When I woke up this morning I had tons of email and 5 of which was RIM letting us know about their new announcements before WES ‘09. One of them caught my attention right away (BES 5.0) then followed by this one titled “RIM Further Extends Push Technology to BlackBerry Developers” which is great news! This means that software developers will now have access to RIM’s push technology bring content to BlackBerry smartphones in real time, as soon as it is sent. Some applications already taking advantage of this include DevelopIQ, Handmark, Salesplace and The Hockey News. For complete details read the press release below…

RIM Further Extends Push Technology to BlackBerry Developers

Real-time content delivery builds value into mobile applications for consumers

WATERLOO, ONTARIO–(Marketwire – May 4, 2009) – Research In Motion (RIM) (NASDAQ:RIMM)(TSX:RIM) today announced the availability of a new BlackBerry push API (application programming interface) that will enable developers to push real-time content to BlackBerry(R) smartphones.

RIM is extending its existing, well-proven push technology from the enterprise into the consumer space, allowing developers to leverage push technology for BlackBerry(R) applications targeted at consumers. Push technology provides a proactive mechanism for developers to deliver data to BlackBerry smartphones as it becomes available. It brings immediacy to mobile communications with real-time content, preserves battery life, and minimizes data usage by eliminating the need for “poking” and “polling” servers. RIM’s unique push technology significantly enhances the user experience and provides a proactive mechanism for developers to deliver data to BlackBerry smartphones as the data becomes available.

“Push technology has previously been available to corporate developers with the BlackBerry(R) Enterprise Solution, and is built into a range of smartphone applications for business,” said Alan Brenner, Senior Vice President, BlackBerry Platforms at Research In Motion. “With the availability of this push API, BlackBerry developers can build true push technology into their Java-based consumer applications and enhance the user experience by delivering valuable content to users in real time.”

The new BlackBerry push API allows developers to push content, as well as alerts, to BlackBerry smartphone users. Users will not have to wait for lengthy content downloads once alerts are received.

Push APIs for browser content are the foundation of the BlackBerry(R) Web Signals service launched by RIM in October 2008. (http://press.rim.com/release.jsp?id=1870.) BlackBerry Web Signals technology enables online content providers to push alerts to BlackBerry smartphone users when relevant content has been published or updated and supports one-click access from an icon to the online information.

The BlackBerry push API is ideal for mobile applications that deliver value by providing real-time content and updates, including news, weather, banking, medical, IT services applications and games. Several organizations are already developing applications with the BlackBerry push API, including:

- DevelopIQ – The 7digital Music Store allows users to browse, search, discover and purchase high quality, DRM-free MP3 music from their BlackBerry smartphones. Purchases made on the move are automatically replaced with high quality versions when the user returns home via Wi-Fi Auto-Sync. The 7digital Music Store will use the BlackBerry push API to ensure that purchases the user makes on 7digitial.com are automatically delivered to their BlackBerry smartphone.

- Handmark(R) – With the new BlackBerry push API technology, the Pocket Express(R) news and information service from Handmark can alert customers of breaking news, sports stats, weather alerts, flight status updates and other information immediately as it happens. This offers a more timely, relevant and engaging experience for customers.

- Salesplace – SalesNOW will leverage the BlackBerry push API to give customers the ability to send immediate notifications, such as sales leads, service requests, client calls and appointments, to sales and service reps in the field.

- The Hockey News – Powered by Polar Mobile, The Hockey News application gives fans real-time score updates, late-breaking news headlines, player statistics, team standings and expert analysis from across the NHL. The Hockey News will leverage the BlackBerry push API to keep fans up to date with the latest scores sent directly to their BlackBerry smartphones.

The BlackBerry push API is available exclusively to BlackBerry(R) Alliance Program members. For more information about the BlackBerry Alliance Program, visit www.blackberry.com/go/alliances.

For more information about BlackBerry push APIs, visit www.blackberry.com/developers/pushapi.

