RIM to Extend BlackBerry Enterprise Server to Android, iOS

Research in Motion is finally acknowledging the growing popularity of Android and iOS devices in enterprise and is wisely taking steps to support them.

This morning RIM announced plans to acquire Ubitexx, developer of a mobile device management and security solution that will enable RIM to extend its BlackBerry Enterprise Server to Android and iOS based devices and tablets, allowing IT administrators to manage BlackBerrys, iPhones, Droids and the like from a single Web-based console. All Things Digital reported in January that RIM was considering such a move.

“The multi-platform BlackBerry Enterprise Solution is designed to address a growing market and respond to requests from enterprise customers who want a secure multi-platform device management solution from a company that already delivers the gold standard for enterprise mobility,” said Peter Devenyi, Vice President of RIM’s Communications Platform Group, in a statement. “We recognize the opportunity to continue leading in the enterprise market by providing customers with a common platform to help simplify the management of a variety of mobile devices.”

A savvy bit of strategy from RIM, which is clearly looking to stem attrition in the corporate market. By allowing enterprise clients to roll devices running iOS and Android software into their existing BlackBerry architecture, it’s reasserting itself as a mobile device management services provider, even as its own devices lessen in popularity.

Anonymous

“A savvy bit of strategy from RIM, which is clearly looking to stem attrition in the corporate market.”

But, but the Brothers Rimm told us several times in the last 2 years that their new devices would be “jaw dropping”, “blow away the competition”, & “Future Proof”.

Could they be mistaken?

Its not Fair!

Ayuh
http://twitter.com/chasmalloy Chas Malloy

Maybe too little too late for the Two who should be One completely different BTW my P990I had a bigger touch screen a stylus for input front facing camera in 2006 than the announced bold
Anonymous

With other devices attached to RIM BES, the disadvantage to corporations of using Android and iPhone devices will stand in stark contrast to BB.

BB has hundreds of policy options to allow enterprise to manage access on their devices. This granularity of access is built in to the delivered apps and simply doesn’t exist on other platforms.

For the consumer other platforms may appear attractive, but the TCO for the devices are off the scale compared to RIM.

BlackBerry for all its faults, still provides a distinct competitive advantage to enterprise that need instant and secure communications.
http://pulse.yahoo.com/_PMIIPASM7SXJXKZ4VWFEQZQL3U Hillshire

I thought this was the most interesting announcement from RIM today. Corps would be more likely to keep using RIM’s servers and whatever Blackberry devices they still had around if they could also use it for their iPhones and Androids (maybe WinMob too but right now there’s no point since that’s on the decline). This could lead to a path where RIM becomes more of a corporate security provider, similar to IBM’s successful switch from hardware to business software support.

Naturally, the real question is execution but for now, it’s an interesting idea.

RIM to Extend BlackBerry Enterprise Server to Android, iOS

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