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05/16/2006: "BlackBerry breaks the link with email"

Today at RIM's annual show, the Wireless Enterprise Symposium, it was announced that they are releasing software that finally breaks the link between the BES and the mail server. This is a very significant development as in the past you could only use BlackBerry if you had the devices tied to an email account. If you only wanted to run corporate applications on your device you had no choice but tie it to an email account and therefore to an individual. Now with BES for MDS Applications you will be able to get all the advantages of BES (encryption, compression, remote device management) without the need for an email account.

As a company that delivers applications to BlackBerry devices this is something that AppSwing have been asked for on a number of occasions and so I am glad that it is something we will be able to offer. The news is also significant as it shows a maturing of the mobile applications market and the recognition that there are many organisations that see the benefits of mobile working but not necessarily mobile email.

There was one final piece in the announcement that I felt was worth noting and that is the ability to be able to open documents for viewing from the BlackBerry browser which you currently cannot do and we have been requesting for a while. This will allow document download and viewing to be integrated into web based mobile applications. You can read more on the release of BES for MDS Applications at the following link: http://www.rim.com/news/press/2006/pr-15_05_2006-01.shtml