby time: up to 15 days
- Music playback: up to 30 hours
- Video playback: up to 5.5 hours
GPS & BlackBerry Maps
- Integrated GPS with A-GPS
- Includes BlackBerry® Maps
Near Field Communication
- Operating modes: reader/writer, card emulation
Device Security
- Password protection
- Standby mode
- Sleep mode
Wi-Fi
- 802.11 b/g/n enabled
- WPA/WPA2 Personal and Enterprise
- Wi-Fi access to BlackBerry® Enterprise Server
- Wi-Fi access to BlackBerry® Internet Bundle
- Cisco CCX certification
- Direct IP Web Browsing over Wi-Fi
- Support for UMA (carrier-dependent)
Processor
- 806 MHz processor
Carrier Networks
- Quad-Band: 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 MHz GSM/GPRS networks
- Tri-Band UMTS networks: (800 / 850) / 1900 / 2100 MHz or 900 / 1700 / 2100 MHz UMTS
Contact Brightpoint today on 0870 849 0225 for more information or to reserve yours.
The Datasheet is available for download HERE
Introducing the BlackBerry Torch 9810
The BlackBerry Torch 9810 is an evolution of the popular Torch 9800 Smartphone, sporting the same all-touch and full-Qwerty input options, but with powerful new hardware including a 1.2GHz processor and 3.2-inch 600x480 VGA display with 246 DPI resolution, not to mention 5MP camera, HD video recording, face detection, HSPA+ network support and more!
Running the all-new BlackBerry OS 7, the Torch 9810 comes with the premium version of DocumentsToGo as standard meaning you can create and edit Word, Excel and PowerPoint documents.
Facebook 2.0 and BlackBerry Messenger 6 are also supported.
Features
- All-in-one design
A fluid all-touch display plus slide-out QWERTY keyboard provide a incredible multimedia experience, while never compromising efficient typing with the class BlackBerry keyboard.
- Power packed
Ample Memory - With 8GB memory, expandable up to 32GB with a microSD card, feel free to take more pictures, capture more videos and download more apps.
Speedy processing - Thanks to a 1.2GHz processor on the BlackBerry Torch 9810, you can experience browsing, socialising and gaming at blazing fast speeds.
Convenient connectivity - Connect the way you want with HSPA+ high speeds and WiFi connectivity.
- Liquid Graphics
Experience more fluid animations, instant response times and stunning graphics on your BlackBerry Torch 9810 touch screen. Thanks to the blazing-fast CPU and powerful graphics processing, Liquid Graphics technology delivers and incredible multimedia experience.
- Camera and video
With a 5MP camera with flash, and advanced features, it's easy to capture those spontaneous moments. Or take a high quality video like a pro with 720p HD video recording on the BlackBerry Torch 9810.
- BlackBerry 7 OS
Get the next-generation BlackBerry OS on the Torch 9810. It has evolved to deliver smoother, faster multimedia experiences and breakthrough technologies.
The BlackBerry 7 Browser supports HTML5 video and provides a seamless loading, scrolling and zooming experience that's super fast.
Augmented Reality on the Torch 9810 is enabled with the digital compass and accelerometer. With the Wikitude World Browser, it provides an exciting new way to interact and socialise with the world around you.
Voice-activated universal search combined with speech-to-text translation enables you to search for files, emails, contacts, music and more - even search the web - without typing a thing.
For more screenshots of BlackBerry OS 7, read this article - http://blog.brightpointuk.co.uk/sneak-peak-blackberry-os-7
To see a number of interactive visual how-to guides providing visual instructions on completing common tasks on the new Torch 9810, visit the BlackBerry demonstration site here - http://demos.blackberry.com/torch-9810/na/us/gen/
Specifications
- Height - 4.37in / 111mm (closed) 5.83in / 147.6mm (open)
- Width - 2.44in / 62mm (closed) 2.44in / 62mm (open)
- Depth - 0.57in / 14.6mm
- Weight - 5.68oz / 161g
- Operating System - BlackBerry OS 7
- Display
- High resolution 640 x 480 VGA colour display
- 3.2-inch screen (measured diagonally)
- Transmissive TFT LCD
- 253 ppi
- Over 16 million colours
- User-selectable font size
- Memory
- 8GB onboard memory
- 768 MB RAM
- Expandable memory with support for microSD memory cards up to 32GB
- Music and Video
- Video formats: .mp4, .m4a, .3gp, .m4v, .avi, .asf, .wmv
- Audio formats: .mp4, .m4a, .3gp, .m4v, .avi, .asf, .wma, .mp3, .flac, .ogg, .aac, .amr, .wav, .mid
- Picture formats: .bmp, .jpg, .gif, .png, .tif, .wbmp
- Camera
- 5MP
- HD video recording
- Flash
- 4x digital zoom
- Continuous auto focus
- Face detection
- Image stabilisation
- Geo-tagging
- Multiple picture taking modes
- Zero shutter lag
- WiFi
- 802.11 b/g/n enabled
- WPA / WPA2 personal and enterprise
- Cisco CCX certified
- WiFi access to BlackBerry Enterprise Server
- WiFi access to BlackBerry Internet Service
- Support for UMA (carrier-dependent)
- Power
- 1270mAh removable/rechargeable lithium-ion battery
- Talk time: up to 6.5 hours (GSM), up to 5.9 hours (UMTS)
- Standby time: up to 12.8 days (GSM), up to 12.3 days (UMTS)
- Music playback time: up to 54 hours
- Video playback time: up to 7 hours
- GPS - built-in GPS antenna. Includes BlackBerry Maps
- Audio - 3.5mm stereo headset socket. Built-in speakerphone
- Bluetooth
- Bluetooth® v2.1
- Headset profile (HSP)
- Hands Free profile (HFP)
- Serial Port Profile (SPP)
- Stereo Audio
- SIM Access Profile (SAP)
- Dial-Up Networking (DUN)
- Message Access Profile (MAP)
- Address Book Integration using OBEX (Object Push)
- Phone Book Access Profile (PBAP)
- Secure Simple Pairing (SSP)
- Cellular
- Tri-band 3G UMTS network: 2100/1900/850/800MHz
- Quad-band GSM/GPRS networks: 850/900/1800/1900MHz
- 14.4 HSDPA, 5.76 HSUPA
Detailed specifications are available on the BlackBerry web site - http://us.blackberry.com/smartphones/blackberrytorch/#
The Spec sheet is available to download in PDF format HERE
Contact Brightpoint today on 0870 849 0225 for more information or to reserve yours.
Introducing the BlackBerry Torch 9860
The BlackBerry Torch 9860 is RIM's all-touch multimedia phone. Powered by the new BlackBerry OS 7 and Liquid Graphics, your photos, videos, games and apps come to life in incredible detail on the large screen. With 720p HD video recording you can capture and relive life's moments or pull off amazing photos with face detection, 4X zoom and image stabilisation.
Features
- All touch, refined
A spectacular 3.7-inch touch screen is the largest on a BlackBerry smartphone yet. It boasts millions of colours for a stunning viewing experience, and provides a smooth, accurate and fast typing experience.
- Next-generation software
BlackBerry OS 7 is a smoother and faster BlackBerry OS, with breakthrough technologies and new apps and experiences. And with Liquid Graphics, you'll truly enjoy stunning multimedia and gaming.
BlackBerry browser - The new BlackBerry browser offers incredibly fast page load times, better web-based gaming, HTML 5 video support and seamless scrolling and zooming.
Voice-activated universal search - the most powerful on-device search has gone hands-free. With speech-to-text translation, you can now look for files, email, contacts and music - and even search the web - all without typing a thing.
Augmented reality - Make life more fun with augmented reality apps like the WikiTude World Browser to learn about your surroundings in real-time.
- The power to perform
A 1.2 GHz processor powers BlackBerry Torch 9850/9860 smartphones, seamlessly integrating with BlackBerry OS 7. So you can game, surf, socialise or watch videos with smoother multitasking and navigation.
To see a number of How To videos providing visual instructions on performing common tasks on the Torch 9860, visit this page - http://demos.blackberry.com/torch-9850-9860/na/us/gen/
To learn about the other applications available for the Torch, such as Facebook 2.0 and BlackBerry Messenger 6, visit the official Torch 9860 page here - http://us.blackberry.com/smartphones/blackberry-torch-9850-9860/#
Specifications
- Height - 4.72in / 120mm
- Width - 2.44in / 62mm
- Depth - 0.45in / 11.5mm
- Weight - 4.76in / 135g
- Operating System - BlackBerry OS 7
- Display
- High-resolution 800x480 WVGA pixel colour display
- 3.7-inch display (measured horizontally)
- Transmissive TFT LCD
- 253 ppi
- 24-bit display
- Storage
- 768MB RAM
- 4GB eMMC
- Expandable up to 32GB with a microSD memory card
- Camera
- 5MP camera
- 720p HD video recording
- Flash
- Continuous auto focus
- Face detection
- Image stabilisation
- Geo-tagging
- 4x digital zoom (still images only)
- Zero shutter lag
- Processor - QC 8655 1.2GHz
- Sensors - Accelerometer, digital compass
- GPS - built-in GPS antenna, includes BlackBerry Maps
- Battery
- 1230 mAh removable/rechargeable lithium-ion battery
- Talk time: Up to 4.7 hours (GSM®), up to 6.8 hours (UMTS®)1
- Standby time: Up to 13.9 days (GSM), up to 13.5 days (UMTS)
- Music playback: Up to 44 hours
- Video playback: Up to 6.6 hours
- Music and Video
- Video formats: .mp4, .m4a, .3gp, .m4v, .avi, .asf, .wmv
- Audio formats: .mp4, .m4a, .3gp, .m4v, .avi, .asf, .wma, .mp3, .flac, .ogg, .aac, .amr, .wav, .mid, .qcp
- Picture formats: .bmp, .jpg, .gif, .png, .tif, .wbmp
- WiFi
- 802.11 b/g/n enabled
- Wi-Fi® access to BlackBerry® Enterprise Server
- Wi-Fi access to BlackBerry® Internet Bundle
- Direct IP web browsing over Wi-Fi
- Bluetooth
- Bluetooth 2.1
- Headset Profile (HSP) Mono Headset
- Hands-Free Profile (HFP)
- Address Book Integration using OBEX
- Phone Book Access Profile (PBAP)
- Dial-Up Networking (DUN)
- Bluetooth Stereo (A2DP/AVRCP)
- Serial Port Profile (SPP) AT Commands
- Secure Simple Pairing (SSP)
- Cellular
- Tri-band 3G HSDPA UMTS networks: 2100/1900/850/800 MHz or 2100/1700/900 MHz
- Quad-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE networks: 850/900/1800/1900MHz
The Specification sheet for the 9860 is available to download in PDF format here
For more information on the BlackBerry OS 7 operating system, including the premium version of the Documents To Go software which is included as standard enabling creating and editing Word, Excel and PowerPoint documents, view this article - http://blog.brightpointuk.co.uk/sneak-peak-blackberry-os-7
Contact Brightpoint today on 0870 849 0225 for more information or to reserve yours.
BlackBerry Enterprise Activation for BIS users
RIM have released a free application to the App World that provides BIS (BlackBerry Internet Service) subscribers with the ability to use the Enterprise Activation feature of their Smartphone to register their device over the air with a server running BES Express or the MDaemon Messaging Server. The full BES product is not supported.
This is big news as until now this feature required that your operator subscribe you to the more expensive BES tariff in order to enjoy over the air activation, or required you to connect your device via USB for local activation if you wanted to use the BIS tariff.
The application is available here - http://appworld.blackberry.com/webstore/content/33609
BlackBerry Enterprise Server
Accessing remote file shares with BES 5
One new feature made possible with the release of version 5 of the BlackBerry device software (when used in conjunction with a BES 5 server), is the ability to access and search remote file systems: both Windows and Samba-based.
To add the file share to the BES, log into the BlackBerry Web Administration Console (remember that if using the BAS' internal authentication mechanism, the default username is 'admin' rather than 'besadmin').
Browse to Servers and Components --> BlackBerry Domain --> Component View --> MDS Connection Service. Click on the File tab and select the option to Edit Component:
Enter a name for the share, this can be anything to identify the share to the administrator, as well as the UNC path to the file share [in the form \\(server)\file_share]
This share must be available to the BES, ideally on the same local network.
Enter the details of a domain user account to be used to access the share. This user account must naturally have permission to access the share.
Click Save All.
Click on the Configuration Sets tab:
Enter a name for the Configuration Set and add the file share created earlier.
Now browse to the specific MDS Connection Service instance you want to assign the component to and click on the Component Configuration Sets tab:
Add the Configuration Set you created earlier and click Save All.
Now click on the Instance Information tab and select the option to Restart Instance.
The file share has now been configured. To access the share from the handheld device, open the Applications folder and select the Files icon:
Select All Documents and enter in the name of the file if you know it, or a partial match to search for:
Activating BlackBerries via WiFi
I talked a customer through this today so thought it was worth a blog post. I've detailed the different methods by which a BlackBerry device can be activated in a previous post here - http://blog.brightpointuk.co.uk/bes-5-enterprise-activation
But it's probably worth re-visiting and also running through how you can test functionality using the BlackBerry Device Simulator.
As well as being able to activate BlackBerry devices against a BES via the cellular network using the Enterprise Activation feature, and also via the BlackBerry Web Desktop feature, it is also possible to activate devices via WiFi over the (W)LAN, not requiring that users have access to the mobile network or a PC to connect their device to.
This is particularly useful for companies that deploy BlackBerries for use only via WiFi within the confines of their business premises for access to email, calendaring and instant messaging services on a "local" basis only.
Configuring the BES
It's important from an administrative perspective to distinguish between "wireless" activations and "WiFi" activations: users are not to be trusted and will refer to anything not involving a cable as being "wireless", which is factually accurate but in terms of the BES software the two activation methods are worlds apart. "WiFi" activations need to be enabled and require additional configuration on the BES.
This feature is enabled and configured in the BlackBerry Server Configuration tool available under the Programs menu on the BES itself.
Launch the tool and select the OTA WIFI Activation tab:
Enable the option to permit wireless activation.
You will need to specify how the BlackBerry router service is to contact the mail server, this can either be done either via DNS by performing an MX Lookup on the domain specified in the email address entered in the Enterprise Activation wizard on the device itself, or manually by specifying the IP address of a suitable mail server or mail relay.
Authentication details will also need to be specified depending on your mail server's configuration to enable the BlackBerry Router service to successfully submit email to the mail server.
If all of this sounds wildly confusing, let me explain....
The way the BlackBerry Enterprise Activation feature works is by sending an email via SMTP to the BES directly from the device. This is why when you run through the feature on the device you are required to enter your email address as well as your enterprise activation password.
The BES, which is actively monitoring all BES user mailboxes, "sees" the activation email come in and "hoovers" it off and lo and behold your device is registered against your mailbox.
This all happens so quickly that you never see the email arrive or leave from your mailbox in your email client.
When activating over cellular the email is sent to your email address in the same way that all emails are sent to you - via DNS and MX lookups across the Internet to arrive in your mailbox for the BES to retrieve.
When activating over WiFi, the email is sent directly to the BES Router service, which confusingly then needs to be sent to email server for the BES to then retrieve again and do its thing. This is why the above configuration requires that the email server be specified and a user account be defined that has the ability to submit mail to the mail server.
Make sense?
IMPORTANT - for BlackBerry devices to be able to contact the BlackBerry Router service via WiFi, TCP port 4101 must be opened on any firewalls and routers between the wireless network and the BES.
Activate the user
As with all methods of activation, the user obviously needs to be added to the BES and assigned an activation password. This is done via either the BlackBerry Manager MMC console or the BES Administration web interface depending on what version of BES you're running:
Again, for more detailed articles on how to add users to the BES read the above articles or visit the BlackBerry section of the blog.
Configure the device
The Enterprise Activation feature of the BlackBerry device is accessed under Options --> Advanced Options --> Enterprise Activation (OS 5 or earlier) or Options --> Device --> Advanced System Settings --> Enterprise Activation (OS 6)
Unlike with cellular activations, where you simply need to enter an email address and password, with WiFi activations you also need to enter an Activation Server Address, which should be the DNS name or ideally the IP address of the server hosting the BlackBerry Router service (which will almost always be the BES itself):
On OS 6, if you don't see the option to enter an activation server address, press the menu button and select the option to Show Activation Server.
Enter in the required details and select the option to Activate. Your device will then (if all has been configured correctly), activate over the WiFi network:
Read the BlackBerry section of the blog for more information on the capabilities of the BES solution, or contact our technical support department via phone or via the email contact form for more information or assistance.
BES 4.1.x / 5.0 Exchange 2003 pre-requisites
Create a Domain User account called BesAdmin
On the Exchange Server, select Start → Programs → Microsoft Exchange → Active Directory Users and Computers
Browse to the Users container. Right click in the right-hand pane and select New → User
The following window will be displayed:
Enter BesAdmin in the First name and User logon name fields. Click Next. The following window will be displayed:
Enter a password for the account. Ensure that the options User cannot change password and Password never expires ARE TICKED. Click Next. The following window will be displayed:
Ensure that the option to Create an Exchange mailbox is ticked. Click Next and then click Finish.
Assign the BesAdmin user account local administrative rights
Once the BesAdmin user account has been created. On the BES server, right click on the My Computer icon on the desktop and select Manage. Browse to the Groups folder:
Double click the Administrators group.
Click on the Add button.
Set the Look in field to the domain of which the BES server is a member.
Select the BesAdmin user account and click Add.
Click OK and then OK again.
Assign "logon as service" rights on the BES server to the BesAdmin user account
On the BES Server, select Start → Settings → Control Panel.
Double click on the Administrative Tools icon
Double click on the Local Security Policy icon
Browse to Local Policies → User Rights Assignment in the left-hand menu.
In the right-hand pane scroll down and select Log on as service
Double click the entry, the following window will be displayed:
Click Add. The following window will be displayed:
Set the Look in field to the domain in which the BES server resides.
From the list of users select the BesAdmin account and click Add.
Click OK and then OK again.
Delegate administrative control to the BesAdmin user account
On the Exchange server, select Start → Programs → Microsoft Exchange → Exchange System Manager.
Right click on the Organisation name (at the root of the directory in the left-hand pane) and select Properties. The following window will be displayed:
Tick the options to Display routing groups and Display administrative groups. Click OK. If you receive a warning message indicating that the Exchange System Manager needs to be closed and re-opened for the changes to take effect, click OK.
Close the Exchange System Manager and then re-launch it again from the Start menu.
Right click on the first Administrative Group and select Delegate Control, as shown below:
The Administration Delegation Wizard will be displayed:
Click Next. The following window will be displayed:
Click Add. The following window will be displayed:
Set the Look in field to the domain in which the BES server resides. From the list of users select the BesAdmin account and click OK.
Click Next and then click Finish to complete the wizard.
Assign Send as, Receive as and Administer information store rights to the user account
Within the Exchange System Manager, right click on the entry for the Exchange server which the BES is going to communicate with and select Properties, as shown below:
Click on the Security tab. In the list of users select the BesAdmin user account. In the list of permissions, scroll down and tick the options to allow Administer information store, Receive As and Send As.
Click OK.
Now send an email to the BesAdmin user to initialise the mailbox!
Assign Send As rights on the Domain to the BesAdmin user account
On the Exchange Server, launch the Active Directory Users and Computers MMC snap-in:
Open the View menu and select the option to show Advanced Features.
Right click on the Domain root and select Properties. Click on the Security tab:
Click on the Advanced button. Select the option to Add a user:
Enter the alias of the BesAdmin account created earlier and click OK. In the Apply Onto drop-down menu select the option for User Objects:
In the Permissions section select the option to enable Send As:
Install Exchange System Manager on the BES server
Install the Exchange System Manager tool on the BES server from the Exchange CD.
Once installed, ensure that you update the installation so that the same service pack version is applied to the System Manager that is currently running on the Exchange server.
To verify the service pack version that is running on the Exchange server, open Windows Explorer on the Exchange server and browse to the folder where Exchange has been installed. By default this will be C:\Program Files\Exchsvr
Open the “BIN” folder and locate the file “store.exe”. Right click on the file and select Properties.
Click on the Version tab, the service pack version will be displayed in the Comments field as shown below:
Install the correct version of the CDO.DLL file
Windows 2000 Server requires that version 6.0.5770.16 or higher of the cdo.dll file be installed.
This file is installed by default with Service Pack 3 or later, however it has not been registered.
Windows 2003 Server requires that version 6.5.6944.0 or higher of the cdo.dll file be installed. This file is installed by default with Exchange 2003 System Manager, and also by Windows Server 2003 SP1, however it has not been registered.
By default the cdo.dll file will be located in the C:\Program Files\Exchsvr\Bin directory. To check the version of the file, right click on it and select Properties. Click on the Version tab:
Register the CDO.DLL file
The cdo.dll file needs to be registered, otherwise wireless calendar synchronisation will not function correctly between the Blackberry handheld and the server.
To register the file, copy it to the C:\WINNT\System32 directory.
Once the file has been copied, select Start → Run. Enter “cmd” in the dialogue and press OK.
A command prompt will be displayed. Change to the WINNT\System32 by typing cd winnt\system32 and pressing enter.
Type regsvr32 cdo.dll and press enter:
If the file is registered successfully, notification will be displayed as shown below:
Now log off as Administrator and log in to the BES server using the BesAdmin user account.
Launch the Exchange System Manager to finalise the installation and initialise the MAPI connection to Exchange.
You are now ready to begin installation of the BES 4.1.x software.
Adding Users
Launch the Blackberry Manager from the Start Menu.
Select Servers in the left-hand navigation pane. Select your server from the list.
In the bottom pane, select the option to Add Users. The Exchange Global Address List will be displayed:
Select your users and click OK.
Now click on the entry for the server in the left-hand pane:
Click on the Users tab. Select a user.
In the bottom pane, select the Service Access section. Select the option to Generate and Email Activation Password.
The user will receive an email from BesAdmin with their password. They can now use this password to complete the Enterprise Activation wizard on the Blackberry handheld.
BES 4.1.x / 5.0 Exchange 2007 pre-requisites
Create a Domain User account called BesAdmin
On the Exchange Server, select Start → Programs → Microsoft Exchange → Active Directory Users and Computers
Browse to the Users container. Right click in the right-hand pane and select New → User
The following window will be displayed:
Enter BesAdmin in the First name and User logon name fields. Click Next. The following window will be displayed:
Enter a password for the account. Ensure that the options User cannot change password and Password never expires ARE TICKED. Click Next. The following window will be displayed:
Click Finish.
Create an Exchange Mailbox for the BesAdmin User
On the Exchange Server, launch the Exchange Management Console.
Select Recipient Configuration → Mailbox and then New Mailbox:
The following window will be displayed:
Select User Mailbox and click Next. The following window will be displayed:
Select Existing User and then click Browse. Select the BesAdmin user. Click OK and then click Next. The following window will be displayed:
Click Next.
Click New and then Finish.
Assign the BesAdmin user account local administrative rights
Once the BesAdmin user account has been created. On the BES server, right click on the My Computer icon on the desktop and select Manage. Browse to the Groups folder:
Double click the Administrators group.
Click on the Add button.
Set the Look in field to the domain of which the BES server is a member.
Select the BesAdmin user account and click Add.
Click OK and then OK again.
Assign "logon as service" rights on the BES server to the BesAdmin user account
On the BES Server, select Start → Settings → Control Panel.
Double click on the Administrative Tools icon
Double click on the Local Security Policy icon
Browse to Local Policies → User Rights Assignment in the left-hand menu.
In the right-hand pane scroll down and select Log on as service
Double click the entry, the following window will be displayed:
Click Add. The following window will be displayed:
Set the Look in field to the domain in which the BES server resides.
From the list of users select the BesAdmin account and click Add.
Click OK and then OK again.
Assign Send as, Receive as and Administer information store rights to the BesAdminuser account
Unlike previous versions of Exchange. This needs to be done at the command line via the Exchange Management Shell.
Launch the command interface and enter the following command:
get-mailboxserver (servername) | add-adpermission –user (service account)-accessrights GenericRead,
GenericWrite -extendedrights Send-As, Receive-As, ms-Exch-Store-Admin
Where (servername) should be replaced with the name of the Exchange Server, and (service account) should be replaced with the Alias name of the BesAdmin user account (so ‘BesAdmin’ in this case)
If you are successful, you should see the following:
To verify the permissions of an existing account, type:
get-mailboxserver (servername) | getADpermission -user (service account) | Format-List
Now send an email to the BesAdmin user to initialise the mailbox!
Assign Send As rights on the Domain to the BesAdmin user account
On the Exchange Server, launch the Active Directory Users and Computers MMC snap-in:
Open the View menu and select the option to show Advanced Features.
Right click on the Domain root and select Properties. Click on the Security tab:
Click on the Advanced button. Select the option to Add a user:
Enter the alias of the BesAdmin account created earlier and click OK. In the Apply Onto drop-down menu select the option for User Objects:
In the Permissions section select the option to enable Send As:
Install Microsoft Exchange Server MAPI Client and Collaboration Data Objects 1.2.1
Download the MAPI and CDO files from the Microsoft web site:
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=E17E7F31-079A-4...
Once downloaded, run the EXE file and specify a location for the files to be extracted to. Once extracted, run the file named ‘ExchangeMapiCdo.MSI’. The following window will be displayed:
Click Next.
