Choosing a Hosted BES Provider

BlackBerry Email and Support without the Hassle

Aug 1, 2008 Lisa Duke

BlackBerry Enterprise Server (BES) is the best way to get the most from a BlackBerry smartphone, but many organizations don't have the skills or want the overhead.

Many users have found the most feature-rich back end software platform for the BlackBerry smartphone is the BlackBerry Enterprise Server (BES). While some organizations have the required hardware, software, and expertise in house, or may hire a consultant to get them up to speed, other firms have decided to outsource some or all of what’s needed to run BES for their organizations.

Hosted Hardware

There are varying degrees of outsourcing available with a hosted model. Some companies may have a BlackBerry certified technican on staff but don’t want to be responsible for hardware. For companies like these, a hosting company like Server Beach can be a great choice.

The client’s in house staff installs the software, but the provider is responsible for the hardware. This helps in budgeting, as the cost for hardware will be a fixed monthly amount rather than a huge cost when a new server is purchased or parts fail.

Hosted Hardware and Software

The next option, for those who want a more hands off approach, is using a company that handles both the hardware and software but requires the client to manage common tasks like adding users. Mail Street is one of the best known and reputable providers in this space.

For a company that does not have or need a full time BES Administrator, often one can be brought in as a consultant for an hourly fee to managed the outsourced hardware or software described in the scenarios above. This resource may be someone that the IT Manager of the company has met personally and trusts, so it seems more personal than outsourcing the entire operation, but the company does not have to invest in training staff for a task that may not be needed on a day to day basis.

Hosted Hardware, Software, and Management

Some providers will handle the hardware and software associated with BES and the email servers as well. Prominic is an example of a company that will manage a client’s hardware, BES, and email server, all for a monthly fee.

When choosing between the vendors available, organizations should look for the following:

• Hardware outsourcers should have a disaster recovery plan in place. Generally, firms like this will have a fail over solution for both power and connectivity at their main facility and a separate backup facility in a different geographical location.
• Software outsourcers should be BlackBerry Alliance Members and have staff certified in the skills the client wants the provider to take over, such as administering a BlackBerry server and an email server.
• If the client’s business is 24x7, look for a provider that also offers 24x7 support.

Once the organization has found a provider that is a match for the level of outsourcing that is desired, the vendor should be able to coach the client through any setup or conversion tasks that are required.

The copyright of the article Choosing a Hosted BES Provider in Mobile Technology is owned by Lisa Duke. Permission to republish Choosing a Hosted BES Provider in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

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