RIM to give away server software

From CNET News.com: BlackBerry maker Research In Motion is trying to hold on to business customers with a free version of its BlackBerry Enterprise Server software.

Co-CEO Mike Lazaridis announced here Tuesday during his keynote address to the Mobile World Congress that the company will offer a free version of BlackBerry Enterprise Server software for small and medium-size business customers, as well as for businesses that want to let employees use their own phones to access corporate e-mail.

BlackBerry Express Server is software that syncs BlackBerry phones with Microsoft Exchange or Windows Small Business servers. Previously, RIM had charged all companies a licensing fee for using this software, which not only provides access to corporate e-mail but also adds security.

Starting in March, RIM will allow customers to use most of the functionality found in the BlackBerry Express Server suite for free. The new version will work with Microsoft Exchange 2010, 2007, and 2003. The free version of the server will include access to e-mail, calendar, contacts, notes, and tasks. It will also allow BlackBerry users to edit Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, access files stored on the company network, and use other business applications behind company firewalls.

Lazaridis noted that customers will not have to give up security because the new version of software uses the same security architecture found in the paid version of the software.

The free version will scale down certain features, though. For example, RIM still suggests companies subscribe to BlackBerry Enterprise Server version 5 if they require additional security policies, monitoring features, or high availability.

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