The License Agreement screen will be displayed. Read the terms and conditions and click Next if you agree.
Click Finish.
Now log off as Administrator and log in to the BES server using the BesAdmin user account.
You are now ready to begin installation of the BES 4.1.x software.
Adding Users
Launch the Blackberry Manager from the Start Menu.
Select Servers in the left-hand navigation pane. Select your server from the list.
In the bottom pane, select the option to Add Users. The Exchange Global Address List will be displayed:
Select your users and click OK.
Now click on the entry for the server in the left-hand pane:
Click on the Users tab. Select a user.
In the bottom pane, select the Service Access section. Select the option to Generate and Email Activation Password.
The user will receive an email from BesAdmin with their password. They can now use this password to complete the Enterprise Activation wizard on the Blackberry handheld.
BES 4.1.x Lotus Domino pre-requisites
Create a domino user called BesAdmin
Log into the Domino Administrator:
Register a new user account for the BesAdmin user:
Add the BesAdmin user to the LocalDomainServers Group
Browse to the Groups view in the Domino Administrator:
Double click the LocalDomainServers group:
Drop down the Members menu:
Select the domain directory and add the BesAdmin user to the group:
Click OK.
Save the changes to the group.
Stop the Domino Server
On the Domino server, browse to Start → Programs → Administrative Tools → Services. Locate the Lotus Domino Server service. Double click the entry to display the properties for the service.
Set the Startup Type to Manual:
Reboot the Domino server.
Create a local administrator account on the Domino server
Right click on the icon for My Computer and select Manage.
The Computer Management console will be displayed. Browse to Local Users and Groups → Users.
Create a new user account with a name of BesAdmin.
Set the password to never expire.
Browse to Local Users and Groups → Groups:
Open the Administrators Group and add the BesAdmin user account to the group.
Log off and then log back in as the new BesAdmin user on the Domino server.
You are now ready to install the BES software.
Add Users to the BES
Launch the Blackberry Manager from Start → Programs → Blackberry Enterprise Server → Blackberry Manager:
Browse to the Server entry from the left-hand navigation pane and select the Users tab:
Select the option to Add User. The Domino directory will be displayed:
Select the target user account and click Add then OK. The user will now be listed in the Blackberry Manager:
Set Activation Password
Right click on the entry for the user and select the option to Set Activation Password:
Enter a suitable password, ideally this should be 6 characters long and contain lower-case letters only:
Click OK.
The user is now ready to perform an Enterprise Activation on the handheld.
Perform Enterprise Activation
On the Blackberry handheld, from the main menu select Options → Advanced Options → Enterprise Activation.
In the Email field, the user should enter their full email address.
In the Password field, the user should enter the activation password set by the administrator (NOTE – this is NOT the user’s NT domain or Domino password, but the BES Activation Password that was set earlier).
If the user sees the option to enter an Activation Server Address, this field is only required if the handheld is being activated over WiFi via the local network. If the handheld is being activated via a cellular connection (GPRS or 3G) then leave this option blank.
Press the menu button and select the option to Activate.
After a few moments the handheld will display ‘Encryption Verified’ and then ‘Waiting for services’. This means that the connection to the BES was successful and mailbox data is now being downloaded to the device. This process can take up to 20 minutes to complete depending on the amount of data held in the user’s mailbox.
On the Domino Server itself, in the Domino Server Console, the activation process can be viewed in real time:
The activation process is now complete.
Repeat the above process for additional users as required.
BES 5 Enterprise Activation
Adding new users to BES 5 is now even easier than in previous versions. Once the user has been added to the BES server by the administrator and assigned an activation password, the user will then be able to activate their handheld in a number of ways:
- Over the cellular network using the Enterprise Activation feature on the handheld device
- Over a local WiFi network using the Enterprise Activation feature on the handheld device by specifying the IP address of the activation server
- Via the BlackBerry Web Desktop by connecting the handheld to their local PC via USB
This article assumes that the BES server has been installed correctly already. For detailed instructions on how to prepare the Microsoft Exchange environment for a BES deployment read these articles:
Exchange 2003
Exchange 2007 / 2010
For instructions on how to install the BES 5 software itself view this post:
http://blog.brightpointuk.co.uk/installing-blackberry-enterprise-server-...
Activating over the cellular network
Once an enterprise activation password has been assigned to the user, the Enterprise Activation feature on the handheld can be located under Options --> Advanced Options --> Enterprise Activation (on device software 5), or Options --> Device --> Advanced Options --> Enterprise Activation (on device software 6).
In here the user simply need enter their full email address, including domain, and the activation password assigned by the administrator.
For detailed information on how the Activation Process works, read this article:
http://blog.brightpointuk.co.uk/how-does-bes-wireless-activation-process...
Activating over the WiFi network
For those devices that have WiFi capability, provided that the local wireless network can route to the BES server, devices can be activated by completing the Enterprise Activation wizard as above, but with the additional step of completing the Activation Server Address, which needs to contain the IP address of the BES server.
NOTE - this feature needs to be enabled on the BES manually as it is not enabled by default. If the BES server has been deployed in a multiple-box deployment, it is the IP address of the BES Router component that needs to be entered on the handheld device, and the Router needs to be configured to be able to relay SMTP traffic to the Exchange Server. To do this, on the BES server open the BlackBerry Server Configuration utility from the Start Menu. Click on the WiFi OTA Activation tab:
Complete the details of the Exchange server as required.
Also note, to accept activation requests on Server 2008, the built-in firewall will need to be configured to accept incoming requests on TCP port 4101.
Activating via the BlackBerry Web Desktop
Users can browse to the Web Desktop URL (https://(bes_server)/webdesktop) from their Windows PC running IE6 or later:
When logging in for the first time they will be prompted to install the "RIMWebComponents", this will install the required USB drivers and device manager software onto the PC. Administrative rights will be required for this.
Once installed, the user will be able to login using the domain credentials:
The user can now connect their handheld device to the PC via the USB connection. The device manager software will detect the device automatically. The user will be prompted to enter their activation password within the browser.
If the feature has been enabled on the BES by the administrator, users can even set their own activation passwords and enable their own devices, without the IT department getting involved at all (provided that their user account has been added to the BES):
Once activated, the device will be listed in the properties of the user account:
Clicking on the device entry will display detailed information about that device:
and provide a list of tasks that can be performed on that device, including the ability to perform a 'remote kill':
BES 5.0 Web Desktop Manager
The Web Desktop Manager component was first released as a free update to BES 4.0 SP6 or later (http://blog.brightpointuk.co.uk/blackberry-web-desktop-manager)
Now the tool has been incorporated into BES 5.0 and enables users to manage their devices directly from the PC web browser (only Internet Explorer 6 or later is supported currently)
The tool is accessed by browsing to https://(BES_Server)/webdesktop:
From this interface users can, provided that the administrator has enabled the feature on the BES itself, edit their default signature as well as message re-direction settings.
Email filters can be created, defining what mails get delivered to the handheld device:
Available filter criteria include:
Which mailbox folders that are synchronised to the handheld device can be defined:
The Contacts that are synchronised to the handheld can be defined, including subfolders of the main Contacts folder:
The contents of the user's handheld device can be backed up to the user's PC via the tool:
Automatic, schedule-based, backups can also be configured:
Should a user be issued with a new device, they can simply connect that device to their PC, once logged into the tool, and switch their account details to the new device automatically:
BES 5.0.1 Exchange 2010 pre-requisites
Ensure that Exchange 2010 Update Rollup 1 is installed on the Exchange 2010 server. This package is available here - http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=371add31-d7a0-4...
Create a domain user account called BesAdmin
On the Exchange server, in the Active Directory Users and Computers console, create a domain user called "BesAdmin" and assign it an Exchange mailbox. Set the user account password to never expire.
Send an email to the BesAdmin user to initialise the Exchange mailbox.
Assign the BesAdmin user local administrative rights
On the server that is to host the BES, make the BesAdmin domain user a member of the local administrator group. NOTE - the BES server will first need to have been added to the Domain if not done already.
To do this, on the BES Express server, right click on the icon for My Computer and select Manage. Browse to Local Users and Groups --> Groups --> Administrators and add the BesAdmin user:
Assign the BesAdmin user "log on as a service" rights
On the BES server, also assign the BesAdmin domain user account "log on as a service" rights. To do this, select Administrative Tools --> Local Security Policy --> User Rights Assignment --> Log on as a service and add the BesAdmin user:
Assign "Receive As" and "Administer Information Store" rights to the BesAdmin user
On the Exchange server, launch the Exchange PowerShell and issue the following command:
Get-MailboxDatabase | Add-ADPermission -User "BesAdmin" -AccessRights ExtendedRight -ExtendedRights Receive-As, ms-Exch-Store-Admin
Assign Exchange View-Only Administrator rights to the BesAdmin user
Still within the Exchange PowerShell, now issue the following command:
Add -RoleGroupMember "View-Only Organization Management" -Member "BesAdmin"
Assign "Send As" rights on the domain to the BesAdmin user
Within the Active Directory Users and Computers console, open the View menu and select the option to display Advanced Features.
Right click on the domain and select Properties. Click on the Security tab:
Click on the Advanced button:
Click on Add and type in the name of the BesAdmin user:
Select the option to Apply Onto User Objects.
Scroll down to the bottom and tick the option to enable Send As rights:
For good measure, also enable Send As rights on the Exchange server itself within the Exchange PowerShell. Launch the console and issue the following command:
Add-ADPermission -InheritedObjectType User -InheritanceType Descendents -ExtendedRights Send-As -User "BesAdmin" -Identity "CN=Users,DC=domain,DC=com"
(where "domain" and "com" should be substituted for your specific domain details, eg: DC=brightpoint,DC=co,DC=uk and so on)
To force all of the above changes to take effect on the domain, it may be worth running a group policy update. On the Exchange server click Start --> Run and issue the command "gpupdate /force"
Turn off Exchange 2010 Client Throttling
Exchange 2010 uses client throttling by default to protect the Exchange server from excessive user demands. RIM recommend turning off this feature as it can have an adverse affect on the performance of the BES solution. This is done within the Exchange PowerShell console.
Launch the console and issue the following command to get the "Identity" of the default throttling policy"
Get-ThrottlingPolicy | Where-Object {$_.IsDefault -eq "True"} | FL Identitythe Identity will be displayed:
Now issue the following command:
Set-ThrottlingPolicy -RCAMaxConcurrency $null
You will be prompted to enter the Identity to apply the policy to, enter the result returned above:
Increase the maximum number of connections to the Exchange Address Book Service
On the Exchange Server (or specifically the Client Access Server in a multi-box deployment), browse to C:\Program Files\Microsoft\Exchange Server\V14\Bin and locate the file "microsoft.exchange.addressbook.service.exe.config" and open it in NotePad:
Locate the line "MaxSessionsPerUser":
Increase the value to 100000. Save the file then restart the Address Book Service:
Install the Exchange MAPI CDO 1.2.1 package
The Microsoft Exchange MAPI CDO 1.2.1 package must be installed to provide the BesAdmin user a MAPI connection to Exchange mailboxes as well as access to calendaring information. This package is available for download from our FTP site HERE (Exchange 2010 only).
Run the installer and accept the license agreement:
Now you're ready to install the BES software.
BlackBerry Enterprise Transporter Tool
The BES Transporter Tool is a free utility from RIM that is designed to enable the administrator to easily migrate users from one BES server to another, or from one BlackBerry Domain to another, ideal for administrators who intend to run their existing BES 4 installation alongside an upgraded BES 5 server for a period of time before then decommissioning the older server.
The installation is simply a matter of running the MSI file and following the on-screen prompts. An icon will be added to the Start Menu automatically. Launching the application displays the following screen:
The first step in using the tool is to create a new configuration document. Click on the New button, enter a name for the new document and click Save. Now the rest of the fields will no longer be greyed out.
Now you need to specify the source and target BlackBerry database instances. Click on the Configure button:
In the SQL Server field enter the name of the server holding the BES SQL database.
In the Label field enter the name of the SQL instance running on that server.
In the Database field, enter the name of the BES database, normally BESMgmt by default.
Verify that a connection can be established to the database using the specified authentication details.
Click OK. Now complete the same details for the target BES database.
Now you can select the users that you want to migrate. Click on the Details button. Click on the Find Users button to view the users available on the source BES. Select the users as required.
Click Close.
Click the Preview button to view a report of the intended operation. Be sure to read and understand any errors that are returned.
Provided that no errors are reported, click the Migrate button to begin the operation. Your user accounts will now be migrated.
For details on how to install the BES 5.0 software read this article - http://blog.brightpointuk.co.uk/installing-blackberry-enterprise-server-...
BlackBerry Web Desktop Manager
The Blackberry Web Desktop Manager is a free download from the Blackberry web site and is a bolt-on to the Blackberry Enterprise Server enabling users to manage their handhelds via a web interface without the administrator needing to get involved.
Version 4.0 SP6 or later of the BES software is required, but it can also be used with the BES Express and Blackberry Professional Software versions. It has actually been available for a while now, but somehow slipped under my radar.
NOTE - the Web Desktop feature is built into BES 5.0, read this article for details on this version - http://blog.brightpointuk.co.uk/bes-50-web-desktop-manager
The installation process is straightforward and installs two additional services to the BES Server:
- Blackberry Administrative Service - AS
- Blackberry Administrative Service - NCC
The installation process does require that you configure an LDAP authentication source for connecting to the Exchange Server, but detailed information is included in the accompanying PDF installation guide.
Once installed, users can access the web interface by browsing to:
https://(BES_Server_Name)/webdesktop/login
NOTE - Internet Explorer 5.5 or later is required, Firefox is not supported. For users to access this web interface externally, the BES will need to be assigned a public IP address and port 443 opened on the firewall. The Administration Services can be installed on a machine other than the BES if external access directly to the BES itself is not permitted.
The initial web interface prompts the user to log in using their Active Directory domain credentials:
logging in for the first time, the browser will require that some ActiveX controls are installed, select the option to install them.
Once logged in, the following screen will be displayed:
The web interface allows users to activate and deactivate their own handhelds, setting their own activation passwords.
Users can also install, update or remove applications on the handheld.
Email filters can be applied, governing what mails are pushed to the handheld.
The entire data held on the device can also be backed up to the server and restored at a later date by the user via the web interface, or an automatic scheduled backup can be configured.
Finally, users can also edit the default signature via the web interface, rather than having to do it on the device.
This web interface approach is a precursor to the release of BES 5 which will provide full administrator access to the Blackberry Server via a web interface rather than via a WIN32 console application, and also removes the need for users to install the Blackberry Desktop Software on their PCs which is a major plus for network administrators.
Checking your BlackBerry Enterprise Server installation licence type
When ordering additional Client Access Licences (CALs) for your BlackBerry Enterprise Server, it is important to be aware of the different types of licence that are available: Small Business (SBE) and Enterprise.
Although there is no difference in functionality between an SBE BES and an Enterprise BES installation, the two CAL types are not interoperable: it is not possible to add SBE CALs to an Enterprise BES; neither is it possible to add Enterprise CALs to an SBE BES.
The type of BES installation that you have will be determine by the CAL you used when the software was first installed: if you use an SBE CAL when installing the BES, it will be an SBE installation.
To identify what type of installation you have, do the following.
BlackBerry Enterprise Server version 4.x
Launch the BlackBerry Manager and select BlackBerry Domain in the console root:
In the right hand pane expand Account and select License Management:
Your CALs and their type will be displayed. In the above example the installation is an Enterprise one.
BlackBerry Enterprise Server version 5.x
Log into the BlackBerry Administration Service.
In the Servers and Components section expand the Component View. Select the BlackBerry Administration Service:
CAL information will be displayed in the License Summary section. Again in the above example the installation is an Enterprise one.
Customising the default BlackBerry Enterprise Activation email
The BlackBerry Enterprise Activation feature is undoubtedly one of the principle selling points of the BES solution and makes remote device activation for corporate usage by users themselves as simple as any user-driven process can be - but it is possible to make the process even simpler, and more tailored to your BlackBerry deployment, by customising the default Enterprise Activation password received by users containing their Enterprise Activation password.
By default, the email contains the user's activation password and brief instructions as to where to put it on the device itself:
For existing BES installations these instructions refer specifically to the BlackBerry Device OS 5 and earlier: the location of the Enterprise Activation wizard on OS 6 devices is different, therefore it may be worth amending the default message to contain instructions for newer devices, such as the 9800 Torch.
Read on for instructions on how to customise this message.
BES 4.x
Launch the BlackBerry Manager console.
Select the BlackBerry Domain and click on the option to Edit Properties, the following window will be displayed:
Select General --> Custom Activation Email Message. Edit the message as required, using strings such as "$n" for username, "$p" for password and "$x" for the password expiration time. To enter a custom subject use the "+" sign before the subject line at the beginning of the text box on a separate line:
Save the changes. Any new activation passwords will now contain the revised text:
BES 5.x
Access the BlackBerry Administration web interface. Browse to Devices --> Wireless Activations --> Device Activation Settings:
Enter the same text using the same wildcard settings for username, password and expiration settings.
This message could also include instructions on configuring the BES OCS client if desired - http://blog.brightpointuk.co.uk/setting-blackberry-enterprise-server-acc...
Deploying applications wirelessly with BES 5.0
Although not a new feature to version 5.0 of the BlackBerry Enterprise Server solution, the procedure is slightly different now that the product is administered through a web browser using the BlackBerry Administration Service (BAS).
To deploy an application to a handheld device over the air, the procedure is as follows.
Create a shared application repository
Create a shared folder on the BES itself or somewhere on the LAN that the BES has access to.
Assign the BESAdmin user full read and write access to the share:
Add the repository to the BAS
Launch the BlackBerry Administration Service within a web browser and log in.
Browse to Servers and Components --> Component View --> BlackBerry Administration Service
Add the folder's UNC share path within the Software Management section and set the deployment to be managed by the BAS:
Be sure to click on the Save All entry to apply the changes.
Publish an application to the repository
ZIP up the component files of the application you wish to deploy and copy and paste the ZIP file to the shared directory you created earlier.
Within the BlackBerry Administration Service, browse to BlackBerry Solution Management --> Software --> Applications --> Add or update applications:
Browse to the ZIP file you created earlier and click Next, the package will be read and details imported:
Select the option to Publish the application.
Create a Software Configuration
Within the BAS, browse to BlackBerry Solution Management --> Software --> Create A Software Configuration:
Enter a name for the configuration and Save it.
Edit the Configuration and click on the Applications tab.
Click on the option to Add applications to software configuration
Click on the Search option to display a list of available packages:
Select the target package and click on the option to Add to software configuration
Select the deployment method (either wired, if being deployed using the Desktop Web Manager across the LAN, or wireless if being deployed over the air) and whether the package is optional or required.
Select the option to Save All.
Assign the Software Configuration to a user or a group
Open the properties of a user account or group, and click on the Software Configuration tab:
Add the software configuration to the user account and click Save All.
The package will now be deployed to the user's device.
NOTE - it is also possible for users to install applications themselves locally using the BlackBerry Web Desktop Manager if permitted by the administrator.
How does the BES Wireless Activation process work?
What is it?
In a nutshell, the Enterprise Activation feature of the Blackberry Enterprise Server links a specific Blackberry handheld to a user account on the BES: it is the equivalent of connecting a handheld to the BES server via a USB or RS232 cable. Once activated, the contents of that user’s mailbox are wirelessly synchronised to the handheld. The beauty of the feature is that the Blackberry doesn’t need to be physically connected to the BES before it can be used. In fact, it doesn’t even need to ever set foot on the company premises – it can be activated wirelessly over the cellular network, in theory from anywhere in the world!
Before I describe how this process works, it is first necessary to explain how the end-to-end Blackberry solution works.
Research In Motion, the company that develops the Blackberry solution, has deployed in different parts of the globe, elements of hardware accessible to each mobile network operator that offers Blackberry service: the RIM Relay. This device acts as a proxy server, proxying requests from the handheld devices and the BES servers deployed throughout the world. It is this proxy-based architecture that is the reason why the BES server itself does not require a public IP address, unlike other remote email solutions, but it does also mean that you are dependent upon a third-party’s hardware for your messaging solution to operate.
Each Blackberry handheld device has a unique identifying number assigned to it – its PIN number. When the handheld registers on the cellular network, it sends this PIN number to the RIM Relay so that the Relay ‘knows’ that the device is available and ready to send and receive data. The BES server also has a unique identifier: the SRP key entered during the installation process. Provided that the BES has a connection to the Internet, when the Blackberry services are started, the server also registers with the Relay.
What does the process involve?
Before a handheld can be activated wirelessly, the administrator of the BES first needs to add the user to the BES and then assign an activation password to the user via the Blackberry Manager on the BES itself:
The Administrator selects the entry for the user account, and then clicks on the option to Generate and Email Activation Password within the Service Access task.
This causes an email to be sent to the target user, from the BESAdmin user account, containing the activation password. A typical email would look something like this:
The user now has all they need to activate the handheld.
On Blackberry handheld devices, if you open the Options menu and then select Advanced Options, in this menu you will see an option for Enterprise Activation.
If you select this option, depending on which version of the handheld software you are running, you will see either two or three fields:
- Password
- Activation Server
The Activation Server field does not need to be completed if the device is being activated via a cellular connection, I will look at this option later.
The user needs to enter their full email address, and their activation password that they were emailed by the BESAdmin user. NOTE – it is important that the user does not get confused and use their NT domain password; it must be the Blackberry enterprise activation password. Also note, if the password contains capital letters, the password IS case-sensitive.
Once the Email and Password fields have been completed, press the jogwheel and select Activate from the menu.
If the phone element of the handheld is currently turned off, you will be prompted to enable it, and the activation process will then proceed.
How does it work?
On the handheld device, when the option to Activate is selected, the handheld examines the email address that has been entered in the Email field. It identifies the domain (the text after the @ sign in the email address), and performs an MX-lookup on that domain, using DNS, to locate the mail server for that domain. Once located, it then sends an email to the email address containing specific text in the subject and body of the message. A typical email might look something like this:
When a user is added to the BES server, the BESAdmin user account monitors the user’s mailbox from that moment on, looking for changes that need to be mirrored on the handheld device.
When this email from the handheld is delivered to the mailbox, the BES detects it, and knows from the text in the subject and body fields that it is a command message, and acts on it accordingly, linking the PIN number of the handheld to that user account. This information is then updated to the Relay so that it ‘knows’ that the PIN of the handheld is linked to the SRP key of the BES server, and that data should be relayed between the two whenever both are online and authenticated. Once this process has completed, the email is then automatically deleted from the user’s mailbox.
This process usually occurs so quickly that the user never actually sees the email arrive or disappear again.
The contents of the user’s mailbox is then synchronised to the handheld. The length of time this process can take will vary depending on the amount of data that is held in the user’s mailbox, but 10 minutes is a normal figure.
What might cause this process to fail?
Mobile Network Operator
The handheld device itself will clearly need to be registered on the cellular network: the user should see the signal strength indicated on the screen, and should also see the type of service indicated: ideally the user should see GPRS or EDGE on the handheld. If the user is out of coverage then the process will fail.
The SIM in the handheld will also need to be enabled for the Blackberry service with the network operator: it is not sufficient to be merely enabled for GPRS or 3G service. If the user receives an error on the handheld along the lines of ‘service connection not available’, despite indicating GPRS service, then the SIM is not enabled correctly for Blackberry service.
DNS
For the enterprise activation process to succeed, the handheld must be able to resolve the MX record for the domain from the email address entered.
MX records are Mail eXchange records, they are the email equivalent of DNS entries for web sites that map, say ‘wwww.bbc.co.uk’ to ‘212.58.253.67’.
The DNS entries for your domain must be configured correctly.
To be honest, this is unlikely to be the cause of the problem as, if your DNS entries were not configured correctly, it is likely that you would not be receiving ANY email, not just emails from Blackberry handhelds. But this worth taking into consideration when troubleshooting the activation process in case your email delivery architecture has anything ‘funny’ in it.
Spam filters & anti-virus software
The activation confirmation email generated from the handheld needs to arrive in the end user’s mailbox, for it to be picked up by the BES server.
If the mail is identified as being spam by a filtering system and ‘quarantined’ the process will fail. Ideally the RIM Relay will need to be added as a ‘safe sender’ to the whitelist. How this is done depends on the filtering system in place – adding the entire domain ‘blackberry.net’ as a safe sender would be one solution.
If the mail does arrive in the user’s mailbox, but has been altered in some way, the process will fail. The text contained in the subject and body of the message is specifically intended for the BES server, therefore if an anti-virus system prefixes the word [SCANNED] to the subject of a message, this will cause the BES to not recognise the mail correctly as being a command message and will ignore it, causing the process to fail.
User permissions
If the command email is not able to be read by the BESAdmin user, then the process will fail. This is normally indicated by the fact that the command email appears in the user’s mailbox, but then never disappears again.
The BESAdmin user needs to be a ‘View-Only Exchange Administrator’, and needs ‘Send As’, ‘Receive As’ and ‘Administer Information Store’ rights on the Exchange Server to be able to properly send and receive emails from user mailboxes to the remote handhelds.
Outlook or desktop email client configuration
If the user's desktop email client is configured to download mails from the user's Exchange mailbox and then remove them - either via POP or to a local PST file, then this can cause the process to fail as the BES won't be able to retrieve the mail if it has already been removed from the user's mailbox.
