My First Crackberry (tm)

[BlueSkyJaunte]

Just got my first BlackBerry (aka digital leash) for the office. It's a Curve 9250, whatever that means. My personal phone is a t-Mo DoubleShot (MyTouch 4G Slide--a keyboard is a must-have for me). I have avoided this for years but my dept moved to a new division and when I work from home I'm expected to be available instantly during on-hours.

I'm really surprised, this thing is actually a pretty slick little device. Once I get used to the (yet another) goofy keyboard layout I will be much happier with it than with my Slide.

Why?

It's small. Significantly smaller than my DoubleShot.
The UI is easy to use and puts everything where you need it.
It's 100% integrated with our Exchange servers, so I have my calendar, work email, etc. available instantly.

RIM clearly understands the usage model for a corporate mobile device. If I wanted something to ***** around with and play games, movies, MP3s, etc., I might choose a different device. But for staying in touch with the office and getting work done I have a feeling these things are the gold standard.

[pegasus9]

Soon you'll wonder how you ever got along without one.

It is a great device for work and staying in touch in this instant communication world we live in.
I moved on to an iphone since I work abroad.

[mikesride]

Yeah, they have lost out on the whole coolness factor but for work....they are still a great choice. Companies like them because they offer good security and intergration with other ops systems. Lets hope RIM can figure out its finances because they will be missed if they fail.

[masraum]

Blech! I've been given blackberries a couple of times, I don't like them. Heck, I prefer an android Pioneer to one. I can normally get Corp email on them, and can even set them up to connect to VPN if necessary. I've even used them when at lunch to connect to the Corp vpn, then connect to network gear via SSH.

I'm not a fan.

[porsche4life]

Fwiw, you can do all of that on an iPhone, plus it's not an antiquated POS....


Blackberry died 2 years ago, it just forgot to tell its corpse

[island911]

Originally Posted by porsche4life

Fwiw, you can do all of that on an iPhone, plus it's not an antiquated POS....


Blackberry died 2 years ago, it just forgot to tell its corpse

Wow. There's some hate'n right there.

Clearly you've missed the point "RIM clearly understands the usage model for a corporate mobile device."

Now go play Angry Birds until you feel less, well, angry.

[KaptKaos]

RIM has stepped on their *****s so many times in the last 2 years, I stopped counting. Their tech has totally missed the boat when it comes to the rest of business productivity apps available on Apple/Android.

RIM is hemorrhaging money. The only play they have is to sell their patents. I would be surprised if they are around by this time next year.

Sorry, but they gave you an antique. It's like driving an Old Ford Model A. Sure, it will get you where you need to go, but it won't do much else.

[Scott R]

BB is an enterprise product, currently the others are more of a consumer product. If you work in the enterprise, and you understand the security concerns of the consumer devices you're probably going to go with RIM for now.

Possibly when "Good" gets a little better you may see a change, however, people and companies do not want their work data mixing with their personal devices. Anyone that has to answer to PCI, or HIPPA and is subject to frequent audits does not want their wedding photos mixing with their corporate email.

There are other hurdles still, like remote device destruction and key management as well, I could go on forever.

[Reg]

I always root for the underdog. I bought in a month or so ago. Risky? I suppose so.

My unit is a Bold and seems to work good for the mostpart aside from the odd lockup that a reboot aways fixes. You do get used to the keyboard!

[Joeaksa]

Love the Blackberry but mine died and moved to a Samgsung Skyrocket and except for the terrible touch keyboard, like it.

Still miss the blackberry but they MUST upgrade the puppy if they are to survive...

[KaptKaos]

Originally Posted by Scott R

BB is an enterprise product, currently the others are more of a consumer product. If you work in the enterprise, and you understand the security concerns of the consumer devices you're probably going to go with RIM for now.

Possibly when "Good" gets a little better you may see a change, however, people and companies do not want their work data mixing with their personal devices. Anyone that has to answer to PCI, or HIPPA and is subject to frequent audits does not want their wedding photos mixing with their corporate email.

There are other hurdles still, like remote device destruction and key management as well, I could go on forever.

BYOD is a wave. Its going to wash over all of this.

I am no fan of Good either, but there are huge cost benefits to BYOD and people don't want to carry two or more devices.

PCI, HIPPA and some legal/finance are verticals need the additional security. Most don't, and you should expect a BYOD plan to come really soon.

[Scott R]

Originally Posted by KaptKaos

BYOD is a wave. Its going to wash over all of this.

I am no fan of Good either, but there are huge cost benefits to BYOD and people don't want to carry two or more devices.

PCI, HIPPA and some legal/finance are verticals need the additional security. Most don't, and you should expect a BYOD plan to come really soon.

I totally agree, we're working on BYOD as well, major cost savings to us of course.

