Microsoft SharePoint for BlackBerry App Finally Available

I told you back in the fall of 2010 that Research In Motion (RIM) was working on a BlackBerry app for Microsoft SharePoint, and though it took a bit longer than expected to become available, the app can now be purchased on RIM’s website.

The SharePoint for BlackBerry app offers the following features and functionality, according to RIM:

• Document-based mobile collaboration for BlackBerry smartphones
•  
• Securely check out, download, edit, upload, check in and send links to shared documents from anywhere in the world.
•  
• Add calendar events directly from a SharePoint calendar into your BlackBerry calendar, and add BlackBerry calendar appointments into SharePoint to stay in sync with team members.
•  
• Find content, edit documents and manage events easily, thanks to tight integration with core BlackBerry applications such as email, calendar and Documents To Go.
•  
• Secure and manageable for IT
•  
• Leverages existing BlackBerry infrastructure and support, while providing robust and scalable mobile access to Microsoft SharePoint.
•  
• Allows users to work with Microsoft SharePoint content without repeated logins, thanks to NTLMv2 support.
•  
• Lets mobile users collaborate quickly on documents without emailing them or saving copies to their computers.
•  
• Provides trusted BlackBerry security and IT policies, and respects Microsoft SharePoint access controls
•  

Organizations must be running Microsoft SharePoint 2007 or SharePoint 2010 along with BlackBerry Enterprise Server (BES ) for Exchange version 5.0 or higher, along with the BlackBerry Social Networking Application Proxy server, to employ the app. Windows Server 2003 (32-bit) with Service Pack 2 or Windows Server 2008(32-bit and 64-bit) are also required. And RIM says the BlackBerry Social Networking Application Proxy and the Microsoft SharePoint server should be located on the same network for the best possible performance. Finally, the SharePoint app is only compatible with BlackBerry handheld software 5.0 and above.

I know that many enterprises have been anxiously awaiting such a client, so the app should be well-received. And from the screenshots provided by RIM, the software looks promising.

Interested organizations can find more information on SharePoint for BlackBerry and purchase the app on RIM’s website; unfortunately, no pricing information is available online without a BlackBerry business account, which I do not have.

AS

(Thanks @banthon)