User error, or ‘ the MD Factor’
Network Administrators out there – if you have verified all of the above and are still at a loss to explain why the process isn’t working, don’t be afraid to suggest that your user is a numpty!
So what is the Activation Server?
I mentioned above that on newer handheld devices, the Enterprise Activation wizard allows for the entry of an activation server address. This field is not required if the device is being activated over a cellular connection, as the device locates the address of the BES by sending the command email to the domain’s mail server for the BES to detect and act on.
The Activation Server field is designed to be used if the handheld is being activated locally via a WiFi connection – provided that activations via WiFi are permitted on the BES itself. This can be configured within the Blackberry Manager.
Installing BlackBerry Enterprise Server 5.0 for Microsoft Exchange
BES 5.0.0 has landed. The administration of this version of the software is radically different from previous versions - the BlackBerry Manager MMC snap-in component having been replaced by a web-based administration service. In this post I will run through the installation procedure which should be relevant to those both familiar with the solution and those accessing it for the first time.
Due to the number of screenshots I shall tackle the installation process only in this post, watch this space for further posts on how to handle routine administrative tasks.
Preparing the Microsoft Exchange environment
I have detailed the procedure for preparing a Microsoft Exchange environment in separate articles:
Exchange 2003
Exchange 2007 / 2010
The steps to run through are as follows:
- Create a domain user account and mailbox for the BesAdmin user account
- Assign the BesAdmin user account local admin rights on the BES server
- Assign the BesAdmin user account "log on as a service" rights on the BES server
- Assign Send As, Receive As and Administer Information Store rights to the BesAdmin user account on the Exchange server
- Assign Send As rights on the Domain to the BesAdmin user account
- Install Microsoft Exchange Server MAPI Client and Collaboration Data Objects 1.2.1 on the BES server
Installing the BES 5.0 software
In this post I shall be installing all BES components on the same server. Read the Deployment Guide for details on all deployment scenarios. I shall be using Server 2008 64-bit in this example.
Extract the contents of the self-extracting EXE installation package. Browse to the folder where the contents have been extracted to and run the setup.exe file:
Verify that you have followed the above article and configured the correct permissions on the BesAdmin user account. Click Continue Installation
Select your Country/Region, read the license agreement and select the option to Agree if you accept the terms and conditions. Click Next:
If this is a new installation rather than an upgrade, select the option to create a new database (watch this space for instructions on the procedure for upgrading an existing installation):
Select the components of the BES solution that you wish to install on this server. In this post I shall be installing all BES services on the same server. Click Next:
The BES installation package will install an instance of the Apache web server as well as several Java packages. Read the license agreement and select the option to Agree if you accept the terms and conditions. Click Next:
The installation wizard will determine that all pre-requisite components are present and indicate what corrective action needs to be taken:
Click Next. You will be prompted to specify the database server to use. If you have a separate Microsoft SQL Server available, select that option and complete the required details. In this post I will be installing the database locally on the BES server itself:
Click Next. Enter the password for the BesAdmin account and enter a name for the BES server itself:
Click Next:
Click Install:
The required components and program files will be copied to the local machine. This may take a few minutes. Once complete you will be prompted to reboot the server:
Click Yes. Once rebooted, the installation procedure will resume automatically:
Click Next. You will be prompted to create the BES Management database:
Click Yes. This may take a few minutes. Click OK once complete:
You will be given the option of specifying which TCP port the database service should access the database on:
Click Next. Enter the CAL (Client Access License) and SRP details:
Click Next. The MAPI component will now be invoked and will prompt for the details of the Exchange server to be accessed:
Complete the fields as required and verify that the Check Name function can resolve both the server and mailbox. Click OK:
Enter a name for the Mobile Data Service application pool as well as passwords for the default admin and publisher user account roles. Click Next:
You will be prompted to create the required database. Click Yes.
Click OK once complete.
You will be prompted to verify that the MDIS service has bee configured, consult the accompanying documentation for more information if required. Click OK.
If you selected the option to install the Monitoring Service you will be prompted to enter the database server details. Click Next:
You will be prompted to create the required database, click Yes:
Click OK when complete:
If you selected the option earlier, you will be prompted to specify your instant messaging environment. Make the appropriate selection and click Next:
Enter the details of the BlackBerry Administration Service web pool and enter the password for the SSL certificate for the admin web site. Click Next:
You will be prompted to enter details of the LDAP account used to access the Exchange Global Address List. Use the BesAdmin domain user account unless required otherwise. Click Next:
Enter the default password for the admin account that should be used to access the web administration web site. Click Next:
The installation wizard is now complete. Click the option to Start Services and verify that all services start successfully. Click Next:
Details of the web admin tool and the web desktop tool will be displayed, make a note of these addresses. Click Close.
The installation is now complete. The web-based admin tool can be accessed from the Start menu:
Launch the BlackBerry Administration Service:
Set the "login using" field to the BlackBerry Administration Service. Enter "admin" as the user name and the password you specified earlier:
You will be prompted to install an ActiveX component, select the option to install:
And again when prompted select the option to Install:
Once complete, you will be prompted to restart the BES server again. Select Yes.
Once rebooted, launch the Admin Tool again and log in using the same credentials as before, remembering to set the "Login using" field to the BlackBerry Administration Service. The BES Admin tool interface will be displayed:
NOTE - on my fully patched Server 2008 installation, which includes IE8, the Admin tool did not display until I enabled the Compatibility View mode.
You can now finalise your BES configuration and add users as required. Watch this space for more information on how to add users and perform routine admin tasks.
Firewall Rules
NOTE - on Server 2008 you will need to configure the built-in firewall to allow connections to the Apache web server instance on port 443 from all desired hosts before they will be able to access either the Administrator or Web Desktop tools.
Outbound SMTP access on TCP port 25 will need to be enabled between the BES and the Exchange server for activation and administrator mails to be delivered successfully.
If the SQL Server being used is external to the BES, SQL access on port 1433 will need to be configured (or the static port specified during the installation process).
Outbound access on TCP port 3101 to the BES Relay will need to be enabled.
Adding Users
To add users to the BES 5 server, log into the Administration Web Tool.
Browse to User --> Create A User:
To search for available users click on the Search link:
Select the target user and click Continue:
Select the BES server that the user should be added to and click Continue:
Enter the Activation Password for the user and click Create User:
An email will now be sent to the user containing the Activation Password:
The user will now be able to activate their handheld in a number of ways:
- Over the cellular network using the Enterprise Activation feature on the handheld device
- Over a local WiFi network using the Enterprise Activation feature on the handheld device by specifying the IP address of the activation server
- Via the BlackBerry Web Desktop by connecting the handheld to their local PC via USB
Activating over the cellular network
Once an enterprise activation password has been assigned to the user, the Enterprise Activation feature on the handheld can be located under Options --> Advanced Options --> Enterprise Activation.
In here the user simply need enter their full email address, including domain, and the activation password assigned by the administrator.
For detailed information on how the Activation Process works, read this article:
http://blog.brightpointuk.co.uk/how-does-bes-wireless-activation-process...
Activating over the WiFi network
For those devices that have WiFi capability, provided that the local wireless network can route to the BES server, devices can be activated by completing the Enterprise Activation wizard as above, but with the additional step of completing the Activation Server Address, which needs to contain the IP address of the BES server.
NOTE - this feature needs to be enabled on the BES manually as it is not enabled by default. If the BES server has been deployed in a multiple-box deployment, it is the IP address of the BES Router component that needs to be entered on the handheld device, and the Router needs to be configured to be able to relay SMTP traffic to the Exchange Server. To do this, on the BES server open the BlackBerry Server Configuration utility from the Start Menu. Click on the WiFi OTA Activation tab:
Complete the details of the Exchange server as required.
Also note, to accept activation requests on Server 2008, the built-in firewall will need to be configured to accept incoming requests on TCP port 4101.
Activating via the BlackBerry Web Desktop
Users can browse to the Web Desktop URL (https://(bes_server)/webdesktop) from their Windows PC running IE6 or later:
When logging in for the first time they will be prompted to install the "RIMWebComponents", this will install the required USB drivers and device manager software onto the PC. Administrative rights will be required for this.
Once installed, the user will be able to login using the domain credentials:
The user can now connect their handheld device to the PC via the USB connection. The device manager software will detect the device automatically. The user will be prompted to enter their activation password within the browser.
If the feature has been enabled on the BES by the administrator, users can even set their own activation passwords and enable their own devices, without the IT department getting involved at all (provided that their user account has been added to the BES):
Once activated, the device will be listed in the properties of the user account:
Clicking on the device entry will display detailed information about that device:
and provide a list of tasks that can be performed on that device, including the ability to perform a 'remote kill':
Locating your BlackBerry Enterprise Server SRP Key
The SRP Key of a BlackBerry Enterprise Server installation is the unique identifier assigned to the BES which it uses to access the RIM Relay. If you need to locate this key for support or migration purposes, it can be located as follows.
BlackBerry Enterprise Server version 4.x / BlackBerry Professional Software
Launch the BlackBerry Server Configuration Utility from Start --> Programs --> BlackBerry Enterprise Server.
Click on the BlackBerry Server tab:
The SRP Identifier and authentication key will be displayed.
BlackBerry Enterprise Server version 5.x
Log into the BlackBerry Administration Service.
In the Servers and Components section expand the Server View.
Select the named entry of your BlackBerry Server:
The SRP Identifier and authentication key will be displayed in the SRP Information section.
New Features in BES 5.0
BES 5.0 is finally here and the Brightpoint GB Tech Blog have installed it in their test lab. In this post I shall run through some of the new features you can expect to find in this release. The solution has been re-engineered considerably 'under the hood', with support for Windows Server 2008 included and all server administration now being web-based. Major changes have been made the individual component services that make up the BES solution allowing for a wide range of deployment topologies as well as fault-tolerance, making it an attractive solution for both the Enterprise and SMB markets.
Server Features
Web-based Administration
The first and most apparent change in this release of the software is how the solution is administered. The MMC-based BlackBerry Manager application has been replaced with a web-based admin tool which enables the BlackBerry domain, user accounts, devices and device features to be managed from any PC with access to the BES.
The Mobile Data Service (MDS) and the Software Configuration areas are also managed via this web-based tool.
The Admin tool is accessed by browsing to https://(server)/webconsole/app/
The MDS Admin tool is accessed at https://(server)/mdsisconsole/app/
Internet Explorer 6 or later is required to access the tool.
Separate administrative logins to the web-based tool with varying permission levels can be configured.
NOTE - on my fully patched Server 2008 installation, which includes IE8, the Admin tool did not display until I enabled the Compatibility View mode.
BlackBerry Web Desktop Manager
The Web Desktop Manager has been available as an optional download for BES 4.1.x, which I posted about here (http://blog.brightpointuk.co.uk/node/95). This feature is now built into the BES 5.0 release and enables users to manage their BlackBerry devices from a web browser. This tool removes the need for the BlackBerry Desktop software to be installed on users' PCs and allows users to activate and deactivate their own handhelds, set their own activation passwords as well as install, update or remove applications on the handheld. Email filters can be applied, governing what mails are pushed to the handheld.
The entire contents of the device can also be backed up to the server and restored at a later date by the user via the web interface, or an automatic scheduled backup can be configured.
Finally, users can also edit the default signature via the web interface, rather than having to do it on the device.
The above features can be restricted by the administrator if desired, or made available or on a per-user or per-group basis.
The Web Desktop is accessed by browsing to https://(server)/webdesktop
Internet Explorer 6 or later is required to access the tool.
When logging into the Web Desktop Manager for the first time, the web site will prompt users to download and install a client application which contains the required handheld USB drivers and the BlackBerry Device Manager application which is used to install applications and certificates onto handhelds. Local administrative rights on the PC will be required to install this component.
Alternatively, the component is available in an MSI package, "RIMWebComponents.msi" that can be installed onto client PCs separately or via Active Directory Group Policy.
BlackBerry Enterprise Server High Availability
This is a new deployment scenario supported by BES 5.0 which provides for 2 BES servers to be deployed in a clustered environment with the BlackBerry database replicated between both servers, meaning that no single point of failure exists in the solution. When running the solution in an Active / Passive cluster, failover can be configured to occur automatically based on pre-defined thresholds which are continually monitored by the BlackBerry Monitoring Server (see below).
Support for Microsoft Windows Server 2008
BES 5.0 can now be installed on Windows Server 2008, both 32-bit and 64-bit versions.
Support for Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Express Edition
BES 5.0 now uses Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Express Edition as its default database back-end rather than the older Microsoft SQL Server Desktop Engine (MSDE). SQL Server 2005 Express Edition will be installed automatically during the BES installation unless you specify an alternate database server manually.
BlackBerry Monitoring Service
The Monitoring Service records up to 57 weeks worth of performance information on specific individual BES components as well as the connection status of the solution which can be reported on by the administrator. Thresholds and alerts can also be configured.
Support for IBM Lotus Domino 8.5 and Lotus Notes 8.5
BES 5.0 now supports the latest versions of both Lotus Domino and Lotus Notes. Lotus Notes Links are also supported. In Lotus Notes, users can include document links, view links or database links (also known as application links) in their email messages. Any links received in email messages on the BlackBerry handheld can be viewed in the BlackBerry handheld browser. Users may be prompted to enter the username and password if the target document is stored in a secure area.
Handheld Features
(When using device software v5.0 in conjunction with BES 5.0)
- Calendar
- Ability to forward calendar appointments and view attachments saved to meeting invitations
- Pop-up reminders containing conference call information will enable users to dial the number directly from the reminder
- Contacts
- Ability to view subfolders of the personal Contacts folder
- Ability to specify which subfolders of the Contacts folder should be synchronised to the device via the Web Desktop Manager
- Ability to view contacts within Public Folders
- Ability to specify which Public Folder contact lists are synchronised to the device via the Web Desktop Manager
- Browser
- Support for Google Gears
- Support for in-line video streaming
- Miscellaneous
- Support for email follow-up flags
- Support for the .wma audio file format
- Ability to add, remove, move and rename personal folders
- Improvements to BlackBerry Maps performance
- Ability to set default download folder, wallpaper and icon layout from 'Homescreen Preferences'
- Access the Application Switcher by pressing and holding the Menu key
RIM add BlackBerry support for Exchange 2010 to BES 5
RIM have officially added support for Exchange 2010 to BlackBerry Enterprise Server 5. Following hot on the heels of SP1 for BES 5 (http://blog.brightpointuk.co.uk/service-pack-1-bes-5-released), both RIM and Microsoft have released updates for BES 5 and Exchange 2010 to enable compatibility.
The pre-prequisites are therefore:
- BES 5.0.1 MR1 (ie BES 5 with Service Pack 1 and Maintenance Release 1)
- Rollup Update 1 for Exchange 2010 - http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=371add31-d7a0-4...
- Microsoft MAPI CDO 1.2.1 - http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=e17e7f31-079a-4...
For detailed information on how to configure Exchange 2007 / 2010 for a BES deployment, read this article - http://blog.brightpointuk.co.uk/bes-41x-50-exchange-2007-pre-requisites
The Exchange 2010 area of the BlackBerry web site can be found here - http://na.blackberry.com/eng/services/server/exchange/2010support.jsp
Removing the BlackBerry MDS Integration Service from BES 5
The new Service Pack 3 release for BlackBerry Enterprise Server 5 does not support the MDS Integration Service, which is no longer in production and has been phased out by RIM.
If your existing BES server has the MDS-IS role installed, it must be removed before you will be able to upgrade to Service Pack 3:
In this article I am running BES 5 SP2.
In order to remove the MDS-IS service prior to upgrading to BES 5 SP3, if you are not already, you must install BES 5 SP2 Maintenance Release 2 or higher, and then reboot the server.
Once the Maintenance Release has been installed, launch the BlackBerry Administration Service and expand the Server View in the BlackBerry Solution Topology section. Select the entry for the MDSSx.
Click on the Supported Dispatcher Instances tab and remove all Dispatcher entries from the right hand column:
Save the change.
Now exit the BlackBerry Administration Service.
Launch the BES SP2 installer package by running the setup.exe file. Run through the installer wizard until you see the list of installed services:
Untick the option to use the BlackBerry MDS Integration Service. Run through the rest of the installation leaving all of the other values at their existing setting. A reboot will be required.
Once rebooted and the installation completed, launch the BlackBerry Administration Service and log back in.
In the BlackBerry Solution Topology section click on the Component View:
You will see that the MDS Integration Service is uninstalled. Click on the icon of the red bin to remove the service from the configuration database:
Select the option Yes - Delete this instance
The MDS Integration Service will now be removed from the BES and you will be able to run through the BES 5 SP3 installer wizard.
Service Pack 1 for BlackBerry Enterprise Server 5 released
Service Pack 1 for BlackBerry Enterprise Server 5 is now available, bringing the version number up to 5.0.1
The update, which weights in at 657MB for Exchange and 667MB for Domino, is available for download from the BlackBerry web site - https://www.blackberry.com/Downloads/browseSoftware.do
New features in this release include:
- BlackBerry Device Dashboard
Using this feature, BES administrators can keep track of the BlackBerry Monitoring Service directly from their handheld. Alarms, Messages and the status of the BES can be viewed.
- Administration Service Enhancements
Administrators can now access right-click context menus on user accounts to perform common administrative actions.
When creating user accounts, you can add users to groups and software configurations.
- Import WiFi and VPN configuration profiles
You can add, delete or update the WiFi and VPN profiles that you assign to users by importing a CSV file.
- Support for Exchange Web Services
If you are running Exchange 2007 SP1 or later, it is now possible to configure the BES to access Exchange calendaring information using Exchange Web Services rather than CDO.
- Support for odp and ods file formats
BES 5.0.1 provides support for the OpenOffice file formats odp (presentation) and ods (Spreadsheet)
- Support for SQL Server 2008
- Support for Internet Explorer 8
The BlackBerry Administration Service web site can now be accessed from the IE8 web browser.
Service Pack 2 for BlackBerry Enterprise Server 5.0 available
RIM have released SP2 for BES 5 for both Microsoft Exchange and Lotus Domino flavours. Weighing in at 668MB (for Exchange) and 678MB (for Domino), the update is a complete copy of the BES software.
Both updates can be downloaded free of charge from the BlackBerry web site - http://blackberry.com/go/serverdownloads
New features for Microsoft Exchange deployments include:
- Automatic discovery of Exchange Web Services - The BlackBerry Messaging Agent can discover Microsoft Exchange Web Services automatically and use it to synchronise calendar data (replacing the now deprecated MAPI CDO API)
- MDS Connection Service Integrated Authentication - When BlackBerry device users need to access internal network resources from their devices, the MDS Connection Service can be configured to authenticate users using their Windows account credentials
- Administrative Groups - The BlackBerry Administration Service includes new default groups that have preconfigured roles that you can add different types of administrative accounts to. The default groups help make sure that users without administrative privileges cannot escalate their permissions.
- Enhancements to activation and prepopulation - The BlackBerry Messaging Agent now monitors the Junk Mail folder as well as the Inbox for activation messages. You can now configure the BES to prepopulate a maximum count of 3000 email messages and a maximum message age of 30 days
- Enhancements to S/MIME encryption - If users configure S/MIME encryption on their devices, you are no longer required to turn on S/MIME encryption on the BES before the BES can begin processing S/MIME protected messages
- Enhancements to SRP connections - When you install a BES or start the BlackBerry Dispatcher Service, the BES verifies whether the SRP ID is currently in use by another BES already. If it is in use, the BES does not open the SRP connection
- Enhancements to the synchronisation of email message content - The BES forwards the full content of email messages that are sent from email applications to the device, rather than just the message header and subject
- Enhancements to the BlackBerry Administration Service - If an administrator enters their password for the BAS incorrectly 10 times in succession, the administrative account is locked for 15 minutes and the administrator cannot log in
- Enhancements to the BlackBerry Web Desktop - If you configure the appropriate option in the BlackBerry Administration Service, the BlackBerry Web Desktop Manager permits users to perform the following self-service tasks: specify a new device password and lock the device; delete all device data and disable device
- Support for Single Sign On authentication - Access to both the BlackBerry Administration Service and the BlackBerry Web Desktop can be managed automatically using Windows credentials
- Microsoft SQL Server 2008 R2 is now supported
- The default body size of calendar entries that the BES synchronises with devices is now larger
- Support for web browsers - The BlackBerry Administration Service can now be accessed from web browsers other than Internet Explorer, including Safari, Firefox and Chrome - NOTE Internet Explorer is still required for management of devices locally via USB
- Microsoft Windows Server 2008 R2 is now supported
View the release notes for full details of all the new features and bug fixes included in the Service Pack.
Service Pack 3 for BlackBerry Enterprise Server 5 released
Service Pack 3 for BlackBerry Enterprise Server 5 for both Microsoft Exchange and Lotus Domino is now available to download from http://blackberry.com/go/serverdownloads
New features include:
- Device software updates - administrators can choose to make device software updates available to users. Users can also optionally roll back to an earlier device software version following an update if desired
- Instant Messaging integration - Service Pack 3 adds support for Microsoft Office Communications Server 2007 R2 and Microsoft Lync Server 2010
- Media downloads - the default size limit for downloading media files via the device browser has been increased
- Device Wipe - it is now possible to remove only "organization data" from devices when performing a remote wipe from the BES.
Note - this feature needs to be supported by the device
- New IT Policies - it is now possible to enforce the following from the BES:
- Disable forwarding of work contents over personal channels
- Require work resources for conducting work activities
- Disable Amazon MP3
- Disable Geo-location in social networking applications
- Prevent media sync over a WiFi connection
- Allow wireless software updates
- Allow third-party apps to access screen contents
- Office 2010 - SP3 provides support for Office 2010 file attachment formats
The above IT policies referring to Work and Personal channels relate to a forthcoming device software update called BlackBerry Balance that will allow you to create home and work profiles on your device, and grant access to the company IT administrator only to the work area of the device, and similarly the IT administrator will only allow the work area of the device access to company resources.
The Release Notes and the updated Policy Reference Guide for BES 5 SP3 are attached to this article below.
Setting up BlackBerry Enterprise Server for access to Office Communicator Server
The BlackBerry Enterprise Server (BES) product supports both OCS 2005 and 2007 versions, but uses the Communicator Web Access (CWA) component of the solution, so this feature needs to be installed on the OCS server itself.
Verify that the CWA web site can be accessed from the browser on the BES server, ensuring that DNS is correctly configured and installing any SSL certificates if required:
And verify that a sample user account is able to log in via the browser:
The CWA web site itself should be enabled for Forms-based authentication: which is the default configuration, as well as Integrated Windows Authentication:
Run the BES installation wizard. Whether this is a clean install, or you're adding the instant messaging functionality to an existing installation, the first screen will prompt you to select your Instant Messaging platform:
NOTE - if this is an existing installation, you should run the installer as the same user account that was used to first install the solution originally (ie the BesAdmin account).
Select the appropriate version of OCS. Run through the rest of the installation steps - for detailed information on how to install the BES solution from scratch, visit the BlackBerry section of the blog (http://blog.brightpointuk.co.uk/blackberry). Even on an existing installation you will be prompted to run through all installation steps and reboot the server.
Following a reboot the installation will resume and you will be prompted to enter in the address of the Communicator Web Access server:
Enter in the server address minus the /cwa suffix, so if your CWA login address is https://ocsweb.domain.com/cwa just enter 'ocsweb.domain.com'
Specify whether the server is accessed via HTTP or HTTPS and enter the port number if not using the standard 80 or 443 ports.
Complete the installation. When finished, within the list of BlackBerry services will be one named 'BlackBerry Collaboration Service', ensure that it has started successfully:
Setting up BlackBerry Smartphone devices
The BES is now configured. In order to use the BlackBerry device, you will first need to ensure that the BlackBerry Instant Messaging (BBIM) service book is present on the device.
To do this, on the device itself browse to Menu --> Options --> Advanced Options --> Service Books and ensure that BBIM is listed. If not, it may be necessary to re-send services books from the BES within the BlackBerry Manager.
Next, the OCS client software itself will need to be installed onto the handheld. One way of doing this is to use the BlackBerry Desktop Manager application.
The OCS client software can be downloaded from the BlackBerry web site - http://na.blackberry.com/eng/support/downloads/im.jsp
Download the file to your PC and extract the contents. The BlackBerry Desktop Manager software can be downloaded from the BlackBerry web site here - https://www.blackberry.com/Downloads/entry.do?code=A8BAA56554F96369AB93E...
Once installed, connect the BlackBerry to your PC and launch the Desktop Manager application. If prompted to select an Outlook profile, simply press Cancel. The following window will be displayed:
Click on the Application Loader and select the option to Add/Remove Applications.
The wizard will read details from the device about installed software, this process may take a few minutes. When prompted, click on the option to Browse and navigate to where you saved the extracted OCS client:
Select the OfficeCommunicator2007.alx file and click Open.
Tick the option to Install ‘Enterprise Messenger’ and click Next. The software will then be installed onto the device. When complete you can disconnect the device from the PC.
On the device itself, in the main menu should now be a folder called ‘Instant Messaging’:
Within this folder will be an icon for Enterprise Messenger:
Tap the icon to launch the OCS client:
You can now sign in using your domain username and password. If you have any contacts saved to your address book already, they will be displayed together with their status:
Once logged in, your status will also be updated:
You are now connected to the OCS server from your BlackBerry.
Troubleshooting BlackBerry Enterprise Server synchronisation issues
In this article I shall look at what to check when your BlackBerry users are unable to either receive mail, send mail, or both.
