BlackBerry Enterprise Server Express - for FREE !

[zulasch]

hello together,
i dont know if anyone knows about this but Blackberry ofert a free BES Server.

It provides advanced BlackBerry smartphone features with no additional software or user license fees

take a look at this:
BlackBerry Enterprise Server Express

it will be available soon!!!


greets
zulasch

[quietas]

Now if there was only a way to do away with the need for MS Exchange.

[jcaudell]

It does say it is to be installed on SBS or Exchange server.. Will be interesting to see if there's a way to trick it into connecting to Zimbra.

Haven't used the Zimbra BES connector, so no idea how the techs work together.

Signed up for the updates anyway, who knows!

[fcash]

The BES requires Outlook in order to connect to Zimbra. It doesn't require Exchange. That's the whole point of using it with Zimbra. We have it running with Outlook 2003 and everything is working nicely, syncing BBs to Zimbra 5.0.x.

[jcaudell]

Well, this should turn out interesting once the free BES is released. Very nice. Appreciate the info.

[Klug]

It's free for two users, isn't it?

[zulasch]

I think there is no restriction, I have read its free for unlimited users.

Release date will be march 2010, I can hardly wait to test if it works with zimbra...

[quietas]

Originally Posted by fcash

The BES requires Outlook in order to connect to Zimbra. It doesn't require Exchange. That's the whole point of using it with Zimbra. We have it running with Outlook 2003 and everything is working nicely, syncing BBs to Zimbra 5.0.x.

Exchange is still needed, it says so right on that page.

System Requirements

BlackBerry Enterprise Server Express runs on Microsoft® Exchange or Microsoft Small Business Server.

Here's a copy and paste of the info from the PDF of the requirements.

System requirements: BlackBerry Enterprise Server Express
Item Requirement
Operating system Any of the following operating systems:
• Windows Server® 2003 SP2 (32-bit or 64-bit)
• Windows Server 2003 R2 SP2 (32-bit or 64-bit)
• Windows Server 2008 SP2 (32-bit or 64-bit)
• Windows® Small Business Server 2003
• Windows Small Business Server 2008

Microsoft® Exchange system tools Any of the following system tools:
• Microsoft Exchange 2003 SP2 System Manager
• Microsoft Exchange Server MAPI client and CDO 1.2.1

[zulasch]

I dont know much about the BlackBerry Server but I think the Enterprise or Professional Edition runs only on a separate hardware than the mail server. The Express Edition has the flexibility to be installed on both (mail or separate server hardware)

Am i right?


http://na.blackberry.com/eng/service...s/features.jsp

Runs on the Microsoft Exchange or Microsoft Small Business Server
BlackBerry Enterprise Server Express is certified for up to 75 BlackBerry smartphone users to be installed and run on the same server that runs Microsoft® Exchange 2003 SP2, 2007 SP1, 2010 or Microsoft® Small Business Server 2003 and 2008. This eliminates the need to purchase additional hardware. If you require greater than 75 users, BlackBerry Enterprise Server Express has the flexibility to be installed on a separate
server, supporting up to 2,000 BlackBerry smartphone users.

[fcash]

Originally Posted by quietas

Exchange is still needed, it says so right on that page.

Well, I can guarantee that we are not running Exchange, and that we are running the BES (Pro or Lite or whatever the 50-user version is), connecting via Outlook 2007 to our Zimbra server. It's Windows Server 2003, yes, but without Exchange installed anywhere.