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"BlackBerries do a few things extremely well. (Email, calendar, and... That's about it.) They're not very expandable/flexible."
Really?
Well here are two navigation programs for the Blackberry
http://na.blackberry.com/eng/builtforblackberry/navigation.jsp.
Here is a collection of software for the Blackberry. http://na.blackberry.com/eng/builtforblackberry/
Here is a list of Favorite apps for the Blackberry from blackberry users.
http://www.blackberryforums.com/aftermarket-software/316-updated-blackberry-killer-software-utilities-thread.html
And this is a site for Blackberry Freeware.
http://www.blackberryfreeware.com/
There may be more software for Windows Mobile but the Blackberry seems to do a lot more than just Email and Calendering.
So as you can see using Java doesn't have to cause the downside that claim it does while offering great flexibility in the underlining CPU that native code just will not provide. Seems like Microsoft might even agree. http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/netframework/default.aspx Seems like they are moving to .net for mobile devices.

Are you also so sure it's not the case that when an email is sent from a BlackBerry in Europe to a BES connected in Europe it never leaves Europe?

It doesn't matter. The messages are strongly encrypted with AES. Whether the encrypted message transits the USA makes no difference. I assure you that the USA and the Russians have spy satellites/antennas throughout the world. What makes the email secure is the AES encryption, not the physical location.

If a government (France, say) is terribly concerned about this, I have every confidence that RIM would make every effort to allay their doubts.

Yes, RIM has a large department for government sales. BES has been audited, tested and certified by the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Austria, Australia and New Zealand, among others.

IE, the french politicians who annouced the blackberry ban have no fucking clue what they are talking about.

Specifically, all email data transferred to/from a Blackberry goes through RIM's "blackberry.net" service, which resides in the US. Therefore, it is a virtual guarantee that all Blackberry emails transit US wires... Very specific US wires and it would be trivially easy to sniff ALL Blackberry.net traffic with a few properly placed protocol analyzers.

Like too many on slashdot, you have no fucking clue what you are talking about, and are too lazy to look it up.

The blackberry system is a well-designed, end-to-end system that uses VERY STRONG (AES) encryption. It has been analyzed, tested and audited by many goverentments and non-governmental organizations.

It has been certified by NATO, the governments of United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Austria, Australia and New Zealand. The German Fraunhofer Institute for Secure Information Technology also likes it.

Are all these people wrong? Or are you a lazy idiot?

Personally, I don't understand how/why these devices can be used by anyone, really, who cares for the privacy/secrets. The connection to your mail-server is not secured at all.

Not true at all.

The Blackberry enterprise server (BES) is a product you install in-house. The BES connects to your own email server (exchange/notes/groupwise) and gets the user's email. The BES then compresses & encrypts the message with AES. Then the BES sends the encrypted message to RIM. RIM takes the encrypted message and sends it to the wireless carrier. The wireless carrier sends it to the user's device. The user's device decrypts the message.

Even if device->RIM connection is secure (which is not certain, for they are using a proprietary protocol, AFAIK), you have to trust your privacy to RIM, a Canadian company foreign to most of its users.

The device->RIM connection is secure. RIM is simply acting as a conduit for an AES-encrypted piece of data. RIM doesn't have the keys to decrypt it, the keys are on the BES server. RIM just passes on the message. AES is generally regarded to be extremely strong cryptography by international experts. The keyspace is enormous, so brute-forceing isn't feasible. Of course, the NSA has a lot of resources :)

it would be better still to just use an end-to-end secure connection directly to your servers

The blackberry is secure end-to-end. Look at their certifications from a variety of organizations, many of them non-American.

"The BlackBerry® Enterprise Solution has been approved for storing and transmitting sensitive data by NATO, as well as government organizations in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Austria, Australia and New Zealand."

Not too shabby.

Behold:
http://www.blackberry.com/solutions/government/sec urity.shtml

Embedded Visual C++ 4.0 is free. It works with the Windows Mobile 5 SDK. Knock yourself out.