This article will only examine how to troubleshoot BES when deployed against an Exchange server rather than Domino or Groupwise.
Regardless of which version of the BES software you are running, the way in which it access Exchange is essentially the same - a system account is granted read and write access to user's mailboxes and manages their mailbox on their behalf. In the event of a problem, the specific troubleshooting steps will vary depending on the version of Exchange you are running, but the basic elements to verify are common to all:
- Number of users affected
- Device network connectivity
- User mailbox status
- Message filters
- BES server services
- BES server network connectivity
- BesAdmin Exchange permissions
- Event Viewer
- Log files
This article also assumes that users have already successfully activated their devices and have been able to both send and receive mail before, and have only now started experiencing problems. For details on how to troubleshoot the Enterprise Activation procedure, view this article - http://blog.brightpointuk.co.uk/how-does-bes-wireless-activation-process...
This article is not intended as an exhaustive troubleshooting guide. Should all of the steps outlined in this article appear to be passed by your BES deployment, and yet you continue to experience difficulty, then detailed examination of the BES log files and use of the BES Resource Kit may be required to isolate and rectify the cause of the problem. Brightpoint's technical support staff are fully-versed in all aspects of the BES solution and able to provide expert support.
BlackBerry Architecture
When troubleshooting BES issues, it is important to understand how the end-to-end BlackBerry architecture works and the components involved.
RIM deploy and maintain what is referred to as the BlackBerry Infrastructure (BBI). BES servers are assigned unique SRP IDs, which are used to authenticate against and register with the BBI using the Server Router Protocol (SRP). Connections are initiated from the BES to the BBI on a single TCP port, number 3101. This is the reason why BES servers are not required to be "Internet-facing" and do not require public IP addresses.
Client devices also register with the BBI, using unique PIN numbers. Messages sent from the BES are encrypted and then routed over the Internet to the BBI, including the target device's PIN number in the header information. Similarly, messages sent from handhelds are encrypted and sent to the BBI using the BES server's unique SRP key in the header.
Typically, the ability to receive email but not send is either due to Active Directory permission issues, or an exception to the Exchange mailbox size limit policy. If mail is being received then it is relatively safe to assume that both client device and BES are operating correctly. If mail is not being received (or sent), then a sensible troubleshooting procedure would include the following.
NOTE - the same troubleshooting procedure applies to the BlackBerry Professional Software (BPS).
Number of users affected
If only one user is reporting problems, then it is advisable to verify the status of the client device and that specific user's Exchange mailbox before you worry about the server. If all users, or an administratively-significant number of users are reporting problems then the server status should be examined. As the administrator, if you have a device yourself, is yours working?
Device Network Connectivity
If you believe the issue to be unique to a specific user, then verify that the device itself is correctly configured.
Is the cellular element of the device enabled? By default when powering on devices all networks are disabled. If the device has been used in a location that requires cellular devices be deactivated, has the user remembered to reactive the radio?
Can the device be used to make voice calls (if voice is enabled on the SIM and the IT policy allows use of the phone)? If the user receives a recorded message indicating that a call to customer services is required....then a call to customer services may be required to rectify an account issue.
Is the device registered with the cellular operator and indicating a packet data connection (either "GPRS", "EDGE" or "3G")? If not, the user may not be in a suitable coverage area or the operator may be experiencing a localised network fault.
Does the user definitely have the BES subscription on the SIM they are using in the BlackBerry device?
To force a device to register with the BlackBerry Infrastructure, select Menu --> Options --> Advanced Options --> Host Routing Table --> Menu --> Register Now
In many cases, simply removing the battery from the device and reinserting it after a couple of seconds may resolve the issue.
You can verify that the device is correctly registered on both the cellular network and with the BlackBerry infrastructure by sending a PIN message from the device to itself: within the Inbox on the device select the option to Compose PIN and send a message to yourself. This will cause a message to be sent from the device back to itself via the BlackBerry Infrastructure independently from the Exchange server.
New to version 5.0 of the device handheld software is a mobile network diagnostic test utility. Should you want to perform more detailed diagnostics, select the Options icon from the main menu. Select the Mobile Network menu entry:
The following screen will be displayed:
Press the menu button and select the entry for Diagnostics Test. The following window will be displayed:
Press the menu button and select the Run option:
Verify that all tests are completed successfully:
- BlackBerry Registration
- Connected to BlackBerry
- BlackBerry PIN-PIN
User Mailbox Status
If the user's device appears to be operating correctly, can the user access their mailbox via Outlook or Outlook Web Access? If the user's account has been disabled for any reason the administrator will need to ascertain why and whether the account can be reactivated.
If the user has exceeded their Exchange mailbox size limit, the ability to receive new mail may have been disabled and the user will need to free up some space in their mailbox before any new mails will be delivered.
Message Filters
If a user is receiving some email messages but not all, or is not receiving any messages but troubleshooting so far indicates that everything appears to be functioning correctly, verify what messages filters have been applied to the user's account: it may simply be the case that the user has inadvertently applied a rule that prohibits certain or all mails from being forwarded to their BlackBerry device:
BES services
Should more than one user have reported problems, and your own device not be receiving mail, verify the status the BES. Ensure that all required BlackBerry services are running and check the Application log in the Event Viewer for any warning or critical error messages.
Restarting the BlackBerry Controller service will cause all BlackBerry services to be refreshed.
BES network connectivity
If no messages are being received by handhelds, either email or PIN messages, verify that the BES is connected to the BlackBerry Infrastructure. You can verify whether the BES or BPS server is successfully connected to the SRP infrastructure by launching the BlackBerry Server Configuration utility from the Start menu and selecting the BlackBerry Router tab:
Click the Test Network Connection button and verify that the test is successful. Should the test fail verify that the server has outbound Internet access on TCP port 3101 on any firewalls between the BES and the outside world.
Alternatively you can run the bbsrptest.exe utility at the command line. On the BES server open a command prompt and navigate to the directory where the BES software has been installed to - c:\Program Files\Research In Motion\BlackBerry Enterprise Server\Utility by default.
Run the following command:
bbsrptest.exe
If the test is successful the following will be displayed:
Alternatively, if you have a BlackBerry Technical Support subscription, you can view the status of a specific BES SRP key and re-enable it should it have been disabled for any reason:
Verify whether the company Internet feed may be congested or have insufficient bandwidth to accommodate the volume of traffic being generated using SNMP monitoring tools such as MRTG (http://blog.brightpointuk.co.uk/mrtg)
Should the SRP connectivity test be successful, you can also verify end-to-end connectivity between the BES and the handheld by sending the user a PIN message from the BES:
BesAdmin Exchange permissions
Should PIN messages be delivered end-to-end successfully, then this would indicate that both BES and devices are operating correctly. Should Exchange emails not be being delivered, then the permissions of the BesAdmin account (or the user account used to install the BES server) should be verified. This step is essential when troubleshooting issues whereby emails are being received by users, but no emails are able to be sent.
In any Exchange BES installation, the BesAdmin will need the following rights in order to be able to both send and receive emails successfully:
- Exchange View Only Administer privileges
- "Send As", "Receive As" and "Administer Information Store" privileges on the Exchange server
- "Send As" permissions on User Objects on the Active Directory domain
The steps to verify that these permissions have been correctly applied are as follows:
Exchange 2003
Delegate administrative control to the BesAdmin user account
On the Exchange server, select Start → Programs → Microsoft Exchange → Exchange System Manager.
Right click on the Organisation name (at the root of the directory in the left-hand pane) and select Properties. The following window will be displayed:
Tick the options to Display routing groups and Display administrative groups. Click OK. If you receive a warning message indicating that the Exchange System Manager needs to be closed and re-opened for the changes to take effect, click OK.
Close the Exchange System Manager and then re-launch it again from the Start menu.
Right click on the first Administrative Group and select Delegate Control, as shown below:
The Administration Delegation Wizard will be displayed:
Click Next. The following window will be displayed:
Click Add. The following window will be displayed:
Set the Look in field to the domain in which the BES server resides. From the list of users select the BesAdmin account and click OK.
Click Next and then click Finish to complete the wizard.
Assign Send as, Receive as and Administer information store rights to the BesAdmin user account
Within the Exchange System Manager, right click on the entry for the Exchange server which the BES is going to communicate with and select Properties, as shown below:
Click on the Security tab. In the list of users select the BesAdmin user account. In the list of permissions, scroll down and tick the options to allow Administer information store, Receive As and Send As.
Click OK.
For full details on how to prepare Exchange 2003 for a BES installation, read this article - http://blog.brightpointuk.co.uk/bes-41x-50-exchange-2003-pre-requisites
Exchange 2007
Assign Send as, Receive as and Administer information store rights to the BesAdminuser account
Unlike previous versions of Exchange. This needs to be done at the command line via the Exchange Management Shell.
Launch the command interface and enter the following command:
get-mailboxserver (servername) | add-adpermission –user (service account)-accessrights GenericRead,
GenericWrite -extendedrights Send-As, Receive-As, ms-Exch-Store-Admin
Where (servername) should be replaced with the name of the Exchange Server, and (service account) should be replaced with the Alias name of the BesAdmin user account (so ‘BesAdmin’ in this case)
If you are successful, you should see the following:
To verify the permissions of an existing account, type:
get-mailboxserver (servername) | getADpermission -user (service account) | Format-List
For full details on how to prepare Exchange 2007 for a BES installation, read this article - http://blog.brightpointuk.co.uk/bes-41x-50-exchange-2007-pre-requisites
Exchange 2010
Assign "Receive As" and "Administer Information Store" rights to the BesAdmin user
On the Exchange server, launch the Exchange PowerShell and issue the following command:
Get-MailboxDatabase | Add-ADPermission -User "BesAdmin" -AccessRights ExtendedRight -ExtendedRights Receive-As, ms-Exch-Store-Admin
Assign Exchange View-Only Administrator rights to the BesAdmin user
Still within the Exchange PowerShell, now issue the following command:
Add -RoleGroupMember "View-Only Organization Management" -Member "BesAdmin"
Assign "Send As" rights to the BesAdmin user
This is done on the Exchange server itself within the Exchange PowerShell. Launch the console and issue the following command:
Add-ADPermission -InheritedObjectType User -InheritanceType Descendents -ExtendedRights Send-As -User "BesAdmin" -Identity "CN=Users,DC=domain,DC=com"
(where "domain" and "com" should be substituted for your specific domain details, eg: DC=brightpoint,DC=co,DC=uk and so on)
To force all of the above changes to take effect on the domain, it may be worth running a group policy update. On the Exchange server click Start --> Run and issue the command "gpupdate /force"
Turn off Exchange 2010 Client Throttling
Exchange 2010 uses client throttling by default to protect the Exchange server from excessive user demands. RIM recommend turning off this feature as it can have an adverse affect on the performance of the BES solution. This is done within the Exchange PowerShell console.
Launch the console and issue the following command to get the "Identity" of the default throttling policy"
Get-ThrottlingPolicy | Where-Object {$_.IsDefault -eq "True"} | FL Identitythe Identity will be displayed:
Now issue the following command:
Set-ThrottlingPolicy -RCAMaxConcurrency $null
You will be prompted to enter the Identity to apply the policy to, enter the result returned above:
Increase the maximum number of connections to the Exchange Address Book Service
On the Exchange Server (or specifically the Client Access Server in a multi-box deployment), browse to C:\Program Files\Microsoft\Exchange Server\V14\Bin and locate the file "microsoft.exchange.addressbook.service.exe.config" and open it in NotePad:
Locate the line "MaxSessionsPerUser":
Increase the value to 100000. Save the file then restart the Address Book Service:
For full details on how to prepare an Exchange 2010 environment for a BES installation, read this article - http://blog.brightpointuk.co.uk/bes-501-exchange-2010-pre-requisites
All versions of Exchange
Assign Send As rights on Domain User Objects to the BesAdmin user account
On the Exchange Server, launch the Active Directory Users and Computers MMC snap-in:
Open the View menu and select the option to show Advanced Features.
Right click on the Domain root and select Properties. Click on the Security tab:
Click on the Advanced button. Select the option to Add a user:
Enter the alias of the BesAdmin account created earlier and click OK. In the Apply Onto drop-down menu select the option for User Objects:
In the Permissions section select the option to enable Send As:
Calendar Issues
Should email messages be sent and received successfully between the BES and handheld devices, but calendar appointments not be synchronised, a common step missed when installing the BES solution is to register the CDO.dll file on the BES server.
This only applies to versions of Exchange prior to 2007. When installing BES against Exchange 2003 and earlier, usual practice is to install the Exchange System Manager on the BES server. This installs the required MAPI components, but does not install the files required for calendaring.
The CDO.dll file needs to be located on the Exchange server, copied to the System32 directory on the BES server and registered:
By default the cdo.dll file will be located in the C:\Program Files\Exchsvr\Bin directory. To check the version of the file, right click on it and select Properties. Click on the Version tab:
The cdo.dll file needs to be registered, otherwise wireless calendar synchronisation will not function correctly between the Blackberry handheld and the server. To register the file, copy it to the C:\WINNT\System32 directory.
Once the file has been copied, select Start → Run. Enter “cmd” in the dialogue and press OK.
A command prompt will be displayed. Change to the WINNT\System32 by typing cd winnt\system32 and pressing enter.
Type regsvr32 cdo.dll and press enter:
If the file is registered successfully, notification will be displayed as shown below:
This procedure is not required for BES installations against versions of Exchange later than 2003 as the MAPI CDO package is used rather than the Exchange System Manager.
Troubleshooting BesAdmin user account permissions
The commonest cause of problems when troubleshooting issues with a BES installation is that the correct permissions have not been assigned to the BesAdmin user on the domain and the Exchange server as detailed above.
Included with the BES 5 software is a utility called "IEMSTEST" which can verify the BesAdmin user's access to specific user mailboxes.
The utility lives in the C:\Program Files\Research In Motion\BlackBerry Enterprise Server\Utility folder and needs to be run at the command line:
Select the BlackBerryServer MAPI profile when prompted:
Select the user account you wish to query:
The permissions will be tested:
As you can see from the above screenshot this test has indicated that the BesAdmin account does not have Send As rights on my James Liddiard user account. Once I verify my permissions, re-running the test indicates that all test have passed successfully:
General Troubleshooting
Should you be unsure as to whether the server running the BES server meets the requirements of the software, or has all the components necessary for integration with Exchange, you can run the BlackBerry System Requirements Tool, part of the BlackBerry Enterprise Server Resource Kit:
This information will be required by Technical Support should you wish to escalate an issue.
The BlackBerry Enterprise Server Resource Kit (BRK) can be downloaded free of charge from the BlackBerry web site.
Upgrading a BES 5.0.2 MSDE installation to BES 5.0.3
With the release of BlackBerry Enterprise Server 5 Service Pack 3 (5.0.3), RIM have dropped support for the Microsoft SQL Desktop Engine (MSDE).
If you have upgraded a previous version 4.x BlackBerry server to version 5.x and wish to upgrade to 5.0.3, you will receive an error message stating that you do not have a supported database platform and the upgrade will not proceed any further.
The MSDE installation must be upgraded to SQL Server 2005 Express or later in order to install BES 5.0.3
In this article I shall run through how I installed SQL Server Express 2008 in order to upgrade from BES 5.0.2 and MSDE to BES 5.0.3 - note this is not an official RIM solution.
Stop and disable all BlackBerry services
Open the Service Control Manager (Start --> Run --> "services.msc").
Stop all running BlackBerry services.
Edit the properties of all BlackBerry services that have a Startup Type of "Automatic", and set them to "Disabled".
Download and install SQL Server Express 2008
NOTE - you will also need to download and install Windows Installer 4.5 in order to run the SQL installer.
Install a new SQL instance rather than upgrading the existing installation. Select the option to install the management tools (selected by default).
Backup the BESMgmt Database
Open the SQL Management Studio and connect to the MSDE instance (normally the servername).
Take a full backup of the BESMgmt database to a file location.
If you receive an error that the file is in use, stop the running MSDE instance.
Restore the BESMgmt Database
Still within the SQL Management Studio, disconnect from the MSDE instance and connect to the SQL 2008 instance (normally servername\sqlexpress)
Right click on Databases and select the option to Restore Database.
Enter a name for the new database, such as BESMgmt2
Select the option to restore from Device, and add the backup file you created earlier.
Ensure the restore operation completes successfully and then close the SQL Management Studio.
Enable SQL TCP/IP connectivity
Open the SQL Configuration Manager. Browse to SQL Server Network Configuration --> Protocols for SQLExpress.
Right click on TCP/IP and Enable it.
Close the SQL Configuration Manager.
Stop the MSDE instance from running at startup.
Reboot the server.
Re-enable BlackBerry services
Open the Service Control Manager and change the Startup type for all BlackBerry services we disabled earlier back to Automatic. Do not start the services at this time.
Install BES 5.0.3
Start the MSDE SQL instance.
Now launch the BES 5.0.3 installer.
Set the database server to the SQL 2008 instance (servername\sqlexpress)
Set the name of the configuration database to the database you created earlier from the backup.
Set the Port configuration to "Dynamic"
The installation will now proceed.
BlackBerry Enterprise Server Express
Activating BlackBerries remotely via BlackBerry Web Desktop with BES Express
The BES Express 5.0.1 product includes the same BlackBerry Web Desktop feature included with the full BES product, enabling users to manage their own handhelds, backup and restore data as well as configure message filters.
So what? Whilst the BES Express product does enable client devices to enjoy push email and PIM data synchronisation functionality on a BIS (BlackBerry Internet Service) tariff, unless you have the more expensive BES (BlackBerry Enterprise Server) tariff, it is not possible to activate devices wirelessly using the Enterprise Activation feature. (http://blog.brightpointuk.co.uk/how-does-bes-wireless-activation-process...).
This means that whilst it isn't possible for users to be remotely activated against a BES Express deployment over the air if they are on the cheaper BIS tariff, they can activate their devices remotely via their web browser by connecting their BlackBerry device to their PC via the supplied USB cable.
System Requirements
The BlackBerry Web Desktop is a web application hosted on the BES Express server itself by default, depending on the options you selected during the installation.
By default, any device can be activated by a user using the Web Desktop "wireline" activation feature. This behaviour is configured within the properties of the Administration Service component:
In order to access the site externally, TCP port 3443 must be open to the BES Express server, or the server hosting the BlackBerry Administration Service, on all firewalls between it and the Internet. If an alternate port was specified during the installation of the BES Express software, this port must be opened instead.
Client Access
The Web Desktop is accessed via https://(bes_express_server):3443/webdesktop/login
As with the Administration Service, it can be accessed either via Active Directory or BlackBerry authentication mechanisms.
The web site itself is only accessible from Internet Explorer 6 or later, as Microsoft ActiveX components are required to enable device connectivity. When logging in for the first time, you will be prompted to install this component:
In order for the installation to be successful, the Web Desktop address should be added to the Trusted Sites security zone within the Internet Explorer options:
If the device communication components were not successfully installed you will receive notification that further setup is still required:
Add the site to the Trusted Sites and refresh the browser window, you will then be prompted to install the component:
This component can be optionally installed on all PCs in a domain automatically via Group Policy if desired, read the Administrator Guide for more information, available in the File Library and the FTP site.
If Active Directory authentication is enabled, any AD users can theoretically access the site, but if not added to the BES as a user, they will not be able to access any BES-related functionality:
Once the device components have been installed, provided that the user is enabled for BlackBerry service, they will be prompted to connect their device to their PC:
Once connected, the new hardware will be detected automatically:
The device will then be associated with the user automatically:
And the PIN number will be displayed:
If a BlackBerry handheld is already associated with the user account, the option of switching to their new device will be given:
The activation process is now complete.
For more information on the functionality available in the Web Desktop application, read this article - http://blog.brightpointuk.co.uk/bes-50-web-desktop-manager
Announcing BlackBerry Enterprise Server Express!
At the GSM Mobile World Congress in Barcelona RIM have announced an all-new flavour of BES Express (aka BlackBerry Professional Software).
Until now BPS has offered a streamlined version of the full BlackBerry Enterprise Server product, free to download and install for a single user, with additional user licenses (CALs) needing to be purchased, up to a maximum of 30 users (beyond which you'd need to upgrade to a full BES).
BPS is also yet to be upgraded to offer the features supported by handsets running version 5.0 of the device software.
BPS also required that users have the BES service enabled on their SIM card.
All that has now changed.
BES Express is now* still free to download....but all CALs are FREE....and there is NO LIMIT on how many CALs you may have.
The big news is that BES Express will work on the BIS tariff (BlackBerry Internet Service) - meaning that companies can now enjoy Exchange-based push email delivery on BlackBerry handhelds for approximately £5-£8 per user per month rather than the £25 a BES tariff requires...the cost of which may have been a barrier to adopting a BlackBerry solution previously.
This is a logical decision when you consider that Microsoft's Exchange ActiveSync protocol is effectively free (and can be used on Windows Mobile, Symbian, iPhone and Android devices), and to use BlackBerry with Exchange...you need to have an Exchange Server anyway.
With BPS, RIM provided a solution for the SoHo market, but there was no proportional upgrade from the 30-user business to, say, the 50-user business: once you reached the BPS cap of 30 users, to have 31 users you had no choice but to upgrade to a full BES - but not everyone needs the sheer wealth of features full BES offers in terms of device management and integration with third-party back-end Line Of Business (LOB) services, etc. BES Express addresses this gap in the market.
BES Express can be installed directly onto an Exchange or SBS server. RIM state a recommended maximum of 75 users on an Exchange-based BES Express installation before you start to consider using dedicated hardware. I will be providing setup guides very shortly.
* I say "now": BES Express won't be available for download until 1st March.
So the upshot of all this is that BlackBerry functionality is now effectively a free bolt-on to Exchange. There are some caveats however...
- The software will only work with Exchange 2003 or later (no Exchange 2000 support, and no support for Domino or Groupwise)
- There will be no over the air enterprise activation functionality (when used with the BIS tariff on client devices)
- There will be no instant messaging integration with OCS or Lotus SameTime (you’ll need full BES for this)
- The IT policy will be a limited set of 35 features (not the 450 policies available in full BES)
- BES Express cannot be installed in a High Availability deployment
- BES Express will not feature the MDS Integration Service, so it will not be possible to integrate with third party back-end systems (you can’t do this with BPS either, you need full BES)
- The BlackBerry Monitoring Service will not be available
- The web administration service will have 6 pre-defined administrative roles, which cannot be customised
The main news to take away is that the software will be free, client licenses will be free and unlimited, and it can be installed directly onto the Exchange server – so it is effectively a free add-on to Exchange that provides support for BlackBerry client devices (provided you have a BIS tariff on your SIM).
The bad news is that users of Exchange 2000 now have no mobility solution from RIM, and will have to upgrade their Exchange installation.
You can read more on the BlackBerry web site - http://na.blackberry.com/eng/services/business/server/express/
RIM have also released a comparison chart detailing the features available in all versions of the BES product- http://na.blackberry.com/eng/services/business/server/express/Comparison...
BlackBerry Enterprise Server Express Edition IT Policies
IT Policies
The following IT policies are available in the BlackBerry Enterprise Server Express edition:
-
Common
- Password required
- Minimum password length
- User can disable password
- Maximum security timeout
- Maximum password age
- User can change timeout
- Password pattern checks
- Allow SMS
- Allow MMS
-
Password
- Set password timeout
- Set maximum password attempts
- Suppress password echo
- Maximum password history
- Forbidden passwords
-
Email Messaging
- Maximum native attachment size
- Maximum native total attachment size
- Allow auto attachment download
- Disable rich content email
- Disable manual download of external images
- Confirm external image download
-
Security
- Disallow third party application downloads
- Force lock when holstered
- Content protection strength
- Disable IP Modem
- Disable external memory
- External file system encryption level
- Require password pattern
- Encryption of on-board device memory media files
-
S/MIME Application
- S/MIME force encrypted messages
- S/MIME allowed content ciphers
-
Bluetooth
- Disable Bluetooth
-
VoIP
- SIP User ID
- SIP User password
- SIP User display name
-
VPN
- VPN Username
- VPN User password
-
WiFi
- Disable WiFi
-
Camera
- Disable photo camera
- Disable video camera
-
Wireless software upgrades
- Disallow patch download over roaming WAN
- Allow web-based software loading
- Cryptographic services backup
BlackBerry Enterprise Server Express [Video]
BlackBerry® Enterprise Server Express wirelessly synchronises your in-house Microsoft® Exchange or IBM® Lotus® Domino® email and personal information management features (like tasks, notes and calendar) with BlackBerry® smartphones. And best of all, at a price you can afford...it's free.
Visit www.blackberry.com/express to learn more!
Installing BlackBerry Enterprise Server Express for Exchange 2003
The BlackBerry Enterprise Server Express Edition offers businesses the ability to enable their staff to use BlackBerry devices to receive push-based email from an existing Microsoft Exchange installation - both standalone Exchange servers and the Microsoft Small Business Server product.
A free download from the BlackBerry web site, the solution is not limited to any set number of users and requires only that users have a BlackBerry data tariff on their SIM card with their network operator.
