Why Apple iPhone over RIM Blackberry?
Steve Sparks, 03/07/2008
The short answer is: The new features of iPhone integration with Exchange Server negate the years of technology lock RIM has had on the Enterprise Email Market.
Dont skip the rest of my note because you think iPhone is more expensive than Blackberry. You might get deep discounts on devices however you still have to:
1. Pay $100 per device for Blackberry Enterprise Server,
2. Pay for Blackberry Enterprise Server $1000 - $4000
3. Support the server
a. Including patches,
b. Server upgrades and
c. Fight with communications issues between
i. BES and Your Email Server
ii. BES and RIM Corporate
iii. BES and Your RIM Device
You remove all those factors when you remove BES from you data center. You also might think you would have the same issues with iPhone and Exchange. However the issues move from supporting at a minimum BES and Exchange to just Exchange.
The iPhone is not a RIM killer until you add Microsoft Exchange with ActiveSync.
Microsoft Exchange with Active Sync is not as much as a threat to BES and RIM until you add the iPhone. Together they provide a superior combination that gives each user a start of the art device and removes the tight fist of RIM from the neck of your mail server.
Together Apple and Microsoft provide a superior combination in
1.User interface on the iPhone (Fully Featured Email Reader, Touch Screen),
2.Ability to configure wireless access through the easy to use iPhone Settings
3.Redundant connectivity options to email and (Internal & External Wireless)
4.Eliminate the reliance of a third party (RIM)
5.Eliminate at times a 4th party (cellular carrier) disruption in connectivity to email and corporate services.
What is takes for the Blackberry to work:
Who is invited to the RIM Party?
1. Corporate Blackberry
2. Corporate Email Server
3. Blackberry Enterprise Server
4. Corporate Internet Connection
5. RIM Servers located at RIM Headquarters
6. RIM Servers Connection to Corporate Carrier (AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon, Etc)
7. Your Carriers ability to communicate with the RIM device
If everyone of the above does not show up or decides to delay entry into the party you might as well have a traditional cell phone.
What it takes for the iPhone and Exchange Server with Active Sync to work:
Who is invited to the Apple & Exchange Party?
1. Your iPhone
2. Corporate Email Server
Why so few? Read below. You now have lots of optional paths for your email to get to your iPhone.
Optional attendees
Corporate Internet Connection
This is required for email delivery outside your corporate wireless network. However with the iPhone you have the option of using a secure wireless network to deliver email rather than depend on others to carry the traffic for you.
Corporate Wireless Network
See Above. You can always use your Carriers network for internet access, however with WiFi as part of the iPhone and the unnecessary steps to communicate through a carrier and to a 3rd party (RIM) via an additional licensed server (BES) you can always get access to drectly to your Exchange Server.
Corporate Phone Carrier
When you purchase the iPhone you would need data service, since you likely plan on carrying the device for remote email access. This would be required. AT&T would charge you at a minimum $45 a month for unlimited data and 200 SMS messages. You can pat $55 for unlimited data and 1500 SMS or $65 for unlimited data and SMS. However other than the device, the only additional changes (those that would be required other than your email server costs) would be these costs. There is no need to run a second server (BES), pay a per device license (included with the Exchange CAL) and support a third party server that does not function unless RIMs has its servers up as running (BES).
Any Wireless Network
Since iPhone supports a wide variety of VPN connections as well as ActiveSyncs encrypted email connection you can use almost any internet hotspot from anyplace in the world.
Understanding how RIM communicates to corporate email
Understanding how RIM communicates to corporate email is key to understanding clearly how the new combination of the iPhone and Microsoft Exchange saves you time, money and a lot of headache.
RIMs claim to fame is the ability to push email between your email server and each RIM device. This is done by using a dedicated server in your Data Center that intercepts email sent to your mail server. This dedicated server (BES) then passes this email to a RIM server (located at RIM HQ) and then RIM passes the email via the cellular network to the RIM device. The process is as complex as it sounds. It is also prone to failure at many locations (not including the 100s of possible failures points along the internet path where this can take place).