But don't stop there.

Series 60
Palm OS (Treo SDK)
BlackBerry

It's been available on Symbian devices for years.

http://www.blackberry.com/news/press/2004/pr-23_02 _2004-01.shtml
http://www.blackberry.com/ap/products/connect/sony ericsson_p910.shtml
http://www.blackberry.com/uk/products/connect/sony ericssonP990.shtml

It's been available on Symbian devices for years.

http://www.blackberry.com/news/press/2004/pr-23_02 _2004-01.shtml
http://www.blackberry.com/ap/products/connect/sony ericsson_p910.shtml
http://www.blackberry.com/uk/products/connect/sony ericssonP990.shtml

It's been available on Symbian devices for years.

http://www.blackberry.com/news/press/2004/pr-23_02 _2004-01.shtml
http://www.blackberry.com/ap/products/connect/sony ericsson_p910.shtml
http://www.blackberry.com/uk/products/connect/sony ericssonP990.shtml

RIM forces you to use IE so that you can automatically download a BlackBerry application to your device when it's connected to your PC. It's an alternative to downloading over the air.

For example, visiting the download page for the BlackBerry version of Google Talk will prompt you to use IE: http://blackberry.com/googletalk

I have a BlackBerry 7105t with T-Mobile (branded, and not unlocked or patched). I haven't been able to get OperaMini to work (ever), but GMail and GoogleMaps still work fine for me...

1. upgraded to the latest OS? It looks like you can get it here. It's for Nextel, so don't forget to delete the vendor.xml or you won't be able to install on your T-Mobile BB.
2. set your APN (Settings -> Advanced -> TCP) to "wap.voicestream.com" (assuming you're a US T-Mobile customer)?
3. hard-reset (battery pull) your phone after setting the APN?

I travel a lot. When I do travel GoogleTalk goes with me... it's on my Blackberry.

http://www.blackberry.com/GoogleTalk/

So is Gmail.

http://gmail.com/app

And Google Calendar.

http://www.gcalsync.com/

http://www.blackberry.com/developers/downloads/jde /index.shtml

Free download of IDE and simulator. Example app code, great documentation. No NDAs.

There is no need to limit development for the iPhone, and with the business smarts it took Apple to create this thing, it is unlikely they will criple it by trying to limit development.

Why would they? They are not Sony trying to milk a marketshare, they are the iPod company coming to a market they want to dominate. The amount of engineering resources it took to create this thing shows they will do what a takes for a piece of the pie.

There are policy items to enforce a certain SSID (no, blackberries don't even have wifi)Huh? What is the BlackBerry 7270? This is a WIFI only device and it's been out for 2ish years (maybe 3)? http://www.blackberry.com/products/blackberry7200/ blackberry7270.shtml

Yours may not be, but some are:
http://www.blackberry.com/products/blackberry8700/ blackberry8700c.shtml

http://www.blackberry.com/products/suretype/index. shtml
(OK - that has with 5 keys across rather than 3)

It's not a perfect solution - a number of 3 letter combinations have multiple words that they can mean. Actually, what I'd rather have is something like the old Microwriter Agenda:

http://www.geoff.org.uk.nyud.net:8080/museum/micro writer.htm

but without the individual character ABCDE etc. keys.

Have you tried this little gem?. RIM makes a BlackBerry smartcard reader. Basically unlocks your PC when you get near it, locks when you leave. Just carry the little smartcard-sized device on your belt / in your pocket.

is barely mentioned in TFA. What they're referring to is BlackBerry Enterprise Server v4.1 Express.

Only a 1-User licence is provided for free, however.

RIM is obviously worried about Microsoft giving away push technology in Exchange Server 2003 SP2.

I fix Blackberries for a living. The 7100 series already has that.

According to RIM's webmaster, the reason that a web download of Google Talk for Blackberry (http://www.blackberry.com/GoogleTalk) requires IE is that this and future Blackberry applications will be installed directly via an ActiveX control. Since Blackberry Desktop is no longer "a required part of the BlackBerry solution," Internet Explorer is and they're not packaging software to be installed with BB Desktop.