A 10,000 user CAL is supplied with the download by default:
Features
BES Express is based on the full BES 5.0.1 MR1 product code, and as such offers much (but not all) of the same functionality:
- Web-based administration
- 6 pre-defined administrative roles
- BlackBerry Web Desktop
- Over 35 IT policies for device management (see below), including device wipe
- HTML email support
- Flag emails for follow-up
- Mail folder management
- Remote email search
- Set out of office status and message
- Forward calendar appointments
- Open attachments in calendar appointments
- Free / Busy lookup
- Remote file access
- Support for audio (AWE, WAV, MP3, WMA) files
The following features are NOT available in BES Express:
- Cradle-less enterprise activation (when used with the BIS tariff on client devices)
- Ability to define multiple administrative roles
- BlackBerry Monitoring Service
- BlackBerry Enterprise Transporter Tool
- High Availability deployment options
- Support for BlackBerry Mobile Voice System (MVS)
- Support for enterprise instant messaging and social networking integration
At the time of writing, BES Express is only available in English.
BES Express is not compatible with Lotus Domino or Novell Groupwise installations.
System Requirements
Operating System
- Windows Server 2003 SP2 (32-bit or 64-bit)
- Windows Server 2003 R2 SP2 (32-bit or 4-bit)
- Windows Server 2008 SP2 (32-bit or 64-bit)
- Windows Small Business Server 2003
- Windows Small Business Server 2008
Microsoft Exchange Messaging Server
- Microsoft Exchange 2003 SP2
- Microsoft Exchange 2007 SP1
- Microsoft Exchange 2010 including Update Rollup 1
Microsoft Exchange System Tools
- (Exchange 2003) Microsoft Exchange 2003 SP2 System Manager or MAPI client and CDO 1.2.1 version 6.5.8039.0 or later
- (Exchange 2007) MAPI client and CDO 1.2.1 version 6.5.8067.0 or later
- (Exchange 2010) MAPI client and CDO 1.2.1 version 6.5.8146.0 or later
The following hotfix is required on the Microsoft Exchange 2003 server to provide Unicode support for calendars (ie Simplified Chinese and Japanese language characters) - http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=913643
If using Exchange 2003, the following update is also required on the BES server to resolve a known issue with certain Chinese language characters - http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=923537
Hardware
-
(Up to 200 users)
- Single processor, 2.0GHz Intel Xeon (2 processors recommended)
- 2GB memory
- 2 HDDs, RAID 1
(Up to 500 users)
- Two processors, 2.0GHz Intel Xeon
- 2GB memory
- 2 HDDs, RAID 1
(Up to 1000 users)
- Two processors, 2.0GHz Intel Xeon
- 3GB memory
- 2 HDDs, RAID 1
Database
Any of the following database management systems are supported:
- MSDE 2000 SP3
- Microsoft SQL Server 2005 SP3 (32-bit or 64-bit)
- Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Express Edition SP3
- Microsoft SQL Server 2008 SP1 (32-bit or 64-bit)
- Microsoft SQL Server 2008 Express Edition SP1 (32-bit or 64-bit)
If using a database system earlier than SQL 2005 SP3, the following hotfix should be installed on the database server - http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=960082
Miscellaneous
In order to provide support for audio attachments, Windows Media Player 9 or later is required on the BES.
Internet Explorer 6 or later is required to access the web administration console.
Firewall
The BES requires outbound-initiated, bi-directional access to the Internet on TCP port 3101 as well as access to DNS.
RIM recommend operating up to a maximum of 75 users if the BES Express software is being installed directly onto the Exchange server itself. On a standalone server, BES Express can support up to 2,000 users. Multiple BES Express servers can be deployed in the same BlackBerry domain.
Preparing an Exchange 2003 environment
NOTE - this article assumes an Exchange 2003 installation, visit the BES Express section for articles on installing the solution against Exchange 2007 or 2010 (http://blog.brightpointuk.co.uk/blackberry-enterprise-server-express)
If installing the BES Express software on the Exchange server itself, the Exchange server should NOT itself also be a domain controller. This does not apply to the Small Business Server 2003 product, but if a dedicated server is available as an option, this should be considered for scalability.
Create a domain user account called BesAdmin
On the Exchange server, in the Active Directory Users and Computers console, create a domain user called "BesAdmin" and assign it an Exchange mailbox. Set the user account password to never expire.
Send an email to the BesAdmin user to initialise the Exchange mailbox.
Assign the BesAdmin user local administrative rights
On the server that is to host the BES Express, make the BesAdmin domain user a member of the local administrator group. NOTE - the BES Express server will first need to have been added to the Domain if not done already.
To do this, on the BES Express server, right click on the icon for My Computer and select Manage. Browse to Local Users and Groups --> Groups --> Administrators and add the BesAdmin user:
Assign the BesAdmin user "log on as a service" rights
On the BES Express server, also assign the BesAdmin domain user account "log on as a service" rights. To do this, select Administrative Tools --> Local Security Policy --> User Rights Assignment --> Log on as a service and add the BesAdmin user:
Assign Exchange View-Only Administrator rights to the BesAdmin user
On the Exchange server, make the BesAdmin user an Exchange View-Only administrator. Launch the Exchange System Manager and browse to Administrative Groups. Right click on the Administrative Group that the BesAdmin user is to have access to and select Delegate Control:
If you don't see the Administrative Groups displayed, right click on the Domain and select properties. Select the option to display Administrative Groups:
Close the Exchange System Manager and re-launch it. Add the BesAdmin user as an Exchange View-Only Administrator in the Delegate Control wizard:
Assign "Send As", "Receive As" and "Administer Information Store" rights to the BesAdmin user
Within the Exchange System Manager, right click on the entry for the Exchange server and select Properties. Click on the Security tab.
Add the BesAdmin user and tick the options to allow "Send As", "Receive As" and "Administer Information Store" rights to the user:
Assign "Send As" rights on the domain to the BesAdmin user
Within the Active Directory Users and Computers console, open the View menu and select the option to display Advanced Features.
Right click on the domain and select Properties. Click on the Security tab:
Click on the Advanced button:
Click on Add and type in the name of the BesAdmin user:
Select the option to Apply Onto User Objects.
Scroll down to the bottom and tick the option to enable Send As rights:
To force all of the above changes to take effect on the domain, it may be worth running a group policy update. On the Exchange server click Start --> Run and issue the command "gpupdate /force"
Install the Exchange MAPI CDO 1.2.1 package / Exchange System Manager
NOTE this step is only required if the BES Express software is being installed onto a server other than the Exchange server. If the Exchange server itself is being used to host the BES Express software, then all of the required MAPI components are already present.
If installing BES Express on a separate server, then a form of MAPI is required to enable Exchange connectivity. There are two choices when installing BES Express for use with Exchange 2003: the Exchange Management Tools (the Exchange System Manager) can be installed from the Exchange 2003 installation media and then brought up to the same service pack level as the Exchange 2003 server; or alternatively the Microsoft Exchange MAPI CDO 1.2.1 package can be installed for a 'lighter-weight' installation.
In this article I shall use the MAPI CDO package - this is available for download from our FTP site HERE (Exchange 2003 / 2007).
Run the installer and accept the license agreement:
Now you're ready to install the BES Express software.
NOTE - if you do choose to install the Exchange System Manager on the BES Express server then there are further configuration steps required.
The Exchange System Manager does not include the CDO.dll system file required for calendar access, this file must be copied to the BES Express server from the Exchange server.
By default this file will be located on the Exchange server in the "C:\Program Files\Exchsvr\Bin" directory. Copy the file to the "C:\Windows\System32" directory on the BES Express server.
Once copied across, register the CDL.dll file by launching the command prompt. Change to the C:\Windows\System32 directory and issue the following command:
regsvr32 cdo.dll
If successful, the following window will be displayed:
Installing the BlackBerry Enterprise Server Express software
LOG INTO THE BES EXPRESS SERVER AS THE BESADMIN USER!
Launch the BES Express installer, you will be prompted to confirm that you are indeed logged in as the correct user:
Click Continue Installation:
Choose your country and read the license agreement. Select the option to accept if you agree to the terms and conditions:
Select the option to Create a BlackBerry Configuration Database:
Select the option to install a BlackBerry Enterprise Server:
Verify that all pre-requisite checks are completed successfully, paying attention to any warnings or failures:
In this article I am allowing the BES Express installer to install a local copy of SQL Server Express, if you intend to use a dedicated SQL Server, select this option and enter the details of the server address:
Enter the password for the BesAdmin account and enter in a name for the BES Express server: this name can be a 'friendly' one and is used to identify it in the Web Administration interface:
If you are warned that the server does not have sufficient free disk space available, free up some space before continuing:
A summary of the installation options will be displayed:
Click Install, the required components will now be installed, this process may take a while. When complete you will be prompted to reboot the server:
Click Yes. Once rebooted, log back in as the BesAdmin user. The installation will resume automatically:
Enter a name for the Configuration Database - this should ideally be left at the default unless specifically required. Click Next:
You will be prompted to create the database, click Yes:
When created, click OK:
Enter in the 10,000-user CAL, SRP key and SRP authentification key you were supplied along with the BES Express download. Verify connectivity to the RIM Relay on TCP port 3101. Click Next:
The MAPI connection settings will now be required, enter in the name of the Exchange server as well as the BesAdmin user account mailbox. Click OK:
Enter in the name you wish to use for the Administration web site. Again this should be left at the default if you are unsure as to what this means. Any name you choose should be resolvable via DNS if not using the default option.
Enter in a password for the SSL certificate - this is generated automatically by the installer and assigned to the Apache-based administration web site (the site does not run within IIS). The certificate is generated based on the name entered.
By default the administration web site runs on port 3443 - this can be altered if desired but again leave this value at the default unless specifically required. Click Next:
Enter in the details of the BesAdmin user account again and click Next:
Specify whether you wish access to the administration web site to be authenticated based on Active Directory credentials, or whether you want to use the built-in BlackBerry Administration Service authentication. If you select the second option, enter in a password for the default admin account.
NOTE - if you select BlackBerry Administration Service authentication, the default admin username is "ADMIN", NOT "BESADMIN".
Click Next:
Select the option to Start Services and verify that all services start successfully:
Click Next:
You will be reminded what the address is to access the administration web site. Click Finish.
The software is now installed and ready to use. To access the web administration site, a link will have been added to the Programs folder on the Start menu:
Selecting the link will launch the default browser on the server (which needs to be Internet Explorer 6 or later):
Log in ether as the BesAdmin user (using Windows authentication) or as the Admin user (using BlackBerry authentication):
Add the web site to the Trusted Sites group in the Internet Explorer security options area:
And add the web site certificate to the trusted certificate authority folder:
Adding Users
In the Administration web site, select the option to Create a user:
Selecting Search will display a list of all available users:
Tick the user(s) you want to add and click Continue:
Select the BES Server the users should be added to (you'll only have one option) and click Next. The users will now be added to the BES Server.
To associate a device to a user, the BlackBerry handheld itself can be connected directly to the BES Express server via USB. In the Administration web site browse to Devices --> Attached Devices --> Overview:
When the device is connected, its PIN details will be displayed:
Select the option to Assign current device to a user. Select the user you want to associate the device with:
The device will now be associated to the user and will automatically activate itself and begin to download user mailbox data.
Troubleshooting
If you encounter any problems adding or activating users, first verify that all BlackBerry services have started and are running correctly:
Exchange Permissions
The commonest cause of problems when troubleshooting issues with a BES installation is that the correct permissions have not been assigned to the BesAdmin user on the domain and the Exchange server as detailed above.
Included with the BES Express software is a utility called "IEMSTEST" which can verify the BesAdmin user's access to specific user mailboxes.
The utility lives in the C:\Program Files\Research In Motion\BlackBerry Enterprise Server\Utility folder and needs to be run at the command line:
Select the BlackBerryServer MAPI profile when prompted:
Select the user account you wish to query:
The permissions will be tested:
As you can see from the above screenshot this test has indicated that the BesAdmin account does not have Send As rights on my James Liddiard user account. Once I verify my permissions, re-running the test indicates that all test have passed successfully:
Installing BlackBerry Enterprise Server Express for Exchange 2007
The BlackBerry Enterprise Server Express Edition offers businesses the ability to enable their staff to use BlackBerry devices to receive push-based email from an existing Microsoft Exchange installation - both standalone Exchange servers and the Microsoft Small Business Server product.
A free download from the BlackBerry web site, the solution is not limited to any set number of users and requires only that users have a BlackBerry data tariff on their SIM card with their network operator.
A 10,000 user CAL is supplied with the download by default:
Features
BES Express is based on the full BES 5.0.1 MR1 product code, and as such offers much (but not all) of the same functionality:
- Web-based administration
- 6 pre-defined administrative roles
- BlackBerry Web Desktop
- Over 35 IT policies for device management (see below), including device wipe
- HTML email support
- Flag emails for follow-up
- Mail folder management
- Remote email search
- Set out of office status and message
- Forward calendar appointments
- Open attachments in calendar appointments
- Free / Busy lookup
- Remote file access
- Support for audio (AWE, WAV, MP3, WMA) files
The following features are NOT available in BES Express:
- Cradle-less enterprise activation (when used with the BIS tariff on client devices)
- Ability to define multiple administrative roles
- BlackBerry Monitoring Service
- BlackBerry Enterprise Transporter Tool
- High Availability deployment options
- Support for BlackBerry Mobile Voice System (MVS)
- Support for enterprise instant messaging and social networking integration
At the time of writing, BES Express is only available in English.
BES Express is not compatible with Lotus Domino or Novell Groupwise installations.
System Requirements
Operating System
- Windows Server 2003 SP2 (32-bit or 64-bit)
- Windows Server 2003 R2 SP2 (32-bit or 4-bit)
- Windows Server 2008 SP2 (32-bit or 64-bit)
- Windows Small Business Server 2003
- Windows Small Business Server 2008
Microsoft Exchange Messaging Server
- Microsoft Exchange 2003 SP2
- Microsoft Exchange 2007 SP1
- Microsoft Exchange 2010 including Update Rollup 1
Microsoft Exchange System Tools
- (Exchange 2003) Microsoft Exchange 2003 SP2 System Manager or MAPI client and CDO 1.2.1 version 6.5.8039.0 or later
- (Exchange 2007) MAPI client and CDO 1.2.1 version 6.5.8067.0 or later
- (Exchange 2010) MAPI client and CDO 1.2.1 version 6.5.8146.0 or later
Hardware
-
(Up to 200 users)
- Single processor, 2.0GHz Intel Xeon (2 processors recommended)
- 2GB memory
- 2 HDDs, RAID 1
(Up to 500 users)
- Two processors, 2.0GHz Intel Xeon
- 2GB memory
- 2 HDDs, RAID 1
(Up to 1000 users)
- Two processors, 2.0GHz Intel Xeon
- 3GB memory
- 2 HDDs, RAID 1
Database
Any of the following database management systems are supported:
- MSDE 2000 SP3
- Microsoft SQL Server 2005 SP3 (32-bit or 64-bit)
- Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Express Edition SP3
- Microsoft SQL Server 2008 SP1 (32-bit or 64-bit)
- Microsoft SQL Server 2008 Express Edition SP1 (32-bit or 64-bit)
If using a database system earlier than SQL 2005 SP3, the following hotfix should be installed on the database server - http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=960082
Miscellaneous
In order to provide support for audio attachments, Windows Media Player 9 or later is required on the BES.
Internet Explorer 6 or later is required to access the web administration console.
Firewall
The BES requires outbound-initiated, bi-directional access to the Internet on TCP port 3101 as well as access to DNS.
RIM recommend operating up to a maximum of 75 users if the BES Express software is being installed directly onto the Exchange server itself. On a standalone server, BES Express can support up to 2,000 users. Multiple BES Express servers can be deployed in the same BlackBerry domain.
Preparing an Exchange 2007 environment
NOTE - this article assumes an Exchange 2007 installation. Visit the BES Express section of the blog for articles on installing the solution against Exchange 2003 or 2010.
If installing the BES Express software on the Exchange server itself, the Exchange server should NOT itself also be a domain controller. This does not apply to the Small Business Server 2008 product, but if a dedicated server is available as an option, this should be considered for scalability.
Create a domain user account called BesAdmin
On the Exchange server, in the Active Directory Users and Computers console, create a domain user called "BesAdmin" and assign it an Exchange mailbox. Set the user account password to never expire.
Send an email to the BesAdmin user to initialise the Exchange mailbox.
Assign the BesAdmin user local administrative rights
On the server that is to host the BES Express, make the BesAdmin domain user a member of the local administrator group. NOTE - the BES Express server will first need to have been added to the Domain if not done already.
To do this, on the BES Express server, right click on the icon for My Computer and select Manage. Browse to Local Users and Groups --> Groups --> Administrators and add the BesAdmin user:
Assign the BesAdmin user "log on as a service" rights
On the BES Express server, also assign the BesAdmin domain user account "log on as a service" rights. To do this, select Administrative Tools --> Local Security Policy --> User Rights Assignment --> Log on as a service and add the BesAdmin user:
Assign Exchange View-Only Administrator rights to the BesAdmin user
On the Exchange server, launch the Exchange PowerShell and issue the following command:
add-exchangeadministrator "BesAdmin" -role ViewOnlyAdmin
Assign "Receive As" and "Administer Information Store" rights to the BesAdmin user
Within the Exchange Powershell, now issue the following command:
get-mailboxserver "exchange.domain.com" | add-adpermission -user "BesAdmin" -accessrights ExtendedRight -extendedrights Receive-As, ms-Exch-Store-Admin
Assign "Send As" rights on the domain to the BesAdmin user
Within the Active Directory Users and Computers console, open the View menu and select the option to display Advanced Features.
Right click on the domain and select Properties. Click on the Security tab:
Click on the Advanced button:
Click on Add and type in the name of the BesAdmin user:
Select the option to Apply Onto User Objects.
Scroll down to the bottom and tick the option to enable Send As rights:
To force all of the above changes to take effect on the domain, it may be worth running a group policy update. On the Exchange server click Start --> Run and issue the command "gpupdate /force"
Install the Exchange MAPI CDO 1.2.1 package
The Microsoft Exchange MAPI CDO 1.2.1 package must be installed to provide the BesAdmin user a MAPI connection to Exchange mailboxes as well as access to calendaring information. This package is available for download from our FTP site HERE (Exchange 2003 / 2007).
Run the installer and accept the license agreement:
Now you're ready to install the BES Express software.
Installing the BlackBerry Enterprise Server Express software
LOG INTO THE BES EXPRESS SERVER AS THE BESADMIN USER!
Launch the BES Express installer, you will be prompted to confirm that you are indeed logged in as the correct user:
Click Continue Installation:
Choose your country and read the license agreement. Select the option to accept if you agree to the terms and conditions:
Select the option to Create a BlackBerry Configuration Database:
Select the option to install a BlackBerry Enterprise Server:
Verify that all pre-requisite checks are completed successfully, paying attention to any warnings or failures:
In this article I am allowing the BES Express installer to install a local copy of SQL Server Express, if you intend to use a dedicated SQL Server, select this option and enter the details of the server address:
Enter the password for the BesAdmin account and enter in a name for the BES Express server: this name can be a 'friendly' one and is used to identify it in the Web Administration interface:
If you are warned that the server does not have sufficient free disk space available, free up some space before continuing:
A summary of the installation options will be displayed:
Click Install, the required components will now be installed, this process may take a while. When complete you will be prompted to reboot the server:
Click Yes. Once rebooted, log back in as the BesAdmin user. The installation will resume automatically:
Enter a name for the Configuration Database - this should ideally be left at the default unless specifically required. Click Next:
You will be prompted to create the database, click Yes:
When created, click OK:
Enter in the 10,000-user CAL, SRP key and SRP authentification key you were supplied along with the BES Express download. Verify connectivity to the RIM Relay on TCP port 3101. Click Next:
The MAPI connection settings will now be required, enter in the name of the Exchange server as well as the BesAdmin user account mailbox. Click OK:
Enter in the name you wish to use for the Administration web site. Again this should be left at the default if you are unsure as to what this means. Any name you choose should be resolvable via DNS if not using the default option.
Enter in a password for the SSL certificate - this is generated automatically by the installer and assigned to the Apache-based administration web site (the site does not run within IIS). The certificate is generated based on the name entered.
By default the administration web site runs on port 3443 - this can be altered if desired but again leave this value at the default unless specifically required. Click Next:
Enter in the details of the BesAdmin user account again and click Next:
Specify whether you wish access to the administration web site to be authenticated based on Active Directory credentials, or whether you want to use the built-in BlackBerry Administration Service authentication. If you select the second option, enter in a password for the default admin account.
NOTE - if you select BlackBerry Administration Service authentication, the default admin username is "ADMIN", NOT "BESADMIN".
Click Next:
Select the option to Start Services and verify that all services start successfully:
Click Next:
You will be reminded what the address is to access the administration web site. Click Finish.
The software is now installed and ready to use. To access the web administration site, a link will have been added to the Programs folder on the Start menu:
Selecting the link will launch the default browser on the server (which needs to be Internet Explorer 6 or later):
Log in ether as the BesAdmin user (using Windows authentication) or as the Admin user (using BlackBerry authentication):
Add the web site to the Trusted Sites group in the Internet Explorer security options area:
And add the web site certificate to the trusted certificate authority folder:
Adding Users
In the Administration web site, select the option to Create a user:
Selecting Search will display a list of all available users:
Tick the user(s) you want to add and click Continue:
Select the BES Server the users should be added to (you'll only have one option) and click Next. The users will now be added to the BES Server.
To associate a device to a user, the BlackBerry handheld itself can be connected directly to the BES Express server via USB. In the Administration web site browse to Devices --> Attached Devices --> Overview:
When the device is connected, its PIN details will be displayed:
Select the option to Assign current device to a user. Select the user you want to associate the device with:
The device will now be associated to the user and will automatically activate itself and begin to download user mailbox data.
Troubleshooting
If you encounter any problems adding or activating users, first verify that all BlackBerry services have started and are running correctly:
Exchange Permissions
The commonest cause of problems when troubleshooting issues with a BES installation is that the correct permissions have not been assigned to the BesAdmin user on the domain and the Exchange server as detailed above.
Included with the BES Express software is a utility called "IEMSTEST" which can verify the BesAdmin user's access to specific user mailboxes.
The utility lives in the C:\Program Files\Research In Motion\BlackBerry Enterprise Server\Utility folder and needs to be run at the command line:
Select the BlackBerryServer MAPI profile when prompted:
Select the user account you wish to query:
The permissions will be tested:
As you can see from the above screenshot this test has indicated that the BesAdmin account does not have Send As rights on my James Liddiard user account. Once I verify my permissions, re-running the test indicates that all test have passed successfully:
Installing BlackBerry Enterprise Server Express for Exchange 2010
The BlackBerry Enterprise Server Express Edition offers businesses the ability to enable their staff to use BlackBerry devices to receive push-based email from an existing Microsoft Exchange installation - both standalone Exchange servers and the Microsoft Small Business Server product.
A free download from the BlackBerry web site, the solution is not limited to any set number of users and requires only that users have a BlackBerry data tariff on their SIM card with their network operator.
A 10,000 user CAL is supplied with the download by default:
Features
BES Express is based on the BES 5.0.1 MR1 code, and as such offers much (but not all) of the same functionality:
- Web-based administration
- 6 pre-defined administrative roles
- BlackBerry Web Desktop
- Over 35 IT policies for device management (see below), including device wipe
- HTML email support
- Flag emails for follow-up
- Mail folder management
- Remote email search
- Set out of office status and message
- Forward calendar appointments
- Open attachments in calendar appointments
- Free / Busy lookup
- Remote file access
- Support for audio (AWE, WAV, MP3, WMA) files
The following features are NOT available in BES Express:
- Cradle-less enterprise activation (when used with the BIS tariff on client devices)
- Ability to define multiple administrative roles
- BlackBerry Monitoring Service
- BlackBerry Enterprise Transporter Tool
- High Availability deployment options
- Support for BlackBerry Mobile Voice System (MVS)
- Support for enterprise instant messaging and social networking integration
At the time of writing, BES Express is only available in English.
BES Express is not compatible with Lotus Domino or Novell Groupwise installations.
System Requirements
Operating System
- Windows Server 2003 SP2 (32-bit or 64-bit)
- Windows Server 2003 R2 SP2 (32-bit or 4-bit)
- Windows Server 2008 SP2 (32-bit or 64-bit)
- Windows Small Business Server 2003
- Windows Small Business Server 2008
Microsoft Exchange Messaging Server
- Microsoft Exchange 2003 SP2
- Microsoft Exchange 2007 SP1
- Microsoft Exchange 2010 including Update Rollup 1
Microsoft Exchange System Tools
- (Exchange 2003) Microsoft Exchange 2003 SP2 System Manager or MAPI client and CDO 1.2.1 version 6.5.8039.0 or later
- (Exchange 2007) MAPI client and CDO 1.2.1 version 6.5.8067.0 or later
- (Exchange 2010) MAPI client and CDO 1.2.1 version 6.5.8146.0 or later
Hardware
-
(Up to 200 users)
- Single processor, 2.0GHz Intel Xeon (2 processors recommended)
- 2GB memory
- 2 HDDs, RAID 1
(Up to 500 users)
- Two processors, 2.0GHz Intel Xeon
- 2GB memory
- 2 HDDs, RAID 1
(Up to 1000 users)
- Two processors, 2.0GHz Intel Xeon
- 3GB memory
- 2 HDDs, RAID 1
Database
Any of the following database management systems are supported:
- MSDE 2000 SP3
- Microsoft SQL Server 2005 SP3 (32-bit or 64-bit)
- Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Express Edition SP3
- Microsoft SQL Server 2008 SP1 (32-bit or 64-bit)
- Microsoft SQL Server 2008 Express Edition SP1 (32-bit or 64-bit)
If using a database system earlier than SQL 2005 SP3, the following hotfix should be installed on the database server - http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=960082
Miscellaneous
In order to provide support for audio attachments, Windows Media Player 9 or later is required on the BES.
