Microsoft Online Services provides two paths for Research in Motion  BlackBerry® smartphone users to access Exchange Online and SharePoint Online.

Microsoft Online Services Hosted BlackBerry® Service

BlackBerry® Internet Service (BIS)

The following sections detail these offerings for Exchange Online. For SharePoint Online, BlackBerry users can simply use the native browser on their BlackBerry smartphone to access SharePoint Online sites.

Microsoft Online Services Hosted BlackBerry® Service

For Exchange Online and Business Productivity Online Standard Suite customers needing support for a range of BlackBerry® Enterprise Server capabilities, Microsoft provides a Hosted BlackBerry® service. With advanced security features, wireless access to people and information on the go, and the outstanding wireless performance that has made the BlackBerry Enterprise Solution respected worldwide, Microsoft Online’s Hosted BlackBerry service is designed to give you confidence in your wireless solution – without having to manage the wireless requirements yourself.

As a BlackBerry certified partner and Elite Alliance Member, Microsoft Online Services is able to offer the Hosted BlackBerry service directly to our Online customers so you can fully focus on growing your business and not your IT environment, including the BlackBerry Enterprise Solution.  

Microsoft provides the following hosting and operational support within the Microsoft Online Services data centers: 

• Host and operate BlackBerry Enterprise Server
• Provide all BlackBerry Enterprise Server server, client licenses and support services Included in the service (There is no need for customers to provide licenses or service agreements.)
• Provide technical support to the customer’s IT administrators, including interfacing with RIM on troubleshooting as needed

Service Features

The Hosted BlackBerry Service features encompass the most commonly requested BlackBerry capabilities for Microsoft Online Services customers and are detailed in Table 4.

Table 4. BlackBerry Features for Hosted BlackBerry Service

Feature	Description
E-mail and personal information management (PIM)	Push e-mail Calendar Contacts with GAL integration that supports lookup across multiple domains for users in a single Microsoft Online account Tasks and Notes
Device and user management*	Remote device wipe Password reset Add/delete/manage users Set security policy
BlackBerry smartphone  support	BlackBerry operating system version 4.2 or 4.3 Future BlackBerry operating system versions are supported shortly after release by major carriers
BlackBerry Enterprise Server support	BlackBerry Enterprise Server 4.1.6 All BlackBerry Enterprise Server upgrades are done at Microsoft discretion and are standardized across customers

* Device and user management is currently implemented through Technical Support.. 

Service Capabilities

As with other Microsoft Online Services, the Hosted BlackBerry Service is a standardized service and is not customized per customer. All service policies and settings are as listed in the Policy Reference Guide at http://na.blackberry.com/eng/deliverables/3801/Policy_Reference_Guide.pdf with the exception of the choice of password and no-password policies.

At this time, the Hosted BlackBerry Service has its own purchase contract and billing invoice separately from other Microsoft Online Services. The process for implementation and adding users and devices is currently done through Microsoft Online Technical Support requests.  

Service Pricing and Conditions

The Hosted BlackBerry Service is purchased and billed separately from Exchange Online Standard or the Business Productivity Online Suite Standard from Microsoft Online Services. It is a separate month-to-month auto-renewing agreement. Pricing is U.S.$10.00 per user per month with no minimum number of users required. A free 30-day trial is available that automatically converts to a paid service at the end of the trial.    

To trial or purchase the Hosted BlackBerry Service, contact your Microsoft representative or Microsoft Online Services partner and request a Hosted BlackBerry Service Agreement. If you do not have a Microsoft partner or representative, you may request a Hosted BlackBerry Service Agreement through customer service for Microsoft Online Services. At cloud Hypermarket we can assist you with this.

BlackBerry® Internet Service (BIS)

BlackBerry® Internet Service (BIS) is a subscription service available through mobile operators around the globe. BIS enables push e-mail to your BlackBerry device at no additional cost. Other Exchange Online information—such as contacts and calendar data—is updated through a wired connection. To set up BIS to use with Exchange Online, your mobile operator will request your Outlook Web Access (OWA) address, which is determined by the storage location of your Microsoft Online Services data. The storage location is generally the one closest to your company headquarters. Table 5 provides URLs for storage locations.

Table 5. Exchange Online Addresses for BIS Setup

Location	Address
Asia Pacific (APAC)	https://mail.apac.microsoftonline.com
Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (EMEA)	https://mail.emea.microsoftonline.com
North America	https://mail.microsoftonline.com

 

For information about BIS capabilities and fees, see your mobile operator.