BPS - between the devil and the...

[Sandstorm]

As an administrator at a small business, I have been evaluating a single Bold, and the BPS software with a view to rolling out between 10 and 25 handsets.

I am most impressed with the actual handset device. I'm sure this community is well aware of the excellent capabilities and functionality of the Blackberry Bold.

I am not so impressed with the back-end software, and the information, or lack thereof from RIM and its resellers.

I know, from *extensive* reading in this and several other forums, that BPS has a... chequered?... ambivalent?... well, actually, pretty much a negative response, it seems.

For my organisation, HTML email is pretty much de rigueur. Likewise the ability to save and edit attachments is essential. These are basic functions, available in every $100 el-cheapo phone you can buy at Australia Post or K-Mart.

And they are available in Blackberry Bold! Yes. If only I had spent less money.

That's right. If I went with the BIS solution, my lovely evaluation BBB would be shining with HTML, and saving Word, Excel, etc.

But I had to believe our account executive that BPS 'is the same as BES, with the minor exception of being able to create and develop your own programs.' Even RIM says as much themselves:

“BlackBerry® Professional Software is based on best-in-class BlackBerry® software—but with simplified features that are relevant to your business. You enjoy the same advantages in productivity, management and security”. (BlackBerry - BlackBerry Professional Software)

I have learned all about the 'Service Pack 6' (4.1.6) update to BPS which might happen next year. And yes, of course I could buy BES. Hell, what's another $6k, plus a dedicated server? For ten handsets. Yeah, right.

I am trying hard here not to be simply a whinger. The basic product (ie, the handset, when not spontaneously rebooting [ie, after installing later version of the OS]) is super-impressive, and ideally suited to my business's needs. The controlling server software appears like it would be excellent for control and administration.

I do feel that resellers and RIM themselves should be *explicit* about the capabilities (or lack thereof) of the no-so-low cost BPS software back-end. Just to say it is pretty much the same as BES is grossly misleading, given that at least two of the very most important functions are missing.

I just do not see who the target market for BPS can be. What business, of any size, in 2008, would deliberately choose to send email in plain text? What kind of corporate image is that projecting? (UNIX-head, circa 1990 perhaps?) And if you are on the road, and need to edit a Word doc, you have to access it solely from a PC? Come on, what's the point of a $1000 smartphone in that case?

Maybe these deficiencies can be redressed in the immediate short-term. Or perhaps with third-party software. I hope so. The Bold is too good not to go with.

[Tfer]

Originally Posted by Sandstorm

As an administrator at a small business, I have been evaluating a single Bold, and the BPS software with a view to rolling out between 10 and 25 handsets.

I am most impressed with the actual handset device. I'm sure this community is well aware of the excellent capabilities and functionality of the Blackberry Bold.

I am not so impressed with the back-end software, and the information, or lack thereof from RIM and its resellers.

I know, from *extensive* reading in this and several other forums, that BPS has a... chequered?... ambivalent?... well, actually, pretty much a negative response, it seems.

For my organisation, HTML email is pretty much de rigueur. Likewise the ability to save and edit attachments is essential. These are basic functions, available in every $100 el-cheapo phone you can buy at Australia Post or K-Mart.

And they are available in Blackberry Bold! Yes. If only I had spent less money.

That's right. If I went with the BIS solution, my lovely evaluation BBB would be shining with HTML, and saving Word, Excel, etc.

But I had to believe our account executive that BPS 'is the same as BES, with the minor exception of being able to create and develop your own programs.' Even RIM says as much themselves:

“BlackBerry® Professional Software is based on best-in-class BlackBerry® software—but with simplified features that are relevant to your business. You enjoy the same advantages in productivity, management and security”. (BlackBerry - BlackBerry Professional Software)

I have learned all about the 'Service Pack 6' (4.1.6) update to BPS which might happen next year. And yes, of course I could buy BES. Hell, what's another $6k, plus a dedicated server? For ten handsets. Yeah, right.

I am trying hard here not to be simply a whinger. The basic product (ie, the handset, when not spontaneously rebooting [ie, after installing later version of the OS]) is super-impressive, and ideally suited to my business's needs. The controlling server software appears like it would be excellent for control and administration.

I do feel that resellers and RIM themselves should be *explicit* about the capabilities (or lack thereof) of the no-so-low cost BPS software back-end. Just to say it is pretty much the same as BES is grossly misleading, given that at least two of the very most important functions are missing.

I just do not see who the target market for BPS can be. What business, of any size, in 2008, would deliberately choose to send email in plain text? What kind of corporate image is that projecting? (UNIX-head, circa 1990 perhaps?) And if you are on the road, and need to edit a Word doc, you have to access it solely from a PC? Come on, what's the point of a $1000 smartphone in that case?

Maybe these deficiencies can be redressed in the immediate short-term. Or perhaps with third-party software. I hope so. The Bold is too good not to go with.

Hi Sandstorm,

Welcome to the forum.

Certainly seems as you have a beef here... sorry I can't be of assistance personally here, but this sort of thing is not something I am an expert in, or even have much of a knowledge of. The company I work for has approximately 10 BlackBerries in 2 offices, and we use BIS.

Can I suggest you PM GaryCutri with your thoughts, and I believe if anyone can assist you, it would be Gary.

Thanks, and hope you get a result.

Thomas

[GaryCutri]

Hi,

When BlackBerry Professional was released BES Enterprise was only up to SP4 so in comparison the underlying system was identical (e.g. BES 4.1.4). Since the initial release BES Enterprise has been updated with SP5 & 6 and BPS has only had modifications to its SP4 (e.g. current version is SP4b). It is rumoured that SP6 for BPS will be available early next year which will bring many new options including HTML & Document editing support.

Thanks,

Gary

[nate1380]

First, can anyone confirm that BPS is NOT being discontinued...just Unite!??

Second, if BPS is not being discontinued has anyone heard any updates on when there may be a new service pack out for it?

[GaryCutri]

Originally Posted by nate1380

First, can anyone confirm that BPS is NOT being discontinued...just Unite!??

Second, if BPS is not being discontinued has anyone heard any updates on when there may be a new service pack out for it?

Hi,

BPS is no longer a maintained product and no future updates will be released, to confirm the latest BPS version is 4.1.4.17 (it is still supported by RIM). As BES 5 is now released you will find an upgrade path will be made available at some point in time.

Thanks,

Gary

[mavlon]

When you say upgrade, does that mean we have to pay an additional charge to upgrade to BES or will it be a free upgrade because RIM decided to not provide anymore updates to BPS?

[GaryCutri]

Originally Posted by mavlon

When you say upgrade, does that mean we have to pay an additional charge to upgrade to BES or will it be a free upgrade because RIM decided to not provide anymore updates to BPS?

In the future there may be a free upgrade path to BES 5.0 or another alternative product that RIM may release. At this stage there is only a paid upgrade option to go to BES 5.0.

[Cobby73]

So long story short, those of us that are using the free single user license of BPS for development purposes, will have to fork out for a multi user license of BES to get the new features such as HTML email?

[GaryCutri]

Originally Posted by Cobby73

So long story short, those of us that are using the free single user license of BPS for development purposes, will have to fork out for a multi user license of BES to get the new features such as HTML email?

At this stage I can't confirm any details as none are available. If we go by RIM's track record they will most likely release a new express version at some stage (please note that this is only an assumption).

[wlkingdude]

Hi Gary,
Do you or anyone else have an update as to how BPS users can upgrade to BES 5.0? Also do you if I can run BES 5.0 on a server running 2003 SBS?