Internet Explorer 6 or later is required to access the web administration console.
Firewall
The BES requires outbound-initiated, bi-directional access to the Internet on TCP port 3101 as well as access to DNS.
RIM recommend operating up to a maximum of 75 users if the BES Express software is being installed directly onto the Exchange server itself. On a standalone server, BES Express can support up to 2,000 users. Multiple BES Express servers can be deployed in the same BlackBerry domain.
Preparing an Exchange 2010 environment
NOTE - this article assumes an Exchange 2010 installation only. Visit the BES Express section of the blog for details on installing the solution against Exchange 2003 or 2007.
Ensure that Exchange 2010 Update Rollup 1 is installed on the Exchange 2010 server. This package is available here - http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=371add31-d7a0-4...
If installing the BES Express software on the Exchange server itself, the Exchange server should NOT itself also be a domain controller.
Create a domain user account called BesAdmin
On the Exchange server, in the Active Directory Users and Computers console, create a domain user called "BesAdmin" and assign it an Exchange mailbox. Set the user account password to never expire.
Send an email to the BesAdmin user to initialise the Exchange mailbox.
Assign the BesAdmin user local administrative rights
On the server that is to host the BES Express, make the BesAdmin domain user a member of the local administrator group. NOTE - the BES Express server will first need to have been added to the Domain if not done already.
To do this, on the BES Express server, right click on the icon for My Computer and select Manage. Browse to Local Users and Groups --> Groups --> Administrators and add the BesAdmin user:
Assign the BesAdmin user "log on as a service" rights
On the BES Express server, also assign the BesAdmin domain user account "log on as a service" rights. To do this, select Administrative Tools --> Local Security Policy --> User Rights Assignment --> Log on as a service and add the BesAdmin user:
Assign "Receive As" and "Administer Information Store" rights to the BesAdmin user
On the Exchange server, launch the Exchange PowerShell and issue the following command:
Get-MailboxDatabase | Add-ADPermission -User "BesAdmin" -AccessRights ExtendedRight -ExtendedRights Receive-As, ms-Exch-Store-Admin
Assign Exchange View-Only Administrator rights to the BesAdmin user
Still within the Exchange PowerShell, now issue the following command:
Add-RoleGroupMember "View-Only Organization Management" -Member "BesAdmin"
Assign "Send As" rights on the domain to the BesAdmin user
Within the Active Directory Users and Computers console, open the View menu and select the option to display Advanced Features.
Right click on the domain and select Properties. Click on the Security tab:
Click on the Advanced button:
Click on Add and type in the name of the BesAdmin user:
Select the option to Apply Onto User Objects.
Scroll down to the bottom and tick the option to enable Send As rights:
For good measure, also enable Send As rights on the Exchange server itself within the Exchange PowerShell. Launch the console and issue the following command:
Add-ADPermission -InheritedObjectType User -InheritanceType Descendents -ExtendedRights Send-As -User "BesAdmin" -Identity "CN=Users,DC=domain,DC=com"
(where "domain" and "com" should be substituted for your specific domain details, eg: DC=brightpoint,DC=co,DC=uk and so on)
To force all of the above changes to take effect on the domain, it may be worth running a group policy update. On the Exchange server click Start --> Run and issue the command "gpupdate /force"
Turn off Exchange 2010 Client Throttling
Exchange 2010 uses client throttling by default to protect the Exchange server from excessive user demands. RIM recommend turning off this feature as it can have an adverse affect on the performance of the BES solution. This is done within the Exchange PowerShell console.
Launch the console and issue the following command to get the "Identity" of the default throttling policy"
Get-ThrottlingPolicy | Where-Object {$_.IsDefault -eq "True"} | FL Identitythe Identity will be displayed:
Now issue the following command:
Set-ThrottlingPolicy -RCAMaxConcurrency $null
You will be prompted to enter the Identity to apply the policy to, enter the result returned above:
Increase the maximum number of connections to the Exchange Address Book Service
On the Exchange Server (or specifically the Client Access Server in a multi-box deployment), browse to C:\Program Files\Microsoft\Exchange Server\V14\Bin and locate the file "microsoft.exchange.addressbook.service.exe.config" and open it in NotePad:
Locate the line "MaxSessionsPerUser":
Increase the value to 100000. Save the file then restart the Address Book Service:
Install the Exchange MAPI CDO 1.2.1 package
The Microsoft Exchange MAPI CDO 1.2.1 package must be installed to provide the BesAdmin user a MAPI connection to Exchange mailboxes as well as access to calendaring information. This package is available for download from our FTP site HERE (Exchange 2010 only).
Run the installer and accept the license agreement:
Now you're ready to install the BES Express software.
Installing the BlackBerry Enterprise Server Express software
LOG INTO THE BES EXPRESS SERVER AS THE BESADMIN USER!
Launch the BES Express installer, you will be prompted to confirm that you are indeed logged in as the correct user:
Click Continue Installation:
Choose your country and read the license agreement. Select the option to accept if you agree to the terms and conditions:
Select the option to Create a BlackBerry Configuration Database:
Select the option to install a BlackBerry Enterprise Server:
Verify that all pre-requisite checks are completed successfully, paying attention to any warnings or failures:
In this article I am allowing the BES Express installer to install a local copy of SQL Server Express, if you intend to use a dedicated SQL Server, select this option and enter the details of the server address:
Enter the password for the BesAdmin account and enter in a name for the BES Express server: this name can be a 'friendly' one and is used to identify it in the Web Administration interface:
If you are warned that the server does not have sufficient free disk space available, free up some space before continuing:
A summary of the installation options will be displayed:
Click Install, the required components will now be installed, this process may take a while. When complete you will be prompted to reboot the server:
Click Yes. Once rebooted, log back in as the BesAdmin user. The installation will resume automatically:
Enter a name for the Configuration Database - this should ideally be left at the default unless specifically required. Click Next:
You will be prompted to create the database, click Yes:
When created, click OK:
Enter in the 10,000-user CAL, SRP key and SRP authentification key you were supplied along with the BES Express download. Verify connectivity to the RIM Relay on TCP port 3101. Click Next:
The MAPI connection settings will now be required, enter in the name of the Exchange server as well as the BesAdmin user account mailbox. Click OK:
Enter in the name you wish to use for the Administration web site. Again this should be left at the default if you are unsure as to what this means. Any name you choose should be resolvable via DNS if not using the default option.
Enter in a password for the SSL certificate - this is generated automatically by the installer and assigned to the Apache-based administration web site (the site does not run within IIS). The certificate is generated based on the name entered.
By default the administration web site runs on port 3443 - this can be altered if desired but again leave this value at the default unless specifically required. Click Next:
Enter in the details of the BesAdmin user account again and click Next:
Specify whether you wish access to the administration web site to be authenticated based on Active Directory credentials, or whether you want to use the built-in BlackBerry Administration Service authentication. If you select the second option, enter in a password for the default admin account.
NOTE - if you select BlackBerry Administration Service authentication, the default admin username is "ADMIN", NOT "BESADMIN".
Click Next:
Select the option to Start Services and verify that all services start successfully:
Click Next:
You will be reminded what the address is to access the administration web site. Click Finish.
The software is now installed and ready to use. To access the web administration site, a link will have been added to the Programs folder on the Start menu:
Selecting the link will launch the default browser on the server (which needs to be Internet Explorer 6 or later):
Log in ether as the BesAdmin user (using Windows authentication) or as the Admin user (using BlackBerry authentication):
Add the web site to the Trusted Sites group in the Internet Explorer security options area:
And add the web site certificate to the trusted certificate authority folder:
Adding Users
In the Administration web site, select the option to Create a user:
Selecting Search will display a list of all available users:
Tick the user(s) you want to add and click Continue:
Select the BES Server the users should be added to (you'll only have one option) and click Next. The users will now be added to the BES Server.
To associate a device to a user, the BlackBerry handheld itself can be connected directly to the BES Express server via USB. In the Administration web site browse to Devices --> Attached Devices --> Overview:
When the device is connected, its PIN details will be displayed:
Select the option to Assign current device to a user. Select the user you want to associate the device with:
The device will now be associated to the user and will automatically activate itself and begin to download user mailbox data.
Troubleshooting
If you encounter any problems adding or activating users, first verify that all BlackBerry services have started and are running correctly:
Exchange Permissions
The commonest cause of problems when troubleshooting issues with a BES installation is that the correct permissions have not been assigned to the BesAdmin user on the domain and the Exchange server as detailed above.
Included with the BES Express software is a utility called "IEMSTEST" which can verify the BesAdmin user's access to specific user mailboxes.
The utility lives in the C:\Program Files\Research In Motion\BlackBerry Enterprise Server\Utility folder and needs to be run at the command line:
Select the BlackBerryServer MAPI profile when prompted:
Select the user account you wish to query:
The permissions will be tested:
As you can see from the above screenshot this test has indicated that the BesAdmin account does not have Send As rights on my James Liddiard user account. Once I verify my permissions, re-running the test indicates that all test have passed successfully:
Installing BlackBerry Enterprise Server Express for Lotus Domino
The BlackBerry Enterprise Server Express Edition offers businesses the ability to enable their staff to use BlackBerry devices to receive push-based email, contact and calendar data from an existing Lotus Domino installation, version 8.0.2 or later.
A free download from the BlackBerry web site, the solution is not limited to any set number of users and requires only that users have a BlackBerry data tariff on their SIM card with their network operator.
A 10,000 user CAL is supplied with the download by default.
Features
BES Express is based on the full BES 5.0.1 MR1 product code, and as such offers much (but not all) of the same functionality:
- Web-based administration
- 6 pre-defined administrative roles
- BlackBerry Web Desktop
- Over 35 IT policies for device management (see below), including device wipe
- HTML email support
- Flag emails for follow-up
- Mail folder management
- Remote email search
- Set out of office status and message
- Forward calendar appointments
- Open attachments in calendar appointments
- Free / Busy lookup
- Remote file access
- Support for audio (AWE, WAV, MP3, WMA) files
The following features are NOT available in BES Express:
- Cradle-less enterprise activation (when used with the BIS tariff on client devices)
- Ability to define multiple administrative roles
- BlackBerry Monitoring Service
- BlackBerry Enterprise Transporter Tool
- High Availability deployment options
- Support for BlackBerry Mobile Voice System (MVS)
- Support for enterprise instant messaging and social networking integration
System Requirements
Operating System
- Windows Server 2003 SP2 (32-bit or 64-bit)
- Windows Server 2003 R2 SP2 (32-bit or 4-bit)
- Windows Server 2008 SP2 (32-bit or 64-bit)
- Windows Server 2008 R2
IBM Lotus Domino environment
- IBM Lotus Domino 8.0.2 with a primary Domino directory
- IBM Lotus Domino 8.5.1 with a primary Domino directory
- IBM Lotus Domino 8.5.2 with a primary Domino directory
All Domino installations must be 32-bit even if they are running on a 64-bit operating system
Hardware
-
(Up to 200 users)
- Two processors, 2.0GHz Intel Xeon
- 3GB memory
- 2 HDDs, RAID 1
(Up to 500 users)
- Two processors, 2.8GHz Intel Xeon
- 3GB memory
- 2 HDDs, RAID 1+0
(Up to 1000 users)
- Single processor, 3.0 GHz or two processors, 1.6GHz Intel Xeon
- 4GB memory
- 4 HDDs, RAID 1+0
Database
Any of the following database management systems are supported:
- Microsoft SQL Server 2005 SP3 (32-bit or 64-bit)
- Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Express Edition SP3
- Microsoft SQL Server 2008 SP1 (32-bit or 64-bit)
- Microsoft SQL Server 2008 Express Edition SP1 (32-bit or 64-bit)
- Microsoft SQL Server 2008 R2 (32-bit or 64-bit)
Miscellaneous
In order to provide support for audio attachments, Windows Media Player 9 or later is required on the BES.
Internet Explorer 6 or later is required to access the web administration console.
Firewall
The BES requires outbound-initiated, bi-directional access to the Internet on TCP port 3101 as well as access to DNS.
Preparing a Lotus Domino environment
Prior to installing the BES Express software onto the Domino server, an administrative group must be created called "BlackBerry Admins" within the Domino Administrator console.
This group should contain the LocalDomainServers group as well as any other users that you may wish to grant administrative access to the BES.
Launch the Domino Administrator and browse to People & Groups --> Groups:
Select the option to Add Group and assign the following permissions:
- Name - BlackBerryAdmins
- Group Type - Access Control List Only
- Description - Users who can add, delete and change settings for BlackBerry device users
- Members - LocalDomainServers (and any other groups or users who might administer the BES)
Save group, which will now be listed:
Now browse to the Configuration tab and edit the Server Document. On the Basics tab edit the field named "Sign or run unrestricted methods and operations". Set the membership of the field to the LocalDomainServers group:
Your Domino environment is now prepared.
Installing the BlackBerry Enterprise Server Express software
Log into the server using an account with administrative rights on the server - the user account used to install the BES software is the account that the BlackBerry services will run as.
Launch the BES Express installer, you will be prompted to confirm your installation language:
Click OK, you will be prompted to confirm that you have logged in using a suitable user account:
Click Continue. If the Domino server is running, you will be prompted to stop it for the duration of the BES installation:
The installer will then launch:
Read the license agreement for your region and select the option to accept if you agree to the terms and conditions. Click Next:
Select the option to Create a configuration database. Click Next:
Select the components you wish to install and click Next:
Verify that all prerequisite checks pass and click Next:
Unless you are using a separate Microsoft SQL server, select the option to install SQL Server Express Edition locally. NOTE if you are using a separate SQL server, read the documentation for instructions on how to create and configure the database.
Click Next:
Enter in the password for the administrative user account and enter in a friendly name for the BES server to identify it. Click Next:
Verify your installation selections and click Install to begin the installation process.
This process may take a few minutes to complete depending on the spec of your hardware. Once complete, you will be prompted to restart the server:
Once rebooted, the installation process will resume automatically (there is no need to stop the Domino server at this stage if it has restarted automatically):
Click Next:
You will be prompted to create the configuration database, click Yes. Once complete, click OK:
The following screen will be displayed:
Enter in your CAL and SRP key information. You will have received these via email when you registered for the BES Express software download.
Verify that the server has outbound Internet access on TCP port 3101:
Click OK and then Next:
Enter in a name for the BlackBerry Administration Service web application pool as well as a password for the certificate that will be generated automatically. Click Next:
Enter in a password for the default BlackBerry Administration Service admin account, this will be used to log into the web administration console. Click Next:
Enter in the Fully Qualified Domain Name (FQDN) of the server. Click Next:
Click on the Start Services button and ensure that all services start successfully:
Click Next:
Click Finish. The BES Express software is now installed and running.
Launch the BlackBerry Administration Service from the start menu. NOTE Internet Explorer 6 or later is required:
Log in using the administrative password you specified earlier:
Select the option to Manage Users:
Locate the user you wish to add to the BES, or just click Search to display a list of all users.
Select the user you wish to add:
If you are activating devices wirelessly, you will require a SIM card with the BES tariff enabled on the account. It is not possible at the time of writing to perform a wireless enterprise activation with a BIS-only SIM. This does not apply to WiFi activations over the LAN.
Select the option to create the user with an activation password. This will enable you to manually specify a password, alternately you can have a password generated automatically which will be emailed to the user.
If you chose to enter a password manually, enter in the desired password. Click Create User. The user account has now been added to the BES:
The user can now activate their device. Once activated the device PIN will be listed in the administration console:
For details on how the wireless activation process works, and how to troubleshoot activation issues, read this article - http://blog.brightpointuk.co.uk/how-does-bes-wireless-activation-process...
It is also possible to activate devices via USB from PCs on the same local network as the BES server, using the BlackBerry Web Desktop feature. For more information on this, read this article - http://blog.brightpointuk.co.uk/activating-blackberries-remotely-blackbe...
To activate devices via WiFi, read this article - http://blog.brightpointuk.co.uk/activating-blackberries-wifi
Restricting access to the Internet with BlackBerry Enterprise Server Express
There are two ways in which web browsing from activated BlackBerry devices can be restricted:
- Implementation of a firewall or web proxy between the BES Express server and the Internet
- Usage of Pull Authorisation rules on the BES Express server
Firewall or web proxy deployment
As with the full BES solution, all web browsing from BlackBerry devices using the BlackBerry Browser is routed “through” the BES Express server once devices have been activated. Therefore any browsing restrictions that are applied to the BES Express server, either by a firewall or a proxy server, are automatically applied to all BlackBerry devices registered with it. Therefore it is a relatively straightforward process to restrict web browsing on user devices if an existing proxy or firewall is deployed already. If a proxy or firewall is deployed for user desktop machines, it is recommended to use this infrastructure for the BES Express server also to provide a single point of configuration and ensure consistency:
Proxy authentication can be defined in the Mobile Data Service (MDS) on the BES Express server:
Pull Authorisation Rules
Because all web browsing from client devices passes through the BES Express server, it is possible to create “allow” and “deny” rules, on a per user or per group basis, on the BES Express server itself.
To enable this feature on the BES Express server, within the Administration Console open the properties of the Mobile Data Service (MDS) instance and enable Pull Authorisation:
As soon as this feature is enabled, all web sites are now explicitly blocked on client devices:
To enable specific web sites, you must create a “Pull URL Pattern”. Multiple patterns can be defined and patterns can include wildcards:
Once defined, the URL must be assigned to an “Access Control Rule”, with an “allow” or “deny” action assigned to it:
Multiple rules can be created.
Once the Access Control Rule has been created, it must then be assigned to all target users within the properties of their user account on the BES Express server:
And the Mobile Data Service instance should then be restarted:
The new browsing policy will now be applied to all subscribed users.
Full details on this procedure is available on the BlackBerry Technical Support web site - http://btsc.webapps.blackberry.com/btsc/search.do?cmd=displayKC&docType=...
Synchronising email subfolders on BES 5 / BES Express
By default, when a user is added to the BES server only their Inbox and Sent Items folders will be synchronised. To enable the synchronisation of specific mailbox folders within the Administration web interface, do the following.
- Log into the Administration web site.
- Edit the properties of the target user.
- Scroll down and edit the Messaging Configuration setting:
- Click on the Email tab. Scroll down to the bottom and select the option to Edit User.
- Under the Redirection Settings section, change the option to Selected Folders and tick the folders you want to sync:
BlackBerry Internet Service
Setting up a new BlackBerry Internet Service (BIS) account
The BlackBerry Internet Service (BIS) is RIM's consumer-oriented platform which provides push-based email delivery from your own POP or IMAP-based account to your handheld, without the need for your own BlackBerry server deployed somewhere. It does not offer the device management functionality of the corporate product, the BlackBerry Enterprise Server (BES), but then you don't necessarily need it as a consumer.
In order to use the BIS service you will obviously need a BlackBerry device, and also have the BIS tariff enabled on your SIM card by your mobile operator.
In this article I am using Vodafone as the network operator, but the instructions are common to all operators that offer BIS. Al operators that do, will have a web site hosted by RIM accessible by users. To activate your new account, browse to the operator's BIS Portal. In the case of Vodafone UK, the site is accessible here - https://bis.eu.blackberry.com/html?brand=vodauk
Select the option to create a new account:
Read the terms and conditions and select the option to agree if you accept:
Enter the PIN number and IMEI number of your BlackBerry handheld. This information can be found on your device by browsing to Options --> Status.
Enter your desired username and password to access the BIS Portal in the future:
Enter in the email address of the account you wish to activate, as well as the password for that email account.
The setup wizard will now attempt to determine the correct connection settings to use automatically based on the email address entered. This process may work for commonly-used email accounts such as Hotmail or Gmail. If the wizard is not able to determine the settings to use the following will be displayed:
Select the option to enter the settings manually:
Select the type of email account you wish to configure. Personal email accounts would be POP or IMAP-based accounts along the lines of a Hotmail or a GoogleMail account. It may also apply to work accounts that only support POP or IMAP access, such as a Domino-based account (I appreciate that Domino does provide webmail access, but not for the purposes of this service it doesn't).
Selecting the option to set up a work account will present the following options:
If you have an Exchange server deployed that is configured to provide Outlook Web Access (or webmail - access to email via a web browser), select this option:
Enter in the webmail address of your Exchange server, the address you enter to access your email via your web browser. This is normally of the form:
Exchange 2003 - http(s)://mail.mydomain.com/exchange
Exchange 2007 - http(s)://mail.mydomain/owa
Complete your email address, username and password information. Your username and password will be the same details you use to log into your Windows PC. Your username will need to be in the form 'domain\username'. The domain to enter will be the contents of the 'Log Into' field when you log into your Windows PC.
Your mailbox name will usually be the same as your username. Provided that all the information has been entered correctly, and the Exchange server is accessible, the following will be displayed:
Your account has now been added successfully. In the Settings section you can adjust your default signature as well as whether or not to synchronise deleted items - ie when you delete an item on your device whether or not it gets deleted from the Exchange server.
Should you have selected the option to set up a personal email account, you will need to complete the following information:
The email server address will be the POP or IMAP server provided by your email service. If your account is already configured on your PC in OUtlook or Outlook Express you can retrieve the settings from here.
Filters can also be applied to incoming messages, specifying whether mails containing certain text, from certain senders or sent to certain recipients get forwarded to the handheld or not, or get sent flagged as urgent:
You can also change your password to access the BIS Portal:
In the event that the service stops responding, or you need to hard reset your device, it may be necessary to re-send the configuration details to the handheld. This can be done within the Help menu:
Click on the option to Send Service Books
This process may take up to 30 minutes to complete.
Synchronise your BlackBerry handheld with Microsoft Outlook
Whilst a BlackBerry handheld activated with a corporate BES server will receive contact and calendar data over the air from either an Exchange or a Domino server, devices used with the BlackBerry Internet Service (BIS) can only receive emails over the air, and must synchronise contact and calendar information locally with your PC via the BlackBerry Desktop Manager software, available for download free from the BlackBerry web site- http://na.blackberry.com/eng/services/desktop/
Once installed, launch the Desktop Manager and connect your BlackBerry handheld to your PC via the supplied USB cable. Windows will detect the new hardware automatically. Within the Desktop Manager application, select the Synchronise option:
The following window will be displayed:
Tick the option to Synchronise Organizer Data. In the left-hand navigation menu, select the option to Configure --> Synchronisation:
Click on the Synchronisation button:
Select the folders which you want to sync to the handheld. Selecting the Calendar folder will prompt you to specify the desktop application you want to synchronise with:
Select Microsoft Outlook and click Next:
Select the direction of synchronisation you want and click Next:
If you have more than one Outlook profile configured (be it Mum, Dad, James or Home, Work, Project) select the desired profile. If desired select a date range for calendar entry synchronisation. Click Next:
Click Finish. Repeat the same procedure for the Address Book and other PIM data folders:
Clicking on the Advanced options will allow you to specify specific Outlook folders if you have multiple configured and will also allow you to map specific Outlook contact fields to those on the handheld, should you want the Outlook 'Home' number to map to the 'Carphone' number on the handheld, for example:
Once you have configured synchronisation options, if you receive the following error message:
This would indicate that the handheld is configured for wireless synchronisation rather than desktop synchronisation. To adjust this, on the handheld itself open the Address Book application.
Press the menu button and select Options:
Select the Desktop Contacts List:
Set Wireless Synchronisation to No.
Do the same for the Calendar application:
You will now need to re-enable Address Book and Calendar synchronisation within the BlackBerryDesktop Manager application.
Initiating a synchronisation now will complete successfully:
BlackBerry Management Center - Free, easy to use, web-based [Video]
The BlackBerry® Management Center is a free, web-based service for small and medium sized businesses that need a simple and more efficient way to manage and protect BlackBerry® smartphones remotely. It's designed for use with hosted email providers and can support both company and employee owned devices. The intuitive interface requires little or no technical skills to use. Its remote, centralised management helps make set up and troubleshooting of employee email easy and can help protect lost or stolen devices. In addition, wireless backup and restore helps users get going quickly with new or replacement devices. All of these features come together to help provide the integrated experience of the BlackBerry solution.
BlackBerry Management Centre
The BlackBerry Management Centre from RIM is a free web-based tool for small businesses, professionals and even families, that provides the administrator with control over their users' BIS-enabled BlackBerry Smartphones: both company-owned and user-owned.
Geared to support up to 100 devices, the intuitive interface requires no technical skills to use and due to its centralised, hosted design means that it can be accessed from anywhere, making it easy to troubleshoot employee email setup issues and ensuring that sensitive information doesn't fall into the wrong hands in the event that devices are lost or stolen. In addition, with wireless backup and restore, users can get going quickly with new or replacement smartphones.
Allowing employees to use their own BlackBerry smartphones for business purposes helps keep them connected with the business tools they need, while staying in touch with the personal information they want. Users can receive assistance when they misplace their phone to help them track it down and ensure it is protected until they do so.
