RIM launches Blackberry Mobile Fusion

Research in Motion (RIM) has launched BlackBerry Mobile Fusion,its new mobile device management (MDM) solution for business and government customers.

BlackBerry Mobile Fusion, originally announced in November 2011, gives corporate users the ability to link employees' personal smartphones and tablets to the BlackBerry network.

RIM claims the system is a cost-efficient and reliable solution that provides businesses with a single, unified, secure web-based console for device management.

BlackBerry Mobile Fusion will clean up mobile device management within firms, according to Alan Panezic, vice president of enterprise product management and marketing at RIM.

"For businesses and government, managing a mix of mobile devices on any scale is chaotic. Organisations face pressure to allow employees to bring their own devices into the workplace, and they are looking to RIM as the global leader in the enterprise mobility space to solve that problem," Panezic said.

"BlackBerry Mobile Fusion allows organisations to manage a mixed environment of devices in the most secure, simple, and cost efficient manner possible. It also means that businesses and government do not have to move to the lowest common denominator on security for all the devices they need to manage."

BlackBerry users are not the only ones who stand to benefit from BlackBerry Mobile Fusion. The service provides MDM capabilities for iOS and Android devices as well.

Some of the features include:

Support for multiple devices per user;

Connectivity management (Wi-Fi, VPN, certificates);

Access to the unified we-based console;

Security, asset and configuration management;

Security and protection for lost or stolen devices.

To connect iOS and Android devices, users must download the Mobile Fusion Client app, which is available for free from the corresponding app stores.

While Blackberry Mobile Fusion is available as a free download, actual prices depend on the number of devices being managed.

Client Access Licenses (CALs) start at $99 (63) per user or $4 (2.50) per user per month.

RIM will offer a 60-day free trial to allow users to create a business pilot before committing to purchasing a CAL.