Research In Motion (RIM), makers of Blackberry smartphones, has launched the BlackBerry(R) Client for Microsoft SharePoint. SharePoint is a multi-purpose platform allows for managing and provisioning of intranet portals, extranets and websites, document management and file management, collaboration spaces, social networking tools, enterprise search, business intelligence tooling, process/information integration, and third-party developed solutions.
The BlackBerry Client App provides integrated mobile experience for users, and is offered through BlackBerry Enterprise Server, which claims to offer better manageability and security.
“Our enterprise and government customers asked us to bring a highly refined mobile experience to SharePoint and we are delivering that today with the BlackBerry Client for Microsoft SharePoint,” said Alan Panezic, vice president, enterprise product management and marketing at RIM.
The app offers integration with core BlackBerry features and functions such as email, calendar, browser, and universal search. It also offers check-out, check-in, and versioning of files reflected on the SharePoint server.
Enterprise users can also edit Microsoft Office documents using Documents to Go (pre- installed on BlackBerry smartphones) to download, create, revise and upload documents.
User will also get access to Blogs, Wikis and Lists and the ability to update from a BlackBerry smartphone. You can also use content searches across multiple SharePoint sites from a BlackBerry smartphone.
In addition to user benefits, the complete solution also comes with many benefits for organizations and their IT departments. Application management and over-the-air provisioning of the Client app is made easy for IT departments with BlackBerry Enterprise Server.
The app uses ‘DataSmart efficiency’ of the BlackBerry solution that transmits more data with less monthly data plan usage, allowing organisations to consider smaller or more budget-friendly plans.
“A number of Fortune 500 companies and government agencies plan to roll out the BlackBerry Client for Microsoft SharePoint in the coming weeks” RIM said in a statement.
The BlackBerry Client for Microsoft SharePoint is available in over six languages and more than 25 countries including India.