If a BlackBerry smartphone managed by the BlackBerry Management Centre is misplaced, an administrator can initiate a loud ring remotely to help the user find it. If a smartphone is lost, a message can be displayed on the smartphone screen providing instructions for its return. Or, if a smartphone is stolen, an administrator can send a command remotely to lock it or wipe information completely.
All of this functionality is available free of charge to businesses with no need for any additional hardware or software, helping to reduce support costs.
You can read more on the BlackBerry web site - http://us.blackberry.com/apps-software/business/managementcenter.jsp
Key Features
- Device management for mail services, including Gmail®, Yahoo!®, Hotmail®, AOL®, POP, IMAP, and Exchange Outlook Web Access
- Can include and integrate existing employee-owned BlackBerry smartphones
- Allows non-technical administrators to manage BlackBerry devices
- Reduces the need for outside technical assistance
- Central management of email for employees
- Can include BlackBerry® Protect™ features that help to ensure that your data is safe and that you can easily find your smartphone if misplaced – lock, wipe, loud ring and send a message
- Provides the ability to send a PIN or email message to all console users
Administration
Once you have signed up for your account on the Management Centre web site, you can log into your account by browsing to https://managementcenter.blackberry.com/Admin/landing.do
Users are added by entering their first and last names as well as their email address
An email is then sent to the address entered:
To activate their account, users must click on the link contained in the email and enter the details of their BlackBerry Smartphone:
A PIN message will then be sent to their Smartphone containing a code which they will be prompted to enter into the web site:
Once the code has been validated the user can also specify whether the device is personally-owned or company-owned, and can specify what settings they wish the service to be able to manage on their device:
The user's account is then added and visible in the administration interface:
Detailed information is available at a glance about the device being used, software versions, operator, and enabled email accounts:
Default email address and signature information can be edited via the interface. If using a supported account, such as GMail, synchronisation of other information besides email such as contacts and calendar can be enabled and disabled:
Email accounts can be removed via the interface.
New email accounts can also be enabled, including POP/IMAP accounts:
and Exchange email accounts:
If a user has enabled BlackBerry Protect on their device, options controlling the service are visible within the administration interface:
Allowing the administrator to trigger a device backup, to remotely lock the device and have a randomly generated password sent to the user via email
A message can be displayed on the device screen:
You can cause the device to emit a loud ring, and the device can be wiped completely:
View the User Guide attached for more information, or visit the BlackBerry web site - http://us.blackberry.com/apps-software/business/managementcenter.jsp
More documents are available in the File Library - http://blog.brightpointuk.co.uk/library
| Attachment | Size |
|---|---|
| BlackBerry_Management_Center_User_Guide.pdf | 177.73 KB |
BlackBerry Messenger 6 available
RIM have released version 6 of the popular BlackBerry Messenger instant chat application, available for download from the AppWorld for devices running software version 4.5 or later.
Connected Apps
BBM6 provides support for more than status updates on your profile: connected applications can share information with BlackBerry Messenger including gaming scores, Foursquare points and much more.
With BBM now integrated into many of your favorite apps, the apps you love just became socially-enabled. That’s right – news apps, games, sports apps, productivity apps and multimedia apps – are experiences you can now share with your BBM friends. Select BBM contacts right from the app to invite them to download the app or join in on the fun. For example, imagine inviting a BBM friend from across town or across the globe to play a game of Backgammon King – all without ever leaving the app:
Many BBM connected apps allow BlackBerry smartphone users to have a BBM chat within the app. The below video shows the integration of ScoreMobile with BBM6:
You can also discover apps via your BBM friends’ profiles, if they decide to share them. With BBM 6, you can launch or install the app by clicking on its icon within your friend’s profile update. This means you can discover great apps simply by reading the profiles of your trusted friends.
Tip: Look for new BBM connected apps to be added to BlackBerry App World. You can easily spot them on BlackBerry App World by looking for the “BBM connected” app icon:
You can read more on the Official BlackBerry blog - http://blogs.blackberry.com/2011/07/bbm-6
BlackBerry Messenger How To Videos
BlackBerry Messenger Basics
Using BlackBerry Messenger to send a file to a contact
Creating Groups in BlackBerry Messenger
BlackBerry Mobile Voice System (MVS)
The BlackBerry Mobile Voice System (MVS) is a server-based product designed to sit between your existing BES and your IP-capable PBX, effectively turning your BlackBerry handheld device into a remote extension of the corporate telephone system: if you are out of the office, or just not at your desk, incoming calls to your desk DDI can be forwarded automatically to your mobile; and similarly any calls you make from your handheld can be routed out through the remote PBX so that calls appear as having originated from your office (and can be billed accordingly using the PBX’s least-cost routing capability [LCR]), and calls to internal extensions from your remote handheld are effectively free.
The MVS product is an adaptation of the Ascendant Voice Mobility Suite, a company that RIM acquired wholly a period of time ago. An overview of the solution is available on the BlackBerry web site:
http://na.blackberry.com/eng/services/blackberry_mvs/
The solution does not necessarily require that you have a BES deployed already, but if you are deploying BlackBerry MVS as a standalone server it ONLY provides PBX integration functionality. The MVS server role cannot be installed on any existing BES infrastructure. Therefore a separate server is required for the MVS role if you wish to provide Email, PIM, MDS (Mobile Data Service) as well as MVS functionality (and a corresponding Windows Server license).
MVS can only be deployed alongside BES 4.1.5 or later, and currently only Windows Server 2000 or 2003 I supported (not Server 2008).
For PBX integration, the phone system needs to be IP-capable, or an IP gateway can be installed between the MVS server and the analogue PBX.
The solution also requires an additional client Service Book to be installed on the BlackBerry handheld, which must be running version xxx (TBC) of the client operating system or later.
As with the BES software, a back-end database is required to store configuration information. For small-scale deployments the internal MSDE database can be used, but for larger deployments a separate Microsoft SQL Server installation is recommended.
Because all client-server communication is routed via the BES, sessions are encrypted and-to-end.
As you’d expect from a BlackBerry product, the solution allows the administrator to define and enforce policies controlling the usage of the handheld: restricting the numbers that can be dialled (long distance, international, etc), limiting the hours between which calls can be made, and all calls can be logged and/or recorded for compliance with regulatory or internal corporate requirements.
Users can be assigned a single telephone number that need not change regardless of the client device or mobile network operator used by the employee.
Users can also enjoy the same functionality that their deskphone allows them: calls can be transferred, put on hold, conferenced, etc. And the user need only access one voicemail, removing the need for the mobile operator’s voicemail service, and should a voicemail message be waiting in the user’s mailbox on the PBX, indication will be displayed on the handheld.
Outbound calls placed from the handheld will appear as originating from the corporate PBX (as effectively they are), and inbound calls to the user’s DDI will be delivered to the user’s handheld, including the calling party’s name and number (if they appear in the PBX’s address book directory).
The MVS solution works by 'marrying' up calls placed between the BlackBerry handheld and the PBX, and the external call between the PBX and the PSTN. For example, if you place a call from your handheld, you actually establish a call to the PBX, which then puts you on hold and places a call to the external number to be contacted. Once that number is answered, the two call 'legs' are connected. A similar process occurs for incoming calls.
BES MVS is slated for release in Q1 2009.
BlackBerry OS 4
BlackBerry Device Software 4.0 Options Menu
The Options menu on a BlackBerry® smartphone varies slightly, based on the version of BlackBerry Device Software. The following lists show the complete menu structure for these BlackBerry Device Software versions:
- BlackBerry Device Software 4.5.0
- BlackBerry Device Software 4.6.0
- BlackBerry Device Software 4.6.1
- BlackBerry Device Software 4.7.0
- BlackBerry Device Software 4.7.1
BlackBerry Device Software 4.5.0
* - This option is only available for BlackBerry smartphones equipped with a GPS radio.
** - This option is only available for BlackBerry smartphones equipped with a Wi-Fi® radio.
- About
- Advanced Options
- Applications
- Browser
- Browser Push
- Cell Broadcast Settings
- Default Services
- Enterprise Activation
- GPS *
- Host Routing Table
- Maps
- Service Book
- SIM Card
- TCP
- Wireless Update
- Auto On/Off
- Auto Text
- Date/Time
- GPS Extended Ephemeris
- Localization
- Media Card
- Mobile Network
- Owner
- Screen/Keyboard
- Security Options
- General Settings
- Application Permissions
- Certificate Servers
- Certificates
- Firewall
- Key Store
- Memory Cleaning
- Software Tokens
- TLS
- WTLS
- SMS
- Spell Check
- Status
- Theme
- Voice Dialing
- Wi-Fi Connections **
BlackBerry Device Software 4.6.0
* - This option is only available for BlackBerry smartphones equipped with a GPS radio.
** - This option is only available for BlackBerry smartphones equipped with a Wi-Fi radio.
- About
- Advanced Options
- Accessibility
- Applications
- Browser
- Browser Push
- Cell Broadcast Settings
- Default Services
- Enterprise Activation
- GPS *
- Host Routing Table
- Maps
- Service Book
- SIM card
- TCP/IP
- Wireless Update
- Auto On/Off
- Auto Text
- Cell Data
- Date/Time
- Language
- Memory
- Mobile Network
- Owner
- Password
- Profiles (Ring Tones)
- Screen/Keyboard
- Security Options
- General Settings
- Application Permissions
- Certificate Servers
- Certificates
- Firewall
- Key Stores
- Memory Cleaning
- Software Tokens
- TLS
- WTLS
- SMS
- Spell Check
- Status
- Theme
- Voice Dialing
- Wi-Fi Connections **
BlackBerry Device Software 4.6.1
* - This option is only available for BlackBerry smartphones equipped with a GPS radio.
** - This option is only available for BlackBerry smartphones equipped with a Wi-Fi radio.
- About
- Advanced Options
- Accessibility
- Applications
- Browser
- Browser Push
- Cell Broadcast Settings
- Default Services
- Enterprise Activation
- GPS *
- Host Routing Table
- Maps
- Service Book
- SIM card
- TCP/IP
- Wireless Update
- Auto On/Off
- Auto Text
- Cell Data
- Date/Time
- Localization
- Memory
- Mobile Network
- Owner
- Password
- Profiles (Ring Tones)
- Screen/Keyboard
- Security Options
- General Settings
- Application Permissions
- Certificate Servers
- Certificates
- Firewall
- Key Stores
- Memory Cleaning
- Software Tokens
- TLS
- WTLS
- SMS
- Spell check
- Status
- Theme
- Voice Dialing
- Wi-Fi Connections **
BlackBerry Device Software 4.7.0
* - This option is only available for BlackBerry smartphones equipped with a GPS radio.
** - This option is only available for BlackBerry smartphones equipped with a Wi-Fi® radio.
- About
- Advanced Options
- About
- Advanced Options
- Accessibility
- Applications
- Browser
- Browser Push
- Cell Broadcast Settings
- Default Services
- Enterprise Activation
- GPS *
- Host Routing Table
- Maps
- Service Book
- SIM Card
- TCP/IP
- Wireless Update
- Auto On/Off
- Auto Text
- Custom Dictionary
- Date/Time
- GPS Extended Ephemeris
- Localization
- Memory
- Mobile Network
- Owner
- Password
- Ring Tones/Alerts
- Screen/Keyboard
- Security Options
- General Settings
- Application Permissions
- Certificate Servers
- Certificates
- Firewall
- Key Stores
- Memory Cleaning
- Software Tokens
- TLS
- WTLS
- SMS
- Spell check
- Status
- Theme
- Voice Dialing
BlackBerry Device Software 4.7.1
* - This option is only available for BlackBerry smartphones equipped with a GPS radio.
** - This option is only available for BlackBerry smartphones equipped with a Wi-Fi® radio.
- About
- Advanced Options
- Accessibility
- Applications
- Browser
- Browser Push
- Cell Broadcast Settings
- Default Services
- Enterprise Activation
- GPS *
- Host Routing Table
- Maps
- Service Book
- SIM Card
- TCP/IP
- Wireless Update
- Auto On/Off
- Auto Text
- Date/Time
- GPS Extended Ephemeris
- Language
- Memory
- Mobile Network
- Owner
- Password
- Ring Tones/Alerts
- Screen/Keyboard
- Security Options
- General Settings
- Application Permissions
- Certificate Servers
- Certificates
- Firewall
- Key Stores
- Memory Cleaning
- Software Tokens
- TLS
- WTLS
- SMS
- Spell Check
- Status
- Theme
- Voice Dialing
- Wi-Fi Connections **
BlackBerry OS 5
BlackBerry Device Software 5.0 Options Menu
The Options menu on a BlackBerry® smartphone varies slightly, based on the version of BlackBerry Device Software. The following lists show the complete menu structure for the BlackBerry Device Software 5.0
Menu layout:
* - This option is only available for BlackBerry smartphones equipped with a GPS radio.
** - This option is only available for BlackBerry smartphones equipped with a Wi-Fi® radio.
- About
- Advanced Options
- Accessibility
- Browser
- Browser Push
- Cell Broadcast Settings
- Default Services
- Enterprise Activation
- GPS *
- Host Routing Table
- Maps
- Service Book
- SIM Card
- TCP/IP
- Wireless Update
- Applications
- Auto On/Off
- Auto Text
- Bluetooth
- Custom Dictionary
- Date/Time
- Language and Text Input
- Memory
- Mobile Network
- Owner
- Password
- Phone Options
- General Options
- Voice Mail
- Call Logging
- Call Waiting
- Smart Dialing
- Speed Dialing Numbers
- Enhanced Audio
- Hearing Aid Mode
- Auto Redial
- Screen/Keyboard
- Security Options
- Advanced Security Options
- Certificate Services
- Certificates
- Key Stores
- Memory Cleaning
- Software Tokens
- TLS
- VPN
- WTLS
- Encryption
- Firewall
- Information
- Security Wipe
- S/MIME
- Advanced Security Options
- SMS Text
- Sounds and Ring Tones
- Spell Check
- Status
- Theme
- Voice Dialing
- Wi-Fi **
BlackBerry OS 6
BlackBerry Device Software 6.0 Options Menu
The Options menu on a BlackBerry® smartphone varies slightly, based on the version of BlackBerry Device Software. The following lists show the complete menu structure for the BlackBerry 6.
This operating system also includes a Universal Search feature, which can be used to quickly locate menu items, along with contacts, email messages, and more. To use Universal Search, start typing a search term while on the home screen and select the appropriate option from the list presented. More information on Universal Search, including an introductory video, can be found on the BlackBerry 6 and BlackBerry 7 pages of http://us.blackberry.com/apps-software.
- Sounds and Ringtones
- Phone Ring Tone
- Sounds for Selected Profile
- Sounds for Contacts
- Profile Management
- Networks and Connections
- Mobile Networks
- Wi-Fi Network
- Bluetooth Connections
- Display
- Date and Time
- Home Screen Preference
- Screen Display
- Message Categorization
- Message on Lock Screen
- Typing and Input
- Language
- Typing
- Keyboard
- Word Substitution
- Spell Check
- Custom Dictionary
- Trackpad Sensitivity
- Device
- Auto On/Off
- Device and Status Information
- Convenience Keys
- Search
- Location Settings
- Maps
- Software Updates
- Storage
- Application Management
- About System Settings
- Advanced System Settings
- Enterprise Activation
- Service Book
- SIM Card
- Browser Push
- Cell Broadcast
- Default Services
- Host Routing Table
- TCP/IP
- Call Management
- In-Call Settings
- Voice Mail
- Call Forwarding
- Call Waiting
- Call Barring
- Smart Dialing
- Call Logs and Lists
- Speed Dial Numbers
- Voice Dialing
- Hearing Aid Mode
- Security
- Password
- Encryption
- S/MIME
- Smartcard
- Firewall
- Security Wipe
- Security Status Information
- Advanced Security Settings
- Certificate Servers
- Certificates
- Software Tokens
- Key Stores
- Memory Cleaning
- VPN
- TLS
- Accessibility
- Third Party Applications
BlackBerry OS 6 - Using Universal Search
Introducing BlackBerry OS 6
The BlackBerry Torch 9800 is the first RIM Smartphone to feature the latest version of the BlackBerry Operating System, version 6, with upgrades for certain existing devices also on the roadmap. So what can you expect from this new release?
Home Screen
The first thing you notice about the new OS is the re-worked home screen, as shown above. Application icons can be accessed by sliding the menu bar up the screen to display as many or as few icons as you wish.
Besides the "All" view, by sliding the home screen to the left or right you can view applications grouped by function, such as "Media":
Frequently accessed apps ("Frequent"):
as well as "Downloads" and "Favourites":
The device can also be searched directly from any of the home screens:
Tapping on the, what I have decided to call, Status Bar (below the date and time) brings up a nice at-a-glance run down of all calendar entries, messages and social networking updates:
Personal shortcuts can be added to the home screen from a variety of applications, be they contacts or web page bookmarks:
For easy access:
Throughout the new operating system, context menus can now be launched by tapping and holding on the screen for quick access to common tasks:
When launched for the first time, you are presented with an easy to follow setup wizard, which can also be launched later at any time from the application menu:
Web Browsing
RIM acquired software development company Torch Mobile back in August 2009, makers of a WebKit-based web browser for the Java platform. This browser is now prominently featured in BlackBerry OS6 bringing features such as Flash support, tabbed browsing, pinch to zoom and RSS integration.
When used with a BlackBerry Enterprise Server (BES), it's perhaps important to remember that all web browsing requests are sent "through" the BES and pages formatted correctly for the client browser. Coupled with the fact that all client-server communications are compressed, web browsing on the platform is surprisingly fast whilst still feeling like a 'desktop' browsing experience. The blog is rendered accurately (before zooming):
And, if the device is equipped with the correct hardware, the device will automatically re-orient itself when held on its side for a better browsing experience on text-based sites:
The browser features all the usual goodies you'd expect from a WebKit-based application, including a pop-up blocker and integration with messaging and social networking applications enabling you to send a web page link via email or Twitter, say, at the touch of a button
Web pages can be saved to the home screen as a shortcut, added to your Bookmarks, sent via messaging or social networking accounts all from the main browser menu. If the web site has an RSS feed, this will be detected automatically by the browser and you will be given the option of adding the feed to the device's built-in RSS client:
Social Networking
BlackBerry OS 6 comes bundled with clients for Twitter, Facebook and MySpace:
which can be accessed individually via those clients, or optionally all social networking accounts can be viewed at a glance using RIM's own Social Feeds aggregator application:
which also features an RSS feed reader:
The aggregated client also enables the same post to be submitted simultaneously to multiple social networking accounts without the need to re-type within each individual client application.
A number of popular instant messaging applications are bundled with OS6, including Windows Live, Yahoo and Google:
as well as of course RIM's own BlackBerry Messenger:
Media
BlackBerry OS 6 also features improved media organisation and playback capabilities, including the ability to sync with both Windows Media Player and iTunes using the BlackBerry Desktop Manager 6 software (http://blog.brightpointuk.co.uk/blackberry-desktop-manager-6) as well as automatically download album art for tracks.
When used with BlackBerry Desktop Manager 6 on Windows, changes to your music library on your PC can be synced automatically to your BlackBerry via WiFi when the device is in range of your home wireless network:
Pictures can be arranged into slideshows or set as the homescreen background:
New to OS 6 is a new Podcast application that allows you to search for and subscribe to podcasts:
The camera application itself includes the ability to take "continuous" shots, enabling you to take a series of still images in rapid succession as the device is moved, good for panoramas or action shots:
Miscellaneous
It is beyond the scope of this post to run through all of the features available in this new operating system, but naturally it includes all of the features you have come to expect from the BlackBerry platform including push email, the ability to view a wide range of email attachments and when used in conjunction with BlackBerry Enterprise Server 5 remote corporate file share and intranet access, integration with corporate instant messaging systems not to mention the BlackBerry Mobile Voice System (http://www.blackberry.com/mvs)
You can read more on the features available on the new BlackBerry Torch 9800 Slider on the BlackBerry web site - http://na.blackberry.com/eng/devices/blackberrytorch/
Contact Brightpoint today for more information on any BlackBerry product - 0870 849 0225.
Setting up personal email accounts on BlackBerry 6
The new BlackBerry 6 Web Browser
BlackBerry OS 7
A sneak peak at BlackBerry OS 7
RIM have already released device simulators for the new devices that will ship running the latest version of the BlackBerry device software, OS7. These applications are useful for developers and for the enthusiast keen to get their hands on the new OS before they decide to upgrade to a new device. In this article I'll look quickly at some of the other features that OS 7 will provide which aren't necessarily available in the simulators.
Documents To Go
Following RIM's purchase of DataViz, the developers of the Documents To Go software, which provides the ability to create and edit office documents directly from your BlackBerry Smartphone, the full Documents To Go suite will be included in OS 7 as standard.
The application can read PDF documents as well as read, edit and create documents, spreadsheets and presentations
Social Networking
OS7 features system-wide Twitter and Facebook integration, as well as native Facebook and Twitter applications, enabling you to share content to your social networking accounts from within any application. This ability is present in OS6 but only for RIM-developed apps - OS7 will open this ability to all applications should the developer wish to take advantage of the new API
This feature can be blocked from the BlackBerry Enterprise Server (both BES and BES Express) if running Service Pack 3, by IT policy using the BlackBerry Balance feature:
Miscellaneous
The web browser on OS7 features tabbed browsing, with the ability to quickly navigate between tabs thanks to a thumbnail view
as well as improved compatibility with even complicated web sites
The media player application supports playlists as well as the ability to set tracks as your ring tone at the touch of a button:
Videos are rendered beautifully thanks to the improved graphics support and hardware
The BlackBerry Protect software is also pre-loaded, enabling non-BES-activated devices to be automatically backed up over the air to a cloud-based storage area, remotely locked, wiped and located
BlackBerry Messenger and BlackBerry Maps are also available, in high resolution:
Watch this space for more information and screenshots of RIM's latest offering.
BlackBerry Device Software 7.0 Options Menu
The Options menu on a BlackBerry® smartphone varies slightly, based on the version of BlackBerry Device Software. The following lists show the complete menu structure for the BlackBerry 7.
This operating system also includes a Universal Search feature, which can be used to quickly locate menu items, along with contacts, email messages, and more. To use Universal Search, start typing a search term while on the home screen and select the appropriate option from the list presented. More information on Universal Search, including an introductory video, can be found on the BlackBerry 6 and BlackBerry 7 pages of http://us.blackberry.com/apps-software.
- Sounds and Ringtones
- Phone Ring Tone
- Sounds for Selected Profile
- Sounds for Contacts
- Profile Management
- Networks and Connections
- Mobile Networks
- Wi-Fi Network
- Bluetooth Connections
- Display
- Date and Time
- Home Screen Preference
- Screen Display
- Message Categorization
- Message on Lock Screen
- Typing and Input
- Language and Method
- Typing
- Keyboard
- Word Substitution
- Spell Check
- Custom Dictionary
- Trackpad Sensitivity
- Device
- Auto On/Off
- Device and Status Information
- Convenience Key
- BlackBerry ID
- Search
- Location Settings
- Maps
- Smart Accessories
- Storage
- Application Management
- About Device Versions
- Advanced System Settings
- Enterprise Activation
- Service Book
- SIM Card
- Browser Push
- Cell Broadcast
- Default Services
- Host Routing Table
- TCP/IP
- Call Management
- In-Call Settings
- Voice Mail
- Smart Dialing
- Call Logs and Lists
- Speed Dial Numbers
- Voice Dialing
- Hearing Aid Mode
- TTY
- Security
- Password
- Encryption
- Smartcard
- Firewall
- Security Wipe
- Security Status Information
- Advanced Security Settings
- Certificate Servers
- Certificates
- Software Tokens
- Key Stores
- Memory Cleaning
- VPN
- TLS
- Accessibility
- Third Party Applications
BlackBerry Enterprise Server IT Policy Update released for BlackBerry Device Software 7.1
RIM have published an IT Policy update for BlackBerry Enterprise Server 4.1.2 and later, allowing administrators to control some of the new functionality available in version 7.1 of the Smartphone operating system. This update does not apply to the BlackBerry Enterprise Server Express product.
New features include:
- Disable FM Radio
- Application Installation Methods
- Application Installation from Specific URLs Only
- SecureKey Browser Plug-in.
- IETF WebSocket Connections in Browser
- Override Hotspot APN Information
The IT Policy update itself can be downloaded here as a ZIP file - http://btsc.webapps.blackberry.com/btsc/dynamickc.do?externalId=KB29510&...
To install the new definitions, extract the contents of the ZIP file.
BlackBerry Enterprise Server 5
- Open the BlackBerry Administration Service.
- From the BlackBerry Solution Management panel, expand Policy.
- Click Manage IT Policy Rules.
- Click Import IT Policy Definitions.
- Browse to the temporary folder where the ITPolicyPackHH710.zip file was unzipped.
- Select the ITPolicyPackHH710.xml file.
- Click Save.
BlackBerry Enterprise Server 4
- Open BlackBerry Manager.
- Select BlackBerry Domain.
- Select the Global tab.
- From the Tasks list, select Service Control and Customization.
- Select Import IT Policy Definitions.
- In the File Open dialog box, navigate to the temporary folder where the ITPolicyPackHH710.zip file was unzipped.
- Select the ITPolicyPackHH710.xml file.
- Click Open to import the IT policy rules definitions.
Once installed, any devices activated on the BES running the 7.1 device software, will have a number of additional configuration options available in the IT Policy:
Under Common Settings:
Disable FM Radio:
Allows you to enable or disable use of the device's FM Radio capability.