[svandamme]

The worker drones get so exited bout BYOD, "woo, i can bring my own device and be a unique snowflake".. (let's ignore that most of the snow flakes all want an Iphone, not much uniqueness)
Not realizing that essentially they now pay and use their own phone for work rather then getting an expensive phone from work to use for free..
Work phone breaks, hand it in , get replacement, work phone old, drop it, get a new one.. free
Now they use their own, mostly iphones for work with a MDM client on top.. they pay for it themselves, if it breaks, they gotta deal with the replacement.. if they loose it, they gotta pay out of pocket to get a new one..

The company obviously is happy, cause it no longer has to pay for phones.. It's a joke really how stupid employees can get and pay out of pocket just to get to use their own particular choice of phone..

My idea is different, if they want me to use the email and calendar function on a phone company better give me a phone that works and works in a way i like.
Or else i'm just not going to use the smart crap much and i'll just use it as a brickphone.

[porsche4life]

Exactly stijn... I love my personal iPhone, but no way would I use it for work. They issued me a POs android for work, but it's on the exchange sync so it's handy. The full time folks get iphones that they can pay a small fee and use personally, which I'd jump on if I was full time...

[BlueSkyJaunte]

Some of the other guys in my dept have done the BYOD thing with their iPhones (no Android allowed, yet).

There is absolutely no way in HELL would I let our IT dept anywhere NEAR my personal phone!

Plus, I hate the iPhone. I need a keyboard.

[stealthn]

I'm telling our clients to start working on an exit strategy from RIM, they have only one shot left with the new OS next year but I don't think it will save them.

As far as BYOD it's here to stay, we recommend MobileIron over Good....

[JavaBrewer]

Originally Posted by porsche4life

Exactly stijn... I love my personal iPhone, but no way would I use it for work. They issued me a POs android for work, but it's on the exchange sync so it's handy. The full time folks get iphones that they can pay a small fee and use personally, which I'd jump on if I was full time...

Curious - why do you classify the work provided Android a POs? Is it really old and/or having issues? What does your personal iPhone do for you that the POs does not? I have handled several phones that were a POs so I do believe you. I also know some folks who have zero experience with an Android phone claiming the same.

OP - personal preference I guess. My company phone was RIM based. When became independent I went with iOS then Android. Might entertain a Nokia Windows phone next...not sure on that. Frankly from a functional standpoint I don't see how a RIM device is any better than a smart phone when it comes to corporate calendars and email - IT department details withstanding.

[stomachmonkey]

Originally Posted by svandamme

The worker drones get so exited bout BYOD, "woo, i can bring my own device and be a unique snowflake".. (let's ignore that most of the snow flakes all want an Iphone, not much uniqueness)
Not realizing that essentially they now pay and use their own phone for work rather then getting an expensive phone from work to use for free..
Work phone breaks, hand it in , get replacement, work phone old, drop it, get a new one.. free
Now they use their own, mostly iphones for work with a MDM client on top.. they pay for it themselves, if it breaks, they gotta deal with the replacement.. if they loose it, they gotta pay out of pocket to get a new one..

The company obviously is happy, cause it no longer has to pay for phones.. It's a joke really how stupid employees can get and pay out of pocket just to get to use their own particular choice of phone..

My idea is different, if they want me to use the email and calendar function on a phone company better give me a phone that works and works in a way i like.
Or else i'm just not going to use the smart crap much and i'll just use it as a brickphone.

I've had to carry dual phones, one personal, one corporate. Inevitably you will get cross pollination.

I prefer to use my personal device for both. My plans have always included enough minutes to cover both.

I've worked it one of two ways, either expensed the business percentage of calls or just worked out a flat monthly rate. The flat monthly is the easiest to get done. Go to IT or finance, find out how much it costs per corporate phone supplied, have AP add that to my pay check under reimbursed expenses (not payroll taxed).

I've also never had an issue getting the company to replace a personal device although in fairness I've only had that come up once.

The benefit for me is,

My phone bill is subsidized.

I don't have to carry multiple devices.

If I jump ship my contacts can still reach me.

Works for me.

YMMV

[stomachmonkey]

Originally Posted by Scott R

I totally agree, we're working on BYOD as well, major cost savings to us of course.

I like BYOD.

Did a stint with CA.

Hated the Dell they issued me and all the restrictions on getting my work done that came with the corporate policies.

Pretty much used it for corporate email only.

Carried my PPC MacBook and used that for the bulk of my work.

The day that 17 in Intel MacBooks came out I ordered one.

Loaded up Parallels and migrated the Dell as a VM.

Locked the Dell up in my office and a when I bounced did not have to worry about cleaning it up before handing it in.

IT had no clue that the computer they'd been updating and maintaining remotely had not been turned on in a year.

[flipper35]

The Blackberrry requires Blackberry Enterprise Server in order to sync with Exchange. There is no native Exchange support. This does allow the information to be encrypted when transmitted so if you are worried about someone listening in that way it would be difficult to read that information. On the onther hand, once received on the phone it is open for anyone to read if they are able to unlock (or someone forgot to lock) the phone.

On the IT side I prefer a non RIM device for support as you can use a product like Meraki to limit the ability to use certain apps while on the corprate network.