About Research In Motion (RIM)

Research In Motion is a leading designer, manufacturer and marketer of innovative wireless solutions for the worldwide mobile communications market. Through the development of integrated hardware, software and services that support multiple wireless network standards, RIM provides platforms and solutions for seamless access to time-sensitive information including email, phone, SMS messaging, Internet and intranet-based applications. RIM technology also enables a broad array of third party developers and manufacturers to enhance their products and services with wireless connectivity to data. RIM’s portfolio of award-winning products, services and embedded technologies are used by thousands of organizations around the world and include the BlackBerry(R) wireless platform, the RIM Wireless Handheld(TM) product line, software development tools, radio-modems and software/hardware licensing agreements. Founded in 1984 and based in Waterloo, Ontario, RIM operates offices in North America, Europe and Asia Pacific. RIM is listed on the Nasdaq Stock Market (NASDAQ:RIMM) and the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX:RIM). For more information, visit www.rim.com or www.blackberry.com.

Forward-looking statements in this news release are made pursuant to the “safe harbor” provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. When used herein, words such as “intend” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on assumptions made by and information available to Research In Motion Limited. Investors are cautioned that such forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements include, without limitation, possible product defects and product liability, risks related to international sales and potential foreign currency exchange fluctuations, the initiation or outcome of litigation, acts or potential acts of terrorism, international conflicts, significant fluctuations of quarterly operating results, changes in Canadian and foreign laws and regulations, continued acceptance of RIM’s products, increased levels of competition, technological changes and the successful development of new products, dependence on third-party networks to provide services, dependence on intellectual property rights, and other risks and factors detailed from time to time in RIM’s periodic reports filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, and other regulatory authorities. RIM has no intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

The BlackBerry and RIM families of related marks, images and symbols are the exclusive properties and trademarks of Research In Motion Limited. RIM, Research In Motion and BlackBerry are registered with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and may be pending or registered in other countries. All other brands, product names, company names, trademarks and service marks are the properties of their respective owners. RIM assumes no obligations or liability and makes no representation, warranty, endorsement or guarantee in relation to any aspect of any third party products or service.

With RIM’s Wireless Enterprise Symposium kicking off tomorrow they have officially released a new version of their BES. The new BlackBerry Enterprise Server 5.0 brings several new features and should also bring the release of OS 5.0 for most BlackBerry smartphones as well. If you want to check out more details on BES 5.0 head over to BlackBerry.com. Here is a list of key features that version 5.0 brings:

- BlackBerry(R) Administration Service, a new administration component with a web-based user interface that provides centralized management, monitoring and control of smartphone deployments and the complete BlackBerry system environment. IT staff can easily access the BlackBerry Administration Service from an Internet Explorer web browser.

- Role-based access controls allow IT administrators to delegate tasks to IT staff, either individuals or groups, and control access to IT functionality. Screen consoles display only the functions that are available to the individual IT administrator.

- Over-The-Air application deployment and device software updates can be better managed and controlled with job scheduling and throttling.

- IT administrative task scheduling supports the deployment of device, application and server updates at times that can help minimize impact on smartphone users and business operations.

- Mobile application management and deployment enhancements support the efficient management and control of applications across smartphone deployments, allowing IT administrators to:

– Publish updates and optional applications that are available for download by smartphone users.

– Push mandatory applications or updates to individuals or groups of users.

– Identify “disallowed” applications to prevent smartphone users from downloading prohibited applications.

- Simplified IT policy management allows IT administrators to create groups of smartphone users and nested groups, then apply IT policies or perform IT tasks for one or more groups, in addition to applying policies to individuals.

- Approximately 450 IT policies that can be applied to individuals or groups of smartphone users, ranging from enforcing smartphone password protection and controlling access to third party smartphone applications, to controlling the use of specific smartphone features, such as using a camera or video recording.

- System health monitoring provides a unified, color-coded view of the BlackBerry environment, both server and user related, for the easy identification of potential issues.

- Advanced reporting features, including trending, chart analysis and server statistics, provide a comprehensive view into the overall health of the BlackBerry system environment. BlackBerry Enterprise Server also stores up to 56 weeks of health scores for historical trending analysis.

- Built-in high availability and automated failover allows IT administrators to set BlackBerry Enterprise Server to automatically issue alerts and then failover to a standby server when certain thresholds are met. Load balancing between the primary and standby server is an option for some shared service components like the Attachment Service. Manual failover from the primary server to the standby server is an option for IT administrators to perform planned maintenance tasks without affecting smartphone service.