Under WiFi Settings:
Override Hotspot APN Information:
Allows you to override the name given to the wireless network created by the BlackBerry Smartphone when being used as a portable wireless hotspot.
Under Browser Settings:
SecureKey Browser Plug-In
IETF WebSocket Connections in Browser:
SecureKey is an NFC-based form of user authentication. When enables, as well as entering a username and password to access sensitive resources, they must also use the NFC capabilities of their BlackBerry Smartphone to tap a keyfob or other form of physical security device.
The WebSocket standard defined by the Internet Engineering TaskForce (IETF), is a means of tunneling connections to non-standard browser ports (ie other than HTTP-80 and HTTPS-443) over permitted ports using a single TCP socket. See Wikipedia for more information - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WebSocket
Under Security Settings:
Application Installation Methods
Application Installation from Specific URLs Only:
Allows you to control what sources users can install applications from.
BlackBerry OS 7 Device Simulators available
RIM have released device simulators for the new 9810, 9850 and 9360 - giving a glimpse into the new icons and features that will be available in BlackBerry OS 7. You will need to register for a developer account to download the simulators, but registration is free and only takes a few moments. You can download the simulators here - http://us.blackberry.com/developers/resources/simulators.jsp
BlackBerry OS 7.1 Announced
RIM have announced the launch of the new BlackBerry® 7.1 OS, which has been built to make discovering new things – and sharing those discoveries with friends, family, and colleagues – easier than ever before. Plus, they’ve updated a number of other apps that you already know and love, like BBM™, BlackBerry® Traffic™, and BlackBerry® Travel™. With intuitive and intelligent BlackBerry apps and the new 7.1 OS they’re taking your BlackBerry experience to the next level!
Highlights include:
- Mobile Hotspot: Turn your BlackBerry 7.1 OS device into a Wi-Fi® router anywhere, anytime! The new OS seamlessly provides Internet access for up to five Wi-Fi devices, including laptops and tablets.
- Universal Search: For this new release, RIM wanted to focus on the intelligence of their system and apps – in other words, they wanted to create an intuitive experience that does the thinking for you. For example, Universal Search now has a new auto-suggest feature that that intelligently filters Bing® search results to offer you a variety of relevant Web sites based on your search terms.
- BlackBerry® Tag: Share contacts, media and files, and even invite friends to BlackBerry® Messenger (BBM) through a simple touch. BlackBerry Tag unlocks near field communication (NFC) capabilities for everyday use and makes sharing a lot faster and much more personal.
- Wi-Fi® Calling (where available): With BlackBerry 7.1 OS, you’ll be able to make Wi-Fi calls using your carrier’s Wi-Fi calling service (aka UMA-lite or GAN-lite). Wi-Fi calling allows you to save your talk time minutes and make phone calls over any Wi-Fi network. Not all carriers offer such a service so check with your carrier for availability.
- FM Radio: The BlackBerry 7.1 OS update will let BlackBerry® Curve™ 9360 and 9380 smartphone customers enjoy FM radio. The Curve models include a built-in FM radio so you can tune in to local FM radio stations. Simply plug in your headset to boost the reception (it acts as the antenna). Plus, no data usage or data plan required!
- BlackBerry® Maps:
When you launch the new BlackBerry Maps you’ll be able to discover special offers, coupons and discounts from nearby vendors – and, of course, you can act instantly by calling about the deal, finding the best route to get there, or grabbing the coupon code.
BBM is now 6.1
It’s the BBM you know and love, taking your social experience to a whole new level. Now with BlackBerry Tag integration, you can invite a friend to BBM by simply tapping your NFC enabled BlackBerry smartphones against each other. Also, by popular request from our BBM community, we’ve added more ways to personalise your messages and your profile. BBM 6.1 is now out of beta, so check out our BBM 6.1 blog post for an in-depth look at the newest features.
BlackBerry Travel
Are you a frequent flier or avid traveler? The updated BlackBerry Travel app virtually plans your trips for you, from airport pick up and drop off to accommodations and scheduling. You’ll be able to find deals on hotel and car rental options, or arrange for limo service to and from an airport. Plus, you can rest easy knowing that the BlackBerry Travel app will quickly notify you if your flight is delayed or cancelled, and that it can help you find a new flight right away. No matter where you do your booking, the automatic trip scanning feature can pull your trip details into the app, so you don’t have to. See all your travel updates in one place as they happen, and don’t worry about double and triple checking your itinerary; if you’ve missed anything, BlackBerry Travel will let you know!
BlackBerry Traffic
Getting where you want to just got easier with the new update of BlackBerry Traffic. The updated app now provides you with turn-by-turn voice guidance so figuring out how to get there is easy and hands free. BlackBerry Traffic provides you with your route and your estimated time of arrival (ETA) based on current traffic conditions – right on your BlackBerry smartphone.
The below video shows some of these new features in action:
BlackBerry Playbook
For more information on the PlayBook visit the BlackBerry PlayBook micro site - http://uk.blackberry.com/playbook-tablet/
Or the BlackBerry PlayBook Knowledge Base - http://btsc.webapps.blackberry.com/SearchKB/PerformSearch.do
Or visit the PlayBook "How To" demo site for access to a number of video tutorials providing guidance on how to accomplish common setup tasks - http://demos.blackberry.com/playbook/na/us/gen/?=topicfirstsetup
Access your PlayBook files via WiFi from MacOS
To access the media files stored on your BlackBerry PlayBook from your Mac computer, ensure that both the PlayBook and the Mac are connected to the same wireless network.
On the PlayBook, open the Settings view by tapping on the icon of the cog in the top right hand corner of the home screen. Select Storage & Sharing
Enable WiFi Sharing. If you haven't already, set the Password Protect option to On. Tap on the Change Password option to specify a password that will need to be entered when connecting to the PlayBook via WiFi from another device.
Now within the Settings menu select WiFi. Tap on the Help icon, the icon with the "?" symbol in the lower left corner.
Select Internet Connection from the Diagnostic Information drop-down:
Make a note of the IP Address.
On the Mac, within the Finder, open the Go menu and select Connect To Server. In the Server Address field type in smb://(IP_address) where the IP address is the one you made a note of earlier.
When prompted to connect, select the option to connect as a Registered User. The username should be set to "playbook", and the password to the one you entered in the PlayBook earlier.
You can now browse the folder structure on the PlayBook.
To change the username used by the PlayBook, browse to Settings --> Sharing & Storage --> Network Identification:
BlackBerry Bridge Security Overview
The BlackBerry Bridge software is a free application available in the BlackBerry App World that needs to be installed onto compatible BlackBerry Smartphones (running device software version 5.0 or 6.0) in order to enable them to pair via Bluetooth with the new BlackBerry PlayBook tablet so that email, contacts and calendar information stored on the Smartphone can then be managed from the PlayBook.
The BlackBerry Bridge software is preinstalled on devices running version 6.1 of the software or later.
The Bridge software also allows you to access files stored on the Smartphone's media card and also browse the Internet via the Smartphone's cellular data connection.
The Bridge feature is available to Smartphones that have been activated against a BlackBerry Enterprise Server (BES) and also for devices using the BlackBerry Internet Service (BIS).
In this article I will outline the security measures utilised by the solution for those administrators who may need to know more about the application before being able to allow users to deploy PlayBooks in their BlackBerry infrastructure.
Pairing
The link between the BlackBerry PlayBook and the Smartphone is established via Bluetooth. A barcode is generated by the Bridge software on the PlayBook that can be scanned using the camera on the Smartphone which establishes the Bluetooth connection. A connection can also be created manually by typing in a Bluetooth PIN on the Smartphone generated by the PlayBook.
Once paired via Bluetooth, the Bridge software uses the ECDH algorithm to further encrypt the data connection over and above the level of security provided by the Bluetooth protocol, incidentally the same level of encryption as used by the government-approved BlackBerry Smartcard Reader accessory.
When reconnecting to a Smartphone that requires a password, the password must be typed on the PlayBook.
Architecture
The file system on the PlayBook is divided into "work" and "personal" areas, each being isolated from the other. The tablet operating system identifies which applications fall into which category and only those applications can access their respective storage areas: only work applications can access the work storage; and only personal applications can access the personal storage.
Work data consists of all email messages, calendar entries and attachments that are exchanged between the Smartphone and a BES, as well as any data that is associated with a work application, such as Documents To Go.
When the Bridge connection is established, the tablet creates an encrypted file system using 256-bit AES encryption and the key generated by the Bridge software on the Smartphone.
No work data is stored permanently on the PlayBook, rather the tablet uses the Smartphone's device memory to store data, and any data stored temporarily on the PlayBook is erased when the Bridge connection is closed along with the encryption key.
NOTE - Data stored on a Smartphone that is activated with a BlackBerry Internet Service (BIS) account is considered personal data.
Personal data is not encrypted.
BlackBerry Enterprise Server
The default option on the BlackBerry Enterprise Server is to allow use of the Bridge software. Should you wish to disable use of the Bridge software from the BES, or restrict its use to specific users via IT Policy, additional IT Policy rules must first be imported into the BES server. These policy definitions are free to download from the BlackBerry web site - http://blog.brightpointuk.co.uk/rim-releases-two-it-policies-blackberry-...
Applications
By default all applications on the PlayBook run in personal mode. Some applications may be capable of running in work mode, personal mode, or both.
An application such as Documents To Go can work in both work and personal mode. When the Bridge connection is closed, it will run in personal mode. When being used to view an attachment to a work email over the Bridge connection, then it is running in work mode.
Work applications are grouped together on the Tablet under the Bridge Control Panel.
Applications running in work mode cannot exchange information with applications running in personal mode and vice versa.
Work applications CAN view but cannot change files stored in personal storage in some situations: for example a picture taken by the user could be attached to a work email.
Applications can only run in work mode when the Bridge connection is active.
Work applications can access the Smartphone's cellular connection and its connection via the BES to the corporate internal network, therefore the Bridge Browser could be used to navigate a company intranet, for example.
(It is not possible to access a WiFi connection when the browser is running in work mode).
It is not possible for users to designate applications installed by themselves as work applications.
The following applications can only run in personal mode:
- YouTube
- Maps
- Any application installed by the user
Miscellaneous
The Bridge connection can be configured to close automatically in the event that that user does not interact with the tablet for a pre-defined period of time.
Detailed information on the security mechanisms and encryption algorithms are available in the BlackBerry PlayBook Technical Security Overview, available on the FTP site here
BlackBerry Bridge available in the BlackBerry App World
BlackBerry Bridge, the free software for your BlackBerry Smartphone that enables you to pair via Bluetooth with a PlayBook to manage your email, contacts and calendar information is now available to download from the BlackBerry App World - http://appworld.blackberry.com/webstore/content/19435?lang=en
Or alternatively you can load the application via the BlackBerry Desktop Manager - http://www.blackberry.com/btsc/dynamickc.do?externalId=KB26554&sliceID=1...
The User Guide for the PlayBook, which details how to set up and use the Bridge, is available in the Blog's File Library
BlackBerry PlayBook "How To" Videos
Using the Music Store on the BlackBerry PlayBook
BlackBerry PlayBook Advanced Browser Options
Tips for using the BlackBerry PlayBook Browser
Updating the BlackBerry PlayBook software
Changing your BlackBerry ID on a PlayBook
Overview of News for the BlackBerry PlayBook
Overview of Podcasts on the BlackBerry PlayBook
Facebook basics on the BlackBerry PlayBook
BlackBerry PlayBook Bridge [Video]
BlackBerry PlayBook OS 2.0
Due for release in February 2012, OS 2.0 for the BlackBerry PlayBook promises to be a significant update bringing a raft of new features to the tablet.
New features detailed by RIM already include:
Advanced Messaging Experience
- New unified inbox - a powerful unified inbox within the built-in messaging app allows users to quickly manage their personal email and work email accounts as well as the messaging capabilities of popular social networking sites like Twitter®, LinkedIn® and others – all in one place.
- Multi-tasking within email – by extending the BlackBerry PlayBook tablet’s multitasking capabilities to ‘tabbed email’, users are able to reference one email while they compose another.
- Rich-text email composing and editing – new features within the Messages app enable users to benefit from full support of fonts, formatting and editing of email threads, offering a robust email experience similar to that of a PC or laptop.
- Inbox management tools – allows for powerful inbox search across multiple email accounts, as well as the ability to set out-of-office messages and email signatures directly from their tablet.
Deep Integration of Social Relationships
- Innovative people-centric calendar – in addition to standard calendar features that help users plan and organise their day, the powerful built-in Calendar app provides the unique ability for users to view their calendar by who they are meeting with that day and review valuable information about that contact. Information is consolidated automatically from social networking sites about that contact and/or their company.
- Relationship-centric contacts app - more than just an address book, the new built-in Contacts app serves as a social hub - merging and consolidating information from multiple sources (including email and social channels) into one contact file for each person in their address book. Each contact file includes information such as recent status updates, conversations, related news articles and mutual contacts that are kept up-to-date automatically.
The below video shows some of these social capabilities in action:
Making Your BlackBerry Smartphone and Tablet a Powerful Pair
- Remote control for the BlackBerry PlayBook – new BlackBerry® Bridge™ features allow a user’s BlackBerry® smartphone to act as a keyboard and mouse for their BlackBerry PlayBook – effectively providing a wireless remote control for their tablet. Perfect for pausing a movie when a BlackBerry PlayBook is plugged in to a TV with an HDMI connection, or for using the tactile QWERTY keyboard on a BlackBerry smartphone to compose a message or document on the BlackBerry PlayBook.
- Opening content on the BlackBerry PlayBook – BlackBerry Bridge allows you to take documents, emails, multimedia files and web pages found on your smartphone and open them quickly and directly on the BlackBerry PlayBook so you can use the larger high resolution display for an optimised viewing and editing experience.
The below video shows these features in action:
Improved Mobile Productivity
- Updated document editing capabilities - updated Documents To Go® functionality makes it easier for users to create and edit documents while on the go. Improvements include: enhanced support for the virtual keyboard, the ability to view and update embedded charts and chart sheets within spreadsheets, a new formula wizard with over 100 functions as well as the ability to edit presentations including text, bullets and formatting.
- Print To Go application - this app allows users to wirelessly “print” from their laptop or PC directly to their BlackBerry PlayBook over Wi-Fi®. A digital printout is created on the BlackBerry PlayBook so that users can view, sort and manage their digital printouts as though they were physical sheets of paper. The Print To Go app is the perfect way to consolidate info from various related sources like a hotel web confirmation, an airline boarding pass email, the show event schedule or even a map of the destination city and make them available for quick access on the go.
- Increased control and manageability of corporate data – the combination of BlackBerry PlayBook OS 2.0 with BlackBerry Mobile Fusion and BlackBerry Balance will help to overcome many barriers to widespread tablet deployment, including device manageability and the ability to secure, manage and control confidential corporate information on the device. Plus BlackBerry PlayBook OS 2.0 supports dedicated shelf space inside the BlackBerry® App World™ storefront to allow IT departments to control distribution of enterprise applications and to make those approved enterprise applications easily available to the organisation’s end users.
New Apps and Content
- Your favourite apps plus thousands more - many exciting new applications built for the BlackBerry PlayBook will be made available on BlackBerry App World with the availability of BlackBerry PlayBook OS 2.0. From gaming and lifestyle to business and productivity, RIM is showcasing some of the latest apps available for the BlackBerry PlayBook at CES 2012 including Angry Birds, Cut the Rope, Groupon, Thomson Reuters, Zinio and many more.
- Video store – a catalog of thousands of movies and TV shows will be available through the integrated BlackBerry Video Storefront* with new releases to be made available for purchase or rent the same day they come out on DVD. Users will be able to begin watching media as soon as they start to download the file, so users won’t have to wait for the entire file to transfer before they can enjoy great entertainment on the tablet’s high resolution display, or on an HDTV via the BlackBerry PlayBook tablet’s HDMI output.
- Enhanced web browsing - the BlackBerry PlayBook OS 2.0 browser also includes a new reading view, which is designed to make web sites even easier to enjoy by eliminating page clutter at the touch of a button. What’s left is a cleaner format that is great for reading online news articles, blog posts, or websites that contain heavy amounts of text.
Watch this space for more information as it becomes available.
BlackBerry PlayBook Specifications
Ultra Portable, super convenient
- Height - 5.1" / 130mm
- Width - 7.6" / 194mm
- Depth - 0.4" / 10mm
- Weight - 0.9lbs / 425g
- 7" LCD display, 1024 x 600 screen resolution
- Multi-touch capacitive screen
Professional grade performance
- Full computing power in tablet format
- 1 GHz dual-core processor
- 1 GB RAM
- Symmetric multi-processing
Web without limits
- Games, media, apps and everything the real Internet offers
- Full Adobe Flash 10.1 enabled
- Built-in support for HTML5
- No-compromise rendering of text, graphics and video
High-speed connections
- 3G network access using your BlackBerry smartphone as a modem
- 4G network access available on BlackBerry 4G PlayBook tablet
- WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n
- Bluetooth 2.1+EDR
Amplified BlackBerry experience
- Wirelessly connect to your BlackBerry smartphone for real time access to email, calendar, address book, task list and BBM (requires device software v5 or higher on your BlackBerry smartphone)
Best-in-class media
- 3 MP high-definition forward-facing camera
- 5 MP high-definition rear-facing camera
- Codec support for superior media playback, creation and video calling
- 1080p HD video, H.264, MPEG4, WMV HDMI video output
- Micro USB and Micro HDMI ports
Video-conferencing
- Crystal clear HD display
- Rich stereo sound
- Dual HD video cameras
Built for business
- Out-of-the-box compatibility with BlackBerry Enterprise Server
- Seamless pairing for a secure window into your BlackBerry smartphone
- Corporate data access
- Secure and manageable
BlackBerry Tablet OS
- Powerful, user-friendly QNX technology
- Multi-processing for true multitasking
Rich application ecosystem
- Rapid development environment
- Reliable BlackBerry Tablet OS, powered by QNX technology
- Supports POSIX OS, SMP, OpenGL, BlackBerry 6 WebKit, Adobe Flash, Javaa and Adobe Mobile AIR
Visit the BlackBerry PlayBook website for more information - http://www.blackberry.com/playbook
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BlackBerry PlayBook Tablet - It's Here! [Video]
BlackBerry PlayBook live demo
BlackBerry Playbook Smartphone Integration [Video]
CES 2011 BlackBerry Playbook Testimonials
Capturing screenshots on the BlackBerry PlayBook
In order to capture a screenshot of the BlackBerry PlayBook, simply press both volume up and volume down keys simultaneously. An image of the current screen contents will be saved to the Pictures folder.
NOTE - this feature may not work when the BlackBerry Bridge is enabled and active depending on your IT policies.
First BlackBerry PlayBook television advertisements broadcast
Gaming on the BlackBerry PlayBook [Video]
Video overview of some of the latest and greatest BlackBerry® PlayBook™ tablet games shown during the BlackBerry DevCon Americas 2011 General Session Keynote, including titles from Electronic Arts Inc., Gameloft Inc., HotGen Limited, Polarbit, and Pocketeers Limited.
Installing applications onto the BlackBerry PlayBook via WiFi with the Tablet SDK
PC pre-requisites
Download and install the BlackBerry PlayBook Tablet SDK for Adobe AIR - http://us.blackberry.com/developers/tablet/
NOTE this package in turn requires the Adobe AIR SDK which should be downloaded first. This is a ZIP file that merely needs extracting to a suitable location - http://www.adobe.com/special/products/air/sdk/
Create a directory on the PC in the root of C called “PlayBook”. Copy the PlayBook application files to be transferred to the PlayBook into this folder.
Set the BlackBerry PlayBook into Development Mode
Open the Settings and select Security:
Select Development Mode:
Set “Use Development Mode” to On, you will be prompted to enter in a device password, use one of your choosing:
Development Mode will now be enabled:
Connect the PlayBook to an appropriate wireless network and make a note of the device’s IP address, located under Settings --> About --> Network:
Ensure that the PC is connected to the same wireless network (or has routable access to the IP segment that the PlayBook is connected to).
Open Notepad and paste the following text into it:
“c:\Program Files\Research In Motion\blackberry-tablet-sdk-1.1.1\bin\blackberry-deploy.bat” –installApp –device 192.168.230.138 -password yourpassword c:\PlayBook\filename.bar
where “192.168.230.138” is the IP address you made a note of earlier, and “yourpassword” is the device password assigned to the PlayBook.
Substitute “filename.bar” for the name of the application to be transferred to the PlayBook.
Save the file as “install.bat” in the c:\PlayBook folder created earlier.
Open a Command Prompt window.
Issue the command “c:\playbook\install.bat”
The application will now be copied to the PlayBook.
Introducing the BlackBerry PlayBook
The PlayBook is RIM's first foray into the burgeoning tablet market, a market already populated by the Motorola Xoom and the HTC Flyer which I had a look at earlier in the week.
The device runs a new operating system developed (well, acquired) by RIM specifically for the PlayBook, based on the QNX platform. Marketed by RIM as the first "professional grade" tablet, it is arguably aimed squarely at business professionals rather than consumers, and why not.
Used as a standalone device the PlayBook acts as a perfectly decent web browser and multimedia device - the screen being one of the best I have seen, but criticisms have been levelled against it for requiring that you pair with an existing BlackBerry Smartphone via a secured Bluetooth connection to access corporate email, contacts and calendar data as well as even BlackBerry Messenger. However this is entirely deliberate: RIM's focus when designing their products has always been on security first and foremost. Based on the fact that a number of high-profile security breaches have been reported recently due to laptops being left in the back of taxis, the less data stored on these devices the better, and with the case of the PlayBook no data is permanently stored on the device at all thanks to the BlackBerry Bridge feature which I'll look at in a moment.
So what's it like? The promotional video below gives a teaser introduction to the device and more videos are available here.
Promotional video
Specifications
Ultra Portable, super convenient
- Height - 5.1" / 130mm
- Width - 7.6" / 194mm
- Depth - 0.4" / 10mm
- Weight - 0.9lbs / 425g
- 7" LCD display, 1024 x 600 screen resolution
Professional grade performance
- Full computing power in tablet format
- 1 GHz dual-core processor
- 1 GB RAM
- Symmetric multi-processing
Web without limits
- Games, media, apps and everything the real Internet offers
- Full Adobe Flash 10.1 enabled
- Built-in support for HTML5
- No-compromise rendering of text, graphics and video
High-speed connections
- 3G network access using your BlackBerry smartphone as a modem
- 4G network access available on BlackBerry 4G PlayBook tablet
- WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n
- Bluetooth 2.1+EDR
Amplified BlackBerry experience
- Wirelessly connect to your BlackBerry smartphone for real time access to email, calendar, address book, task list and BBM (requires device software v5 or higher on your BlackBerry smartphone)
Best-in-class media
- 3 MP high-definition forward-facing camera
- 5 MP high-definition rear-facing camera
- Codec support for superior media playback, creation and video calling
- 1080p HD video, H.264, MPEG4, WMV HDMI video output
- Micro USB and Micro HDMI ports
Video-conferencing
- Crystal clear HD display
- Rich stereo sound
- Dual HD video cameras
Built for business
- Out-of-the-box compatibility with BlackBerry Enterprise Server
- Seamless pairing for a secure window into your BlackBerry smartphone
- Corporate data access
- Secure and manageable
BlackBerry Tablet OS
- Powerful, user-friendly QNX technology
- Multi-processing for true multitasking
Rich application ecosystem
- Rapid development environment
- Reliable BlackBerry Tablet OS, powered by QNX technology
- Supports POSIX OS, SMP, OpenGL, BlackBerry 6 WebKit, Adobe Flash, Java and Adobe Mobile AIR
Home Screen
Navigating around the PlayBook, launching, dismissing and switching between applications takes only a little time to get used, and you are guided through a brief introductory demo as part of the initial startup process. Applications are dismissed by swiping your finger up the screen to turn the current screen into a thumbnail, at which point all running programs' thumbnails are displayed and can be switched between - it's an elegant interface that responds well on the PlayBook's hardware.
The main home screen itself features a tray of icons that can be dragged up the screen to display all available apps, and applications can be grouped into "Media", "Games", "Favourites", etc, similar to the BlackBerry Smartphone interface.
Applications
The applications pre-loaded on the PlayBook are as follows:
- Browser
- GMail
- Hotmail
- Yahoo! Mail
- AOL Mail
- Setup
- Word To Go
- YouTube
- Weather
- Voice Notes
- Videos
- Video Chat
- Podcasts
- Pictures
- Music Store
- Help
- Clock
- Camera
- Calculator
- Bing Maps
- App World
- Music
- Slideshow To Go
- Slacker Radio
- Sheet To Go
- NFB
- Kobo Books
- Adobe Reader
A steadily increasing number of Apps, both free and paid, are also available to download from the AppWorld.
A future update to PlayBook will also allow you download and run applications created for Android, the PlayBook running a Java engine that is compatible with Android's, opening up the range of applications available massively.
The GMail, Hotmail, Yahoo! Mail, AOL Mail and Twitter shortcuts simply open the device's browser rather than being standalone apps in their own right.
Web Browser
The browser on the PlayBook uses the ubiquitous WebKit engine, but with Flash support built-in a much wider proportion of the web is available to you than on other devices.
Multiple tabs can be opened and navigated between
Music & Video
The PlayBook ships with a Music Store application, powered by 7digital, that allows you to browse for and purchase new music tracks