I was just reading an announcement by Visage Mobile that really perked my interest. This application called MobilityCentral that they just announced is something that I know many companies have been looking for. It allows you to manage your BlackBerry inventory and expenses and much more. Personally I think that even if it does not do what you want it still gives you pretty charts to give to management to justify your jobs existence.

It lets you create employee self-service options, manager dashboards, inventory management, policy and compliance, wireless expense management and more.

This is the first SQL Database & Sync client I have ever heard of for BlackBerry so I am sure it is worth mentioning for all the developers and DBA’s out there. The application is a bit over my head but seems to let you create database powered applications for the BlackBerry for creating field reports, inventories, and such.

This might be similar to the Cognos client that came out recently but I cant compare. It seems like RIM is really working to secure their footprint in the enterprise. The details are slim for now but this is what they are offering in their press release:

• The SQL Anywhere database and data synchronization client provide several new key features to BlackBerry developers:
• SQL Anywhere UltraLite(R) relational database including transactional integrity, indexes, and SQL data access;
• Rich, bi-directional heterogeneous data synchronization capabilities including direct support for Sybase(R), Oracle, Microsoft, IBM, and MySQL back-end databases;
• A pure Java ME implementation with an extremely small
• footprint well-suited for the BlackBerry environment.
• SQL Anywhere 11, including support for BlackBerry OS 4.1 and later, will be available in the second half of 2008. For more product information and upcoming webcasts visit http://www.sybase.com/sqlanyblackberry

RSA has made a serious time investment in BlackBerry devices by to beef up the functionality of a SecurID Token for the BlackBerry. It should be coming in late Q2 this year so that means right around the corner. I have a background in IT security so this kind of stuff is very interesting. (At least for me )

Check out the features from the press release:

• Direct Access to the BlackBerry Mobile VPN (Virtual Private Network)
• This allows a user with a BlackBerry smartphone enabled with Wi-Fi® technology to securely and easily connect to in-office enterprise wireless network access points. Once connected, the user can leverage their company’s wireless connection for email and application access, without accumulating charges on their data plans that can get charged back to the business.
• New Dynamic Seed Provisioning based on CT-KIP Protocol
• This feature provides customers with a simplified process for a BlackBerry smartphone to function as an RSA SecurID authenticator by more easily provisioning the software tokens that produce one-time passwords (OTP). This more cost-effective ‘over the air’ method of token provisioning simplifies and automates the end user experience that can result in reduced call volume to technical support resources.
• Tighter Integration with BlackBerry Enterprise Server
• By implementing IT policies through BlackBerry Enterprise Server, administrators of the RSA SecurID Token for BlackBerry now have an increased ability to customize and configure the application for better centralized control. For example, administrators can choose to mask users’ PINs and passwords to help enforce compliance with corporate policies.
• Support for Software Token Backup and Restoration Across New or Wiped Devices
• This new feature enables the automatic restoration of a software token to a user’s new or wiped handset, removing the time-consuming task of deploying the software token - from scratch - to existing and established customers facing this scenario.

Cerience Corporation has just announced a seriously nice upgrade to their RepliGo Server offering. It was just around this time last year that they announced Version 2 of RepliGo.

I know many companies and personal users that use RepliGo so this may be interesting for some. Also with a starting price point of $795 for companies this might be a great way to get document management on current Gen BlackBerry devices. The upgrade will also go into effect for the personal subscriptions to RepliGo Professional. On the other hand the upcoming Documents To Go will probably make this a moot point.

Some of the new features:

• Search and access of enterprise documents stored on company networks, Microsoft® SharePoint®, Microsoft Exchange and WebDAV servers
• Printing of documents on shared network printers and an expanded list of Bluetooth® enabled devices
• Wireless downloading of content in its original format or in RepliGo format, enabling entire documents to be stored on memory cards and accessed at the user’s convenience
• Enhanced administration including group management, complete control over document access and security, and support for multiple administrators
• Improved RepliGo client software with thumbnail views and on-device searching

It seems like the latest trend is that developers are already announcing support for the unreleased BlackBerry Bold. Pretty cool stuff. I just got an email that ROVE mobile has already redesigned their applications to work like a charm on the Bold. I hope this means that we wont have another case of the 4.6 OS upgrade breaking many critical applications just like the 4.3 OS did.

From the press release:

All of Rove’s products now support the BlackBerry Bold including the recently-launched Mobile Admin 4.0, Mobile SSH, Mobile Desktop, Mobile Citrix Client and PCMobilizr.

“The BlackBerry Bold represents a huge advancement in technology for our applications, as the Bold’s new features make our products run better than ever,” said Paul Dumais, CTO of Rove.  “Rove’s applications such as PCMobilizr and Mobile Citrix will benefit from the new features, such as the faster networking of HSDPA and Wi-Fi.  In addition, the larger Half VGA screen will allow users to view more of their computer screen on the device, and the faster 624 MHz processor will make our applications respond almost instantly.” 

I just got an emails from readers, Nikolaus & Gareth, letting me know that RIM has updated their mobile.blackberry.com page to a whole new look. The problem is that this website looks like something I created back in 1995.

RIM has been steadily downgrading the coolness and look of the mobile.blackberry.com portal. First they removed the cool flash effects. Then they started having bars and hard to read titles. Now they have reverted to the classical era of web design with blocky buttons and all!

On the other hand the new categories do make more sense and seem to make it easier to find stuff. The problem is that they really need to make a way for you to see what is new without scouring the whole site every time you visit!

Check out the redesigned site at mobile.blackberry.com and tell us if you find something new and what you think of the design.

It has just been confirmed in multiple places that AT&T will be the first to get the BlackBerry Bold. Aren’t I glad to be an AT&T subscriber right now.  I just got sent a link to Gearlog where they have the low down. They got the below info in an email from AT&T representative John Kampfe.

“AT&T will be the only U.S. carrier to offer the [Bold] when we begin selling it later this year. I also want to make sure you know that AT&T will be the only U.S. carrier to offer a BlackBerry that has international 3G capabilities and the only U.S. carrier to give its customers the ability to use their BlackBerry in such countries as Japan and South Korea.”

The Bold will come to all the rest of the major US carriers after AT&T’s short exclusivity period according to Mike Lazaridis.

Thanks Josep for sending this one in!

After our last post about Viigo in the enterprise and what I means for companies I can follow up with some juicy news that Viigo CEO Mark just let me in on. It turns out that Viigo will be offering up 20 free copies of their hosted Enterprise Lite application at WES this year. They will be giving the free licenses to the 20 companies who come to them with the most compelling stories of how they’d leverage and create value by deploying Viigo.

The details:

The winning companies will be able to roll out Viigo’s Enterprise Lite across their entire mobile workforce, easily, quickly, and with no infrastructure investment or integration effort. They will receive a free, hosted version of Viigo with their company’s logo displayed, their choice of default feeds and the ability to add their own customized content, in addition to having access to Viigo’s 5,000+ channel library … and at any time in the future, these companies will have the option of upgrading to the full enterprise version where they can deploy secure, behind-the-firewall content.

So if you are attending WES just head on down to their booth and talk up a storm. You never know, you might just win for your company.