- BlackBerry Enterprise Transporter Tool makes upgrading to BlackBerry Enterprise Server 5.0 easy and seamless. It streamlines the transfer of multiple user accounts from one BlackBerry Enterprise Server domain to another without impact to or action required by end users.

RIM Launches BlackBerry Enterprise Server 5.0
Next Generation Mobility Platform Delivers Rich Set of Advanced IT Administration Features and Smartphone Controls

WATERLOO, ONTARIO–(Marketwire – May 4, 2009) – Research In Motion (RIM) (NASDAQ:RIMM)(TSX:RIM) today announced the availability of BlackBerry(R) Enterprise Server 5.0 – the next generation of RIM’s secure, push-based server software for business mobility. Version 5.0 supports advanced IT administration features and smartphone controls that help improve the productivity of mobile workers and more effectively meet the demands of large-scale, mission critical enterprise deployments.

BlackBerry Enterprise Server 5.0 enables a secure, centrally managed link between BlackBerry(R) smartphones and enterprise systems, applications, corporate phone environments (with BlackBerry(R) Mobile Voice System) and wireless networks. It tightly integrates with IBM(R) Lotus(R) Domino(R), Microsoft(R) Exchange(R), and Novell(R) GroupWise(R), and is designed to provide highly secure access to email, organizer data, instant messaging, voice (via BlackBerry MVS), browser and other enterprise applications. It also provides advanced security features and administrative tools that simplify the management and use of the BlackBerry(R) solution within the enterprise.

“We are proud to unveil the next generation of BlackBerry Enterprise Server software,” said Mike Lazaridis, President and Co-CEO at RIM. “BlackBerry Enterprise Server 5.0 significantly raises the bar for advanced IT manageability, high availability, system monitoring and reporting. It has undergone testing in real world environments for over a year and is available now for customers.”

BlackBerry Enterprise Server 5.0 Enhancements and Key Features

BlackBerry Enterprise Server 5.0 provides enhanced IT management and administration features, including:

- BlackBerry(R) Administration Service, a new administration component with a web-based user interface that provides centralized management, monitoring and control of smartphone deployments and the complete BlackBerry system environment. IT staff can easily access the BlackBerry Administration Service from an Internet Explorer web browser.

- Role-based access controls allow IT administrators to delegate tasks to IT staff, either individuals or groups, and control access to IT functionality. Screen consoles display only the functions that are available to the individual IT administrator.

- Over-The-Air application deployment and device software updates can be better managed and controlled with job scheduling and throttling.

- IT administrative task scheduling supports the deployment of device, application and server updates at times that can help minimize impact on smartphone users and business operations.

- Mobile application management and deployment enhancements support the efficient management and control of applications across smartphone deployments, allowing IT administrators to:

– Publish updates and optional applications that are available for download by smartphone users.

– Push mandatory applications or updates to individuals or groups of users.

– Identify “disallowed” applications to prevent smartphone users from downloading prohibited applications.

- Simplified IT policy management allows IT administrators to create groups of smartphone users and nested groups, then apply IT policies or perform IT tasks for one or more groups, in addition to applying policies to individuals.

- Approximately 450 IT policies that can be applied to individuals or groups of smartphone users, ranging from enforcing smartphone password protection and controlling access to third party smartphone applications, to controlling the use of specific smartphone features, such as using a camera or video recording.

- System health monitoring provides a unified, color-coded view of the BlackBerry environment, both server and user related, for the easy identification of potential issues.

- Advanced reporting features, including trending, chart analysis and server statistics, provide a comprehensive view into the overall health of the BlackBerry system environment. BlackBerry Enterprise Server also stores up to 56 weeks of health scores for historical trending analysis.

- Built-in high availability and automated failover allows IT administrators to set BlackBerry Enterprise Server to automatically issue alerts and then failover to a standby server when certain thresholds are met. Load balancing between the primary and standby server is an option for some shared service components like the Attachment Service. Manual failover from the primary server to the standby server is an option for IT administrators to perform planned maintenance tasks without affecting smartphone service.

- BlackBerry Enterprise Transporter Tool makes upgrading to BlackBerry Enterprise Server 5.0 easy and seamless. It streamlines the transfer of multiple user accounts from one BlackBerry Enterprise Server domain to another without impact to or action required by end users.