I'm going to keep an old, virus infested Windows PC lying around.

They forgot to mention the little thing that puts BlackBerry ahead of the competition... The AES and Triple DES encryption from the BES server (inside the Company) to the Handheld (On the wireless network)... http://www.blackberry.com/products/software/server /exchange/security.shtml

http://www.blackberry.com/purchasing/pricing/us/be s.shtml

http://www.blackberry.com/developers/downloads/jde /index.shtml

You cannot deny the immense benefit of having a real time instant messaging and email and voice phone all rolled in one into a nifty wireless handheld package, called Blackberry.

Due to its addictive nature of staying on top of things, this handheld is frequently known as "Crackberry" as in "Crack-head."

I strongly suggest you consider one for your long-distance enterprise as being able to stay on top of things 24/7.

Blackberry, tools of the geek gods.

Exactly. Something's amiss.

I'm more concerned about this: BusinessWeek missed the important part of what RIM isn't saying: RIM mentions changes to "message queuing" and "message delivery." Businessweek pulled parts of the "queuing" explanation from the RIM whitepaper verbatim, but makes no mention of the "delivery" changes that RIM alludes to.

"Delivery" could get to the heart of the "push" technology.

http://www.blackberry.com/select/mme/pdfs/mme_over view.pdf

Here's some info on BB security/encryption:

http://www.blackberry.com/products/software/server /exchange/security.shtml

-Nick

Lindner said the real problem -- a vulnerability in the way Blackberry servers handle portable network graphics (PNG) images, was not disclosed by either RIM or the US-CERT advisory.

From the top of the CERT advisory:

By causing the service to render a specially crafted TIFF file, an attacker could execute arbitrary code or cause a denial of service.

From the advisory:

To disable the image attachment distiller 1. On the desktop, click Start > Programs > BlackBerry Enterprise Server > BlackBerry Enterprise Server Configuration. 2. On the Attachment Server tab, select Attachment Server from the Configuration Option drop-down list. 3. In the Distiller Settings section of the window, clear the Enabled check box for Image Attachments. 4. Click Apply, then click OK. 5. In Microsoft Windows® Administrative Tools, double-click Services. 6. Right-click BlackBerry Attachment Service, then click Stop. 7. Right-click BlackBerry Attachment Service, then click Start. 8. Close the Services window.

In summary, the CERT advisory says it might be possible to execute arbitrary code on the server. The Blackberry advisory recommends disabling all image attachment processing on the server. No one has proved that an exploit exists to take advantage of this, but how can you know there isn't an exploit. In cases like this, the burden of proof lies with the one who claims it's safe to continue processing image attachments. Maybe there isn't a serious problem. Would you leave the attachment service running with without disabling the image attachments?

As if there were only Opera and Microsoft. Ever heard of these people? Or these people, who seem to be coming up in the news a lot lately? Plus there's always these people, these people and these people.

The smartphone market is a very competitive place.

Did they not get the memo?

Service Pack 3 for BlackBerry Enterprise Server v4.0 for Microsoft Exchange is now available for download.

Please visit http://www.blackberry.com/support/downloads/index. shtml to access the service pack and a list of fixed issues, software updates, and additional information.

Thank you,

BlackBerry Software Releases
Research In Motion Limited
Telephone: 1-877-255-2377 | (+1) 519-888-6181
Email: help@blackberry.net
Web: http://www.blackberry.com/

Did they not get the memo?

Service Pack 3 for BlackBerry Enterprise Server v4.0 for Microsoft Exchange is now available for download.

Please visit http://www.blackberry.com/support/downloads/index. shtml to access the service pack and a list of fixed issues, software updates, and additional information.

