BlackBerry Enterprise Server (BES) 5.0 Service Pack 2 (SP2) Now Available for Exchange, Lotus Domino
BlackBerry-maker RIM's new BlackBerry Enterprise Server (BES) 5.0 Service Pack 2 (SP2) for both Microsoft Exchange and IBM Lotus Domino packs a handful of valuable new features for adminisrators and BlackBerry users.
CIO — (UPDATED: This story has been updated since its initial posting to include new details from RIM on BES 5.0 SP2.)
BlackBerry administrators can today download and install the latest version of Research In Motion's (RIM) (RIM) BlackBerry Enterprise Server (BES) software for Microsoft (MSFT) Exchange and IBM (IBM) Lotus Domino, BES 5.0 Service Pack 2 (SP2).
The new version of BES comes exactly one month after the latest BES 5.0 maintenance releases for both Exchange and Lotus Domino. And the update features a number of new features and enhancements for both BlackBerry administrators and corporate users.
Specifically, BES 5.0 SP2 supports three new platforms (Windows Server 2008 R2; SQL Server 2008 R2; MS Hyper-V 2008). BES 5.0 SP2 has higher message "pre-population" limits, so new BES activations should pull in 30 days worth or users' past messages, up to 3000 messages.
And the new BES version also features a number of new IT policies that are specific to devices running RIM's upcoming mobile OS, BlackBerry 6, which is expected sometime this year.
Read more details on BES 5.0 SP2 for Exchange and Lotus Domino in RIM's release notes that accompany the software. (Exchange here and Domino here.) And download BES 5.0 SP2 from the BlackBerry Server downloads page.
UPDATE: RIM just sent along the following details on BES 5.0 SP2 features and enhancements:
"SINGLE SIGN-ON allows end users and administrators to directly and securely access BlackBerry Web Desktop Manager and BlackBerry Administration Service once theyve signed in to the network without the need to re-enter their user ID and password. Smartphone users can be allowed access to the intranet, files and business systems "behind the firewall" directly from their BlackBerry smartphone without the need to enter their network password with the device already authenticated via Active Directory and BlackBerry Enterprise Server.
REMOTE REMOVAL OF CORPORATE DATA FROM EMPLOYEE-OWNED DEVICES is a new function built into BlackBerry Enterprise Server 5.0.2 that is expected to be supported with an upcoming versions of the BlackBerry OS, allowing IT administrators to remove only corporate data from an employee-owned BlackBerry smartphone without affecting the employees personal information and applications. Additional features for keeping corporate content separate from personal content on employee-owned devices are expected later this year.
A new INDIVIDUAL-LIABLE DEVICES POLICY permits employees who have purchased their own BlackBerry smartphones and have been connected to a BlackBerry Enterprise Server to access their personal email and calendar and make calls on their personal voice plan when the device is locked. It also prevents users from accessing organizer data from within social networking applications on their BlackBerry smartphones.