“The smartphone is essential for enterprises looking to improve employee productivity, accessibility, and responsiveness in today’s economic environment,” said Chris Hazelton, Research Director, Mobile and Wireless at The 451 Group. “As smartphones take on greater relevance in the enterprise and deployments grow, the demands on IT departments grow exponentially, making manageability, control and high availability must-haves in the supporting mobile infrastructure.”

Support for New Smartphone Features

BlackBerry Enterprise Server 5.0 supports all current BlackBerry smartphones and supports the following smartphone features with BlackBerry Device Software 5.0(i):

- Remote access to Windows network file shares to allow smartphone users to securely retrieve, view, edit and email documents from behind the firewall.

- Flag emails for follow-up in the same way that flags are used in Microsoft Outlook(R).

- Create, move, browse, rename and delete email folders directly from the smartphone, and view and attach files from those folders to emails sent from the smartphone.

- View attachments in a meeting request or calendar entry, and forward calendar appointments with attachments.

- Easily manage personal and public distribution lists.

- Use of Calendar Meeting Delegation for IBM(R) Lotus(R) Domino(R), which allows attendees to delegate invitations to others from their BlackBerry smartphones.

In Use Today

BlackBerry Enterprise Server 5.0 has undergone testing in real world environments for over a year, and is in use today at a number of organizations in North America and Europe, including IBM (www.ibm.com), Linklaters (www.linklaters.com), Metro Group (www.metro-ag.com), Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP (www.osler.com), Reed Smith LLP (www.reedsmith.com), and Tayside Fire and Rescue (www.taysidefire.gov.uk).

RIM itself has also been running BlackBerry Enterprise Server 5.0 and has more than 10,000 employees connected on the new version. The majority of RIM employees were migrated to version 5.0 using the new BlackBerry Enterprise Transporter tool.

“The new capabilities for handling applications in BlackBerry Enterprise Server 5.0 are exciting,” said Todd Belt, CTO of IBM Mobile Enterprise Services. “These capabilities are of tremendous significance to our enterprise customers as they continue to adopt mobile applications to meet their business needs.”

“BlackBerry Enterprise Server 5.0 is ready for a production environment,” said Paul Williamson, Systems Management Engineer at Linklaters. “Having piloted the new solution for over a year, the benefits are obvious. Access to the new console from a web browser makes remote administration very easy and the high availability options have worked extremely well since day one. Our overall experience with it has been excellent.”

“Metro Group has been successfully trialing BlackBerry Enterprise Server 5.0 for 18 months and we are currently using it to run and manage over 1,500 employees’ BlackBerry smartphones,” said Ernst Lueckerath, Head of Global Communication and Security at MGI METRO Group Information Technology. “One of the key benefits of BlackBerry Enterprise Server 5.0 is high availability, meaning that we can reliably and instantly switch servers to manage issues, or for regulated maintenance and upgrades, without impacting our employees’ BlackBerry service.”

“The upgrade to BlackBerry Enterprise Server 5.0 was one of the easiest we have ever performed. Totally flawless!” said Roosevelt J. Russell Jr., Remote Computing Analyst at Reed Smith LLP.

“BlackBerry Enterprise Server 5.0 has been successfully tested and deployed within Tayside Fire and Rescue and we are impressed with the new administrative features,” said Gary Bellfield, ICT Manager at Tayside Fire and Rescue. “Having true high availability built into the platform has given us further peace of mind as we rely on our BlackBerry smartphones to help support the life-critical emergency services we provide.”

New Support Programs and Services

RIM is also announcing today new technical support, professional services, and training and certification programs to help BlackBerry Enterprise Server 5.0 customers achieve the best possible performance and return on investment from their BlackBerry smartphone deployments:

- BlackBerry(R) Technical Support Services – www.blackberry.com/btss – offers a new tiered program with varying degrees of support to meet the range of customer needs. New services include Change Management Planning, Health Check Services and Direct to Level Two Support Resources.

- BlackBerry(R) Migration Planning Services – www.blackberry.com/professional_services – are designed to help organizations plan their upgrade to BlackBerry Enterprise Server 5.0.

