BlackBerry Enterprise Server Support for Microsoft Exchange Server 2007 - Update

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BlackBerry Enterprise Server Support for Microsoft Exchange Server 2007

Forward compatibility of the BlackBerry® Enterprise Solution with Microsoft® Exchange Server 2007 is an important priority for RIM. The following Q&A has been prepared to assist customers in understanding how their BlackBerry® deployments may be affected by an upgrade to Exchange Server 2007, what resources are or will be available to assist in that migration, and to provide answers to specific frequently asked technical questions.

What is RIM doing to prepare the BlackBerry Enterprise Solution for Microsoft Exchange Server 2007?

• RIM and Microsoft maintain a committed working partnership through Microsoft’s Technology Adoption Program (TAP) for Microsoft Exchange. TAP provides RIM advance access to beta versions of this upcoming Microsoft Exchange release and grants dedicated Microsoft development support to address any issues identified in the BETA program. The objective of this effort is to ensure the highest standards of software compatibility and quality. It’s through TAP that RIM is collaborating with Microsoft to develop RIM certified releases of BlackBerry® Enterprise Server that guarantee product compatibility with Exchange Server 2007.
• RIM and select customers, that are early adopters of Microsoft Exchange Server 2007, are working together to validate product compatibility in an “in-field” setting.
• RIM’s internal verification teams are performing functional and load testing in an “in-lab” setting.

How will the BlackBerry Enterprise Server be supporting the upcoming release of Microsoft Exchange Server 2007?

RIM is planning for beta and certified modes of Exchange 2007 support with upcoming releases of BlackBerry Enterprise Server. The releases of such software will be enhanced to achieve compatibility with Exchange 2007. This initiative will involve software updates made in the following, regular maintenance releases of the product:

• BlackBerry Enterprise Server for Microsoft Exchange v4.1.3 Mode of support is beta as it relates to compatibility with Exchange 2007. Under this approach, although outside any formal beta program in place, Customer Support Operations will assist, address and escalate (if necessary) customer concerns and issues in support of running against Exchange 2007. Please be advised that with this release, RIM will still be in progress of meeting all of the acceptance criteria to deem the product release certifiably compatible.
• BlackBerry Enterprise Server for Microsoft Exchange v4.1.4 Mode of support is planned as full certification as it relates to compatibility with Exchange 2007. Please be advised that with this release, RIM plans to issue the software with all of the acceptance criteria being met, thus having the software be certifiably compatible.

These upcoming service pack releases, comprehensive product documentation and related Knowledge Base Articles will be made available for download from the BlackBerry website throughout this process.

Who is eligible for the maintenance releases that support Exchange 2007? How much will the Maintenance Releases cost current v4.1 customers?

All existing BlackBerry Enterprise Server customers will be eligible for these maintenance releases at no cost, as per standard maintenance practice.

How will the maintenance releases be distributed to customers? Will there be notifications of their availability?

Maintenance releases are available for download at www.blackberry.com/go/softwaredownloads

To receive notifications about the availability of maintenance releases, please ensure you are registered to receive product notifications by sending an email to: join-softwarenotifications@listmanager.blackberry.net

Additionally, updated information regarding Microsoft Exchange Server 2007 will be published in the monthly BlackBerry Connection IT newsletter. Sign up now for the BlackBerry Connection newsletter.

What is RIM doing to help customers prepare their BlackBerry environment for Microsoft Exchange Server 2007?

RIM’s documentation specialists are capturing any environmental configuration specifics required to support Microsoft Exchange Server 2007 in your BlackBerry deployment.

Specific resources are being identified to assist in the pre-deployment planning, including, but not limited to, a QuickStart Guide and installation documentation. A more complete listing of resources will be made available once the assessment has been completed.

It is known that Microsoft is changing some fundamentals in Exchange Server 2007. How are these affecting the design or implementation of the BlackBerry Enterprise Server?

No fundamental architectural changes are anticipated in order to upgrade your BlackBerry Enterprise Server to support an upgrade to Exchange Server 2007. Further information will be available in posted Knowledge Base Articles once Microsoft releases Exchange Server 2007.

Stay Tuned for More Information

Check back on this page—more details will be posted as soon as they are available.

Other Resources

• BlackBerry Enterprise Server for Microsoft Exchange