RIM Using PlayBook OS 2.0 Update to Push Current PlayBooks

by the BerryReview Team on November 18th, 2011 · 2 Comments

Posted in News PlayBook

 

I just got a new email from RIM pushing their buy two PlayBooks get one free deal for businesses and it had a new twist. RIM is now pushing the fact that you should buy the devices now so you get the bonus device and three free accessories and get “The Ultimate Upgrade” in “Early 2012” with PlayBook OS 2.0. I am not sure how good this three for two PlayBook deal is when they are selling for $199 each but still I found it interesting to see how RIM positions the PlayBook 2.0 update:

Coming early 2012, a free, over-the-air software upgrade with sophisticated features designed to change the way enterprises view and use tablets including:

There’s no need to put off your purchase. Buy now to take advantage of this fantastic offer and then upgrade later for free.

Check out the rest of their messaging to business on their “PlayBook for Business” page.

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October 28, 2011

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May 20, 2011

Steve   Not Registered

Posted: November 18, 2011 at 10:31 AM EST

This is just pathetic!! They are acting as if this 2.0 update is some great and wonderful thing, when A) it should have had these features at launch and B) this “update” has been almost a year in the making!! Ridiculous!! Has RIM NO shame??

chestr ( View Profile)
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Posts: 288

Posted: November 18, 2011 at 10:58 AM EST

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RIM Offering Buy 2 PlayBooks Get One Free + 3 Accessories for Business Customers

RIM keeps on finding ways to push BlackBerry PlayBooks. The latest strategy for business customers is offering them a free third PlayBook along with 3 free accessories when you purchase two PlayBooks from an authorized retailer. These authorized retailers are focused on the business customers like CDW, PC Connection, etc due to the deals business focus. You simply place an order through one of the resellers between now and Dec 31st and business customers will receive the deal.

You can check out all the details here

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RIM Announces BlackBerry Innovation Forum Enterprise Events – Promises PlayBook Surprises

RIM let us know that they have set the dates for this round of BlackBerry Innovation Forum events for Enterprise customers. These half day sessions are on Enterprise Mobile Device Management and usually help customers understand the BlackBerry solution or discover new features like BlackBerry Balance or the PlayBook. RIM is giving away PlayBooks at the events which are happening in the US and Canada.

You can check out all the details including RIM’s promise for a few PlayBook surprises at this link.

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Managing your Enterprise inbox is simplest on BlackBerry

I'm an "Inbox Zero" guy - my goal is to empty my email inbox as quickly as possible. Once a message has been dealt with I file it in an appropriate folder immediately. Once it's filed I move on to the next one. This is also how I deal with my follow-up - if it's in the inbox it is not done yet.

Depending on how many folders and sub-folders you have it can be quite time consuming to file messages in Outlook, I'm forever dragging and scrolling messages from the Inbox to my labyrinth of sub-folders. I've moved to filing exclusively on my BlackBerry smartphone because it is just easier and for those of you who use Outlook can appreciate, the BlackBerry is actually smarter than Outlook.

 

While reading a message click the MENU button scroll to and select "File", note a quicker way to do this is to use the build-in shortcut "i" so while reading a message and are ready to file it press "i".

You will than be presented with your tree of folders.

To quickly drill down to the desired folder begin typing in the name of the folder, in this case I'm looking to file it in folder "Personal".

Now where this really gets exciting (as exciting as filing email messages gets) is that the BlackBerry learns as you file. It begins to remember where specific types of email get filed, so if I file messages from Kevin and Adam in my "CrackBerry.com" folder. Therefore the next time I press "i" to file it will drill down to the CrackBerry.com folder automatically anticipating that I will want that folder. There is no app for that on other platforms. :)

I find that with the short cut "i" and the filing memory the BlackBerry develops I'm able to manage a Zero Inbox much more efficiently than I can using the Outlook window. Now when all my filing is done and my inbox is empty I feel as though all the planets are in alignment perfectly when I see the magical message on my BlackBerry *No Messages*

Ahhh, nerd nirvana

Google Apps Connector for BlackBerry Enterprise Server updated to v 4.0

Always welcome news for me and the Enterprise BlackBerry faithful, late last week Google updated the Google Apps Connector for BES. It's great to see that this is a product Google plans to keep up-to-date and shows that BlackBerry and BES is critical to the business user.

In addition to supporting BES 5.0 service pack 3, version 4.0 of the Google Apps connector brings some of my favorite business features. Theses new features are Free/Busy look-up and support for read receipt.

The new support for read receipt is exactly what is sounds like. It allows for the tag to be added to an email messages that offers the sender to receive an acknowledgement that you did in fact receive the message.

The free/busy look-up is invaluable in a business environment. If you are looking to schedule a meeting or a conference call with several colleagues you can drive yourself crazy just sending out a meeting invite and having everyone propose new times because they have conflicts in their calendars. Free/Busy support allows you to view the availability of the attendees you're inviting, not their actual calendar details but just the times that they are free or busy.

Here's a screenshot of a calendar item I'm making for a CrackBerry meeting, after I add the attendees to the appointment I have the option to view the attendees availability.

Again these are welcome features for BES users in the Google Apps environment. Thanks Google keep 'em coming!

RIM Now Selling BlackBerry Client for Microsoft SharePoint

 

We have known for awhile now that RIM is working on a Microsoft SharePoint client for BlackBerry. There are a few third party solutions for SharePoint but RIM usually steps in when it comes to these kinds of things. Al over @CIO noticed that RIM has quietly launched the client and put up a product page on the BlackBerry website. From what we can tell the client is definitely not free and has quite a few requirements for it to work. We have no idea how much RIM is charging for the feature but I know quite a few SharePoint hooked companies that will jump at the opportunity. On the other hand I feel like RIM should have made this simply a free feature of BES Premium to give RIM yet another differentiator in the enterprise space.

The SharePoint BlackBerry client allows:

The requirements are a bit complex requiring Windows Server 2003/2008 along with BES and the BlackBerry Social Networking Proxy server together with SharePoint 2007/2010 and BlackBerry devices with OS 5.0+. This new integration solution might be part of RIM’s closer relationship with Microsoft recently. It should be interesting to see how it plays out. Check out more details about the BlackBerry SharePoint Client solution here.

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BlackBerry Enterprise Express Activation app not supported on BB7 devices

It's bitter sweet when a brand new series of BlackBerry and OS launches. Sweet because of the excitement of getting that shiny new device in your hands. Nobody was more excited than the fearless leader of the CrackBerry Nation Kevin. I don't think it could have been clearer in his unboxing video that he more excited than the 6 year old on Christmas morning when he finds that new red bike. For those of you who missed it, go back and watch the video, you can't fake that love for the BlackBerry.

The bitter part though is many of our favorite apps are not supported on the new series of devices. Today was no different when I went to setup my new Bold 9900. OK so my Audible.com app isn't working, the Cineplex Mobile app isn't' supported, nor is Copy2Contact; but Enterprise Activation for BESX isn't supported?!?

*Note: The article doesn't imply that BES isn't supported by BB7, just that the BlackBerry Enterprise Express Activation app in AppWorld isn't supported.*

 

Dear RIM, how am I supposed to activate my new BlackBerry Bold 9900 on a BlackBerry Enterprise Server Express? Do I have to call my carrier and pay an additional $15 on my data plan for the Service Book to be pushed down? RIM you created this app so we didn't have to do that anymore.

BES support is the bread and butter of the BlackBerry ecosystem, for goodness sakes RIM YOU need to support the devices YOU make.  Please tell me that the guys who work down the hall in the app development department didn't get the memo on that a new series of BlackBerry smartphones were launching?