- BlackBerry(R) Training and Certification Programs for BlackBerry Enterprise Server 5.0 are planned for availability in the third quarter of this year. For more information about training for new administrators, visit www.blackberry.com/training. For more information about certification for administrators of BlackBerry Enterprise Server 5.0, visit www.blackberry.com/certification.

“RIM’s new professional services, support and training programs have helped us prepare for our transition to BlackBerry Enterprise Server 5.0,” said Peter Bier, CIO, Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP. “The RIM team analyzed our mobility needs and our IT staff’s preparedness to determine the right system setup, training requirements, level of support and migration plan that would ensure a smooth transition to version 5.0.”

Certified Secure

Also announced today, BlackBerry Enterprise Server 5.0 has obtained Common Criteria Evaluation Assurance Level 4 (EAL 4+) certification (see separate release). The Common Criteria is an international standard for validating that IT products meet specific security requirements. Certifications are recognized by 26 countries, including Australia, Canada, France, Germany, the United Kingdom and the United States.

Available Today

BlackBerry Enterprise Server 5.0 is available today for IBM(R) Lotus(R) Domino(R) and Microsoft(R) Exchange. For more information, visit http://na.blackberry.com/eng/services/server.

(i) BlackBerry Device Software 5.0 is scheduled to be available later this year.

Forward-looking statements in this news release are made pursuant to the “safe harbor” provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. When used herein, words such as “intend” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on assumptions made by and information available to Research In Motion Limited. Investors are cautioned that such forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements include, without limitation, possible product defects and product liability, risks related to international sales and potential foreign currency exchange fluctuations, the initiation or outcome of litigation, acts or potential acts of terrorism, international conflicts, significant fluctuations of quarterly operating results, changes in Canadian and foreign laws and regulations, continued acceptance of RIM’s products, increased levels of competition, technological changes and the successful development of new products, dependence on third-party networks to provide services, dependence on intellectual property rights, and other risks and factors detailed from time to time in RIM’s periodic reports filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, and other regulatory authorities. RIM has no intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

The BlackBerry and RIM families of related marks, images and symbols are the exclusive properties and trademarks of Research In Motion Limited. RIM, Research In Motion and BlackBerry are registered with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and may be pending or registered in other countries. All other brands, product names, company names, trademarks and service marks are the properties of their respective owners. RIM assumes no obligations or liability and makes no representation, warranty, endorsement or guarantee in relation to any aspect of any third party products or service.

More details can be found at BlackBerry.com

Our friends over at CrackBerry have just leaked a new screenshot of what’s being called BlackBerry Groups, which borrows features from the dying BlackBerry Unite! Think of it as an application for your BlackBerry that allows you to share your contacts, calendars and location with people in your group. It’s quite an interesting idea considering they are killing off Unite starting today. RIM did announce today that BlackBerry Unite! their mini BES solution for personal family use will no longer be offered effective today. So we might just see BlackBerry Groups pop up very soon, maybe even WES 2009 soon? Stay tuned…

Our friends at BGR are reporting that WES (Wireless Enterprise Symposium) 2009 might show off some exciting new toys! First thing right off the bat is AT&T will finally be showing off the BlackBerry Curve 8900 aka Javelin after much delay. Not only that but RIM hopefully will formally announce the BlackBerry 9630 “Niagara” which is the new CDMA World Edition smartphone. As you may know the 9630 will take from both the Bold and Curve 8900 series to bring an all new design with tons of great features. BGR goes on to report that Canada may be the first to see the 9630 launch on presumally Bell and Telus late May, then followed by Verizon in June/July.

That’s most of the hardware related news for WES 2009. With any luck at all RIM won’t disappoint us this May. Oh and in case your wondering WES 2009 runs from May 5-7, 2009…

Boy Genius plans to keep everyone jumpy until WES 2009. Seems BG got a tip that RIM is working on a Storm-like Bold-like design. Apparently RIM will be showing off at WES 2009 (I know its a long ways away) this new touch screen model which is similar to the Bold and upcoming Curve 8900 (Javelin). It will compete directly with Palm’s touch screen models. So because this is very early information no official codename or model is known. Check out his mock up of this Treo Berry like device. Now I guess its time to sit back and wait for more details…