Research In Motion officially launched version 5.0 of their BlackBerry Enterprise Server, or BES, this week. So, BlackBerry fans, what does this mean for you?
Well, for everyone who does not use a company-provided BlackBerry tied to their employer’s messaging system (Microsoft Exchange/Outlook or IBM Lotus Notes/Domino), the new features on BES probably won’t get you too excited. If you are not using an employer-provided BlackBerry, then you will likely be using your wireless carrier’s BlackBerry Internet Service, or BIS.*
The announcement is certainly not as exciting for the non-suit-and-tie-crowd as, say, a device announcement like the “Magnum” — but for IT admins who run the servers and manage hundreds or thousands of employee BlackBerry devices, BES 5.0 is a big step forward.
Yes, that’s right. The suits-and-ties (really, your IT administrators) are the ones who will probably be really slap-happy over BES 5.0′s features.
But what’s in it for the corporate BlackBerry user with BES 5.0?
Note: These features will require device OS 5.0 as well as the BlackBerry Enterprise Server 5.0
- You’ll be able to Flag Messages & Set Reminder Times for Messages Right from your BlackBerry
- View and e-mail Distribution Lists right from your BlackBerry (that’s right — no more creating separate device Group Lists!)
- Forward meeting invitations and calendar entries from your BlackBerry.
- Calendar Attachment Support (don’t you hate it when someone currently includes a presentation in their meeting notice, but you can’t view it directly on your BlackBerry?) .
- Browse, Open, Add, and Save files on a shared network. You’ll be able to access your work documents securely behind the company firewall.
And your company IT Administrators who manage the BES? What do they get?
- A Web-Based BlackBerry Administrative Service (BAS) console. Administrators won’t have to install desktop software to manage users. Simply use your BES administrator login to access the BAS console and all user accounts.
- Wireless Device Upgrades. No more having to physically upgrade the device operating system, or walk an end user through the process. Now, BES administrators can wirelessly push (and even schedule the wireless push in advance) to their BlackBerry users.
- BES 5.0 gives admins the ability to automatically issue alerts and then failover to a standby server when load balancing thresholds are met.
- More Customizable IT Policy Control. OK, if you are on a company BES one thing that may bother you is the IT policy that can restrict certain features or installing 3rd Party Applications that the company doesn’t want you to
run on their devices (it’s always a trade-off dealing with “The Man” … you get a BlackBerry, but their IT policy keeps you from loading all the fun stuff 
)
Well, with BES 5.o, admins can more easily set up very specific IT policies for groups or individuals. It even works on an admin level so a team member responsible for managing the Sales team can’t impact or alter policies for other groups, or, say, the company CEO’s BlackBerry.
So who says corporate life is all stuffy? Looks like companies using (or looking to use) BlackBerries in their workforce are getting many new and much-improved features with BES 5.0.
*A very good Summary of BES itself can be found here, courtesy of Pinstack.
* Key differences between BES & BIS can be found here, courtesy of CrackBerry.
If you would like to see a BES admin’s first impressions of BES 5.0, Brenden Zivic has written a very thorough overview.
