RIM Launches Enterprise Server 5.0, Teams With HP For CloudPrint

Research In Motion on Monday unveiled the BlackBerry Enterprise Server 5.0. In addition, RIM has teamed up with Hewlett-Packard, and is launching HP CloudPrint for BlackBerry smartphones.

The offerings will be announced at the Wireless Enterprise Symposium 2009 in Orlando, Fla.

HP will demonstrate two new offerings -- HP CloudPrint for BlackBerry smartphones and HP Operations Manager for BlackBerry Enterprise Server.

BlackBerry Enterprise Server 5.0 will provide a centrally managed link between BlackBerry smartphones and enterprise systems, applications, corporate phone environments (with BlackBerry Mobile Voice System) and wireless networks.

The server is integrated with IBM Lotus Domino, Microsoft Exchange and Novell GroupWise. BlackBerry Enterprise 5.0 was designed to provide highly secure access to e-mail, organizer data, instant messaging, voice (via BlackBerry MVS), browser and other enterprise applications.

The server's IT management and administration features include BlackBerry Administration Service, a new component with a Web-based user interface that provides centralized management, monitoring and control of smartphone deployments.

RIM is also offering new technical support services for the BlackBerry Enterprise Server 5.0, including training and certification programs.

In addition, RIM and Hewlett-Packard are launching HP CloudPrint for BlackBerry smartphones, a Web services-based solution that allows users to print e-mails, documents, photos and Web pages. The new service is printer-agnostic and driverless via Internet access. CloudPrint will be available to BlackBerry Internet service subscribers as well as BlackBerry Enterprise Server customers.

The technology behind CloudPrint was developed by HP Labs, which has been working on the service for the past year.

"This fills in a longtime gap in the mobility space," said Victor Garcia, CTO, HP Canada. "People are more mobile but printers are not. We have barely scratched the surface with solutions to help businesses make money and improve their time investments to mobilize services in the enterprise."

Garcia said that CloudPrint is still in beta, and it is still being determined how the company will work with the channel to offer the solution.

HP also is introducing software that monitors and manages virtual and physical BlackBerry solutions. This includes BlackBerry Enterprise Server software, mail servers, databases, Microsoft Active Directory and server operating systems such as Windows Server.

HP Operations Manager for BlackBerry Enterprise Server correlates events from each part of the mobile system that lets customers pinpoint potential issues and take corrective actions. The single console is designed to reduce costs associated with monitoring multiple consoles.

HP has also created Managed BlackBerry Services, part of EDS Mobile Workplace Services, that lets organizations outsource the management of their BlackBerry smartphone deployments. Currently, EDS manages almost 500,000 BlackBerry smartphones for clients.

Finally, HP announced that its enterprise customers will be able to use HP ProLiant G6 servers to run BlackBerry Enterprise Server software.

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