The new BES--formerly codenamed "Argon" in reference to the element, which is particularly stable--was officially announced back in February, but the software is now available to RIM's many corporate customers.

Image courtesy of IntoMobile.com

Alan Panezic, RIM's VP of software product management, calls BES 5.0 "the highest quality release of BES ever."

RIM's main focus with BES 5.0 is understandably on the administrator, but BlackBerry users will also see a number of enhancements in BES 5.0. Some of the most notable changes are as follows:

-Role-based access controls allow IT administrators to delegate tasks to IT staff, either individuals or groups, and control access to IT functionality. Screen consoles display only the functions that are available to the individual IT administrator.

-Over-The-Air (OTA) application deployment and device software updates can be better managed and controlled with job scheduling and throttling.

-IT administrative task scheduling supports the deployment of device, application and server updates at times that can help minimize impact on smartphone users and business operations.

-Mobile application management and deployment enhancements support the efficient management and control of applications across smartphone deployments

RIM has been using BES 5.0 internally for more than a year with more than 10,000 employees connected to the new version. And the new software has also been in use for some time at organizations including IBM, Linklaters, Metro Group, Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP, Reed Smith LLP, and Tayside Fire and Rescue, according to RIM.

For more on BES 5.0, read "BES 5.0: Five Features CIOs Need to Know About," and "BES 5.0: Five Features Users Need to Know About."