Thank you,

BlackBerry Software Releases
Research In Motion Limited
Telephone: 1-877-255-2377 | (+1) 519-888-6181
Email: help@blackberry.net
Web: http://www.blackberry.com/

It will be especially cool if the Trio will connect to a Blackberry Enterprise Server. I installed one a month or so ago and it's great. We use the Groupwise version. It was a really easy install, and the features are awesome. Live, wireless connection to Email, Contacts, Calendar. Also, no need to EVER tether the device. All sync is done wireless.

http://www.blackberry.com/products/software/index. shtml

- Tiki

What do you mean no downloadable documentation?
http://www.blackberry.com/knowledgecenterpublic/li velink.exe?func=ll&objId=8533&objAction=browse&sor t=name

or do you mean from T-Mobile?
http://support.t-mobile.com/productSelector.html?f ormFlow=manufacturerForm&selectProductManufacturer =_77ab8903-1df5-43fc-93f3-7aef59a35ba2

Which manual do you want?

Blackberry's can view .doc and .xls just fine.
http://www.blackberry.com/knowledgecenterpublic/li velink.exe/fetch/2000/8021/270925/What_Is_-_Suppor ted_attachments_for_BlackBerry_Internet_Service.ht ml?nodeid=722744&vernum=0

I do hope that within the next few years we'll see a merging of phones and PDA's

You mean like this

Huh? For me this parses as: "The RIM device needs to connect to a server for email, and that's bad. With the MS device, you need to connect to an email sever, but that is part of the server software, and that's okay."

It's not like MicroSoft wouldn't charge for email if they could. Oh wait, they do charge Blackberry users.

Huh? For me this parses as: "The RIM device needs to connect to a server for email, and that's bad. With the MS device, you need to connect to an email sever, but that is part of the server software, and that's okay."

It's not like MicroSoft wouldn't charge for email if they could. Oh wait, they do charge Blackberry users.

Ooops. Remove the trailing slash!

http://www.blackberry.com/developers/index.shtml

Nope. BlackBerry development environment is free:
http://www.blackberry.com/developers/index.shtml/

And it's java, so it'll run MIDlets too.

Blackberry Enterprise Server does not currently run on Linux. Check out the system requirements. So technically I have an excuse... oh wait a minute, I don't run Exchange anyway. Happy happy joy joy.

You could always suggest an alternative to the PDA's. Unfortunately it's not quite out yet, but should be sometime this year and I don't know what your timetable is.

It's definitely going to be an interesting time. RIM has announced a WiFi-only device, for example, that supports VoIP to a SIP server. It looks like they're aiming it at people who need access to email as they move through buildings and campuses with WiFi coverage. Something similar from other devices will surely prove popular.

It's definitely going to be an interesting time. RIM has announced a WiFi-only device, for example, that supports VoIP to a SIP server. It looks like they're aiming it at people who need access to email as they move through buildings and campuses with WiFi coverage. Something similar from other devices will surely prove popular.

Used to be a Black Pager sized PDA with many small buttons on it -- I guess their marketing department thought it looked like a blackberry (yeah its a stretch, but you know how marketing people think ;). Picture Here

Would it have killed you to explain you were referring to the BlackBerry wireless platform or to at least add a link to RIM (Research in Motion)? With all the patent related news about Monsanto lately some people might actually think you were referring to actual blackberries, the fruit.

Some phones have IDEs provided by the manufaturer. Check out the Nokia Developer Forum and Blackberry's SDK (though you have some limited functionality with Blackberries unless you get your app signed, from what I've read.

With the free SDK, JDK, J2ME, J2ME In a Nutshell & Learning Wireless Java I was able to whip up a simple app for my phone in no time at all.

Well, Mr. well-paid top 0.1% super-tech-man... but you don't know what a Blackberry is, hmmm?

1. They were using a third-party app to manage PIN-PIN (such as METAMessage) which also has logging ability
2. They used a backup file from a tethered backup which does record PIN messages stored on the handheld
3. They got a hold of the physical handhelds after terminating the employees

1. IT Policy Administration
2. Blackberry 4.0 Enhancement Overview

1. IT Policy Administration
2. Blackberry 4.0 Enhancement Overview