Research In Motion unveils BlackBerry updates

Research In Motion

(Credit: RIM)

This week, Research In Motion announced that it will roll out a series of updates to its BlackBerry platform (both to the BlackBerry Enterprise Server and BlackBerry device software), with some big ups on the e-mail and productivity fronts.

BlackBerry OS 4.5, as it's being called, is scheduled for release during the first half of the year and includes some noteworthy features such as HTML and Rich Text e-mail support so you can see messages in original formatting and remote message search for finding e-mails, even if they've been deleted on your BlackBerry smartphone.

In addition, the Dataviz Documents to Go suite will be integrated into future devices for viewing and editing Microsoft Office Word, Excel, and PowerPoint documents, and users will also be able to look up the availability of their colleagues with a calendar lookup function. IT managers will also get some love with new software and Web-based components that help with monitoring and troubleshooting, enhanced security, and the ability to send over-the-air software upgrades.

Unfortunately, we don't have any more specifics on specific release dates or which devices/carriers will receive the update, but we'll certainly keep you posted as we get more information.

(More resources: RIM press release)

[Bereket]

Existing Blackberries

I'm new to blackberry devices. Are updates like these usually made downloadable to current blackberries like the curves or the 8800 series or will this basically be new software only for new devices?

[sohrob76]

BlackBerry: Too late to the party.

It took these guys forever just to come out with a camera-enabled phone and then they still don't have a very good web browser on their devices. Not to mention weak Macintosh support (they use a third-party company to sync between Macs and their devices which doesn't work well). I think they need to do a lot more than just offer HTML email for them to be as good as the iPhone or even Microsoft Mobile or Symbian for that matter.

[reactor4]

IPhone and Blackberry

RIM has never really focused on Mac or the consumer market for that matter. Their focus has been directly pointed at business which is why they have waited to introduced cameras,mp3 players and other consumer extras. What they do have is rather good server side software that allows admins to monitor, deploy and manage business software and that coupled with affordable reliable devices that provide mobile business email better than any other systems on the market makes the BlackBerry and easy choice for the business user. <br /><br />The IPHone is an awesome device but it's not marketed or designed with enterprise in mind and hard as it as is to believe not every business use Outlook.

[boone51]

Blackberry already too late...lol

I'm not sure what the other post on here is talking about. I have a blackberry and I absolutely love it. It may not look as cool as the iphone, but it's so much more rewarding in terms of being and actual functioning device. I have email that's always on, unlike iphone, I have a great phone, unlike iphone, I have tether abaility with my BB, unlike iphone. I've played with the iphone, and it's very cool. However, it's a long way from winning me over as a replacement for my blackberry (aka. the best phone I've ever owned).

[jstmakeitwrk]

Lets be real about this!

This upgrade should have come out a long time ago. RIM has gone way to long on their one true attribute, I don't want to come in and trash talk, but let?s be real. First let?s give credit where credit is due. The always on and super fast/reliable email functions of Blackberry devices are legend to people who have used or owned them. The praise now ends! While the email is super fast, it's worthless unless the sender sent you a text only email with zero formatting that RIM doesn't understand (most) or any HTML. Blackberries as phones are adequate and that's being kind, with choppy sound and lousy speakerphones. Their PIM functions are simply laughable and barley on par with those organizers sold in discount electronics stores for $20.00 or less. I don't even want to get started on the internet browser. The software that comes with their newer units to sync media (useless feature on a business phone, but they included it so I'm talking about it) is very complicated to use and 3rd party (come on RIM we expect that from products out of some 3rd world countries, not an industry leader, make your own program). The cameras that are now found on some BB devices are OK, but seem like more of an afterthought than a true upgrade. I will mention the iPhone only because others have. I was formally a BB user and left due to many of the deficiencies previously listed and know use an iPhone. The iPhone is not perfect either, however it does have a superior user interface, email, internet, and media functions. New software upgrades to the iPhone now allow it to utilize Exchange email and Apple is releasing an SDK for the iPhone in February. The iPhone doesn?t have ?always on? email and the minimum setting for checking your email server is 15 minutes, which means that once someone sends you an email it could be up to 15 minutes before your get it. If you?re a doctor or stock broker this might be unacceptable but for most of us 15 minutes is well within the realm of reason especially for all the other advantages of this phone. And before anyone say ?oh he?s one of those Apple people and would love anything they make? I?m not in any way the typical stereotype of an Apple customer and have not owned one since 5 ¼ floppy disks were ?state of the art?. Once again, let?s be real, this was Apples first attempt at a wireless phone and they didn?t choose to play it safe and make another flip phone, they went for the grail of wireless, a Smartphone. The iPhone is not perfect but considering what they did on their first attempt, I can?t wait to see what they will have in a few years.<br />RIM will have to do a lot more than simply improving their dated email system to earn my business back. They invented the concept of wireless email so it seems to me that they should have used all the time learning and been the one to bring ?true as sent? email to wireless devices, not 1st timer Apple.