When RIM first contacted us about an upcoming beta app for SMB and enterprise I thought they were talking about their SharePoint client. Turns out they have quite a few more tricks up their sleeve. They let us in on an early preview of BlackBerry Mobile Conferencing which has just been released in the BlackBerry Beta Zone. This new app promises to make scheduling, joining, and rejoining conference calls from your BlackBerry quick and easy. The BlackBerry is already pretty good at handling conference calls in meeting invites but BlackBerry Mobile Conferencing takes that a bit further.
The key features of BlackBerry Mobile Conferencing include:
Calendar Integration: The BlackBerry Mobile Conferencing application integrates with the Calendar application on your BlackBerry smartphone for maximum convenience.
One Click Join: When your calendar indicates it’s time for a conference call to begin, you get a pop-up display that can dial you into the meeting without you having to remember or dial lengthy phone and access code combinations.
Reconnecting: If you’re inadvertently dropped from a conference call, the application allows you to reconnect with one easy click.
Store Dial-In Numbers: When there are multiple phone numbers in the invitation for participants in different locations, the application is designed to choose the most appropriate number for you (limited to North American phone numbers only). You can also choose to change the suggested dial-in number manually.
Easy Conference Scheduling: Turn almost any meeting invite into a conference call with just a single click. You can also store reservation-less or recurring conference information to your conference profile on your BlackBerry smartphone so you can include it in conference call meetings you schedule from your device.
Protect Your Host Codes: When sending conference call meeting invitations using conference profile information, participants see only the information they need to join the call. Moderator codes are kept hidden and only used to join the meeting organizer into conference calls in cases where the code is required to open the conference bridge.
The only real requirement is that you need an OS 5.0+ device but otherwise RIM plans on starting to roll it out to more users in the BlackBerry Beta Zone starting today. You simply go to this link in the Beta Zone and check if it is available under your eligible beta programs.
PS: Screenshot credit goes to PocketBerry. I reinstalled the OS on my BlackBerry last night (due to Slacker screwing up my BlackBerry!) before taking screenshots and have not had a chance to reinstall the Mobile Conferencing app.
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