When RIM first developed this technology it was beyond what many could expect, or had imagined. However the core process has see little change in the years since it has been developed, which is why RIM is stuck with aging technology and new vendors like Apple are able to threaten the RIM stronghold on enterprise email devices.
If you have not figured it out, the RIM device you have in your pocket is 100% dependant on RIMs existence and there servers being up, connected to the internet and the carriers network with out interruption to bring you the service that you expect.
If Apple, and Microsoft close up shop 10 minutes after you purchase, install, deploy and train your users on the iPhone and Exchange server combination, you will still have email to your phone. RIM devices would cease to function because they are 100% dependant on RIM Corporate to pass all your email through the BES server to there servers and then to you device.
When you add the advanced interface of the iPhone and Apples willingness to add new features and functionality at no additional cost (iPhone updates to date including new features total 4 so far ) to the iPhone customer verse RIMs insistence on purchasing a new device every time they add something new.
Future expansion with the iPod Touch
You have to also consider the iPod Touch. While the device is currently being marketed as a n iPod to consumers this will in the end be a WiFi only device that provides the same features as the iPhone less the phone network connectivity.
Security
If you are worried about iPhone security, you can remote wipe devices just like you can a Blackberry, however this extends beyond connectivity to just the carrier network since this feature is also available when a device is connected to WiFi.
Keep in mind this is only a discussion of the Email connectivity between the iPhone and Exchange. I dont want to make RIM feel too bad be comparing web browsing and the ever growing feature list of the iPhone.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From http://www.apple.com/iphone/enterprise
Enterprise features in iPhone 2.0 software beta.
Upcoming iPhone support for Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync and industry-standard corporate security standards will allow IT professionals to seamlessly integrate iPhone into their enterprise environments. New features include:
Push email
Push contacts
Push calendar
Global Address List
Certificates and Identities
WPA2/802.1x
Enforced security policies
More VPN protocols
Device configuration
Remote wipe
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync support.
If your office uses Microsoft Exchange Server 2003 or 2007, iPhone 2.0 software will allow you to wirelessly push company email, calendar events, and contacts over Wi-Fi or EDGE networks to iPhones. With secure push email and over-the-air contacts and calendar features, users will stay up to date wherever they go. And thanks to the iPhone Multi-Touch display, users will find it easier to perform common tasks such as accepting meeting invitations and finding contacts in the company directory or Global Address List (GAL).
IT administrators can securely manage any iPhone that contains confidential company information with remote wipe and enforced security and password policies. These device configuration and remote management capabilities allow IT departments to quickly and seamlessly deploy iPhone throughout their companies.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Enterprise-grade networking.
iPhone 2.0 software supports Cisco IPsec VPN to ensure the highest level of IP-based encryption for transmission of sensitive company information. Employees will be able to authenticate via password, two-factor token, or digital certificate. iPhone will also support WPA2 Enterprise with 802.1x authentication the standard for Wi-Fi network protection. These features help provide safe access to sensitive company information on iPhone.
Steve Sparks, 03/07/2008
The short answer is: The new features of iPhone integration with Exchange Server negate the years of technology lock RIM has had on the Enterprise Email Market.
Dont skip the rest of my note because you think iPhone is more expensive than Blackberry. You might get deep discounts on devices however you still have to:
1. Pay $100 per device for Blackberry Enterprise Server,
2. Pay for Blackberry Enterprise Server $1000 - $4000
3. Support the server
a. Including patches,
b. Server upgrades and
c. Fight with communications issues between
i. BES and Your Email Server
ii. BES and RIM Corporate
iii. BES and Your RIM Device
You remove all those factors when you remove BES from you data center. You also might think you would have the same issues with iPhone and Exchange. However the issues move from supporting at a minimum BES and Exchange to just Exchange.
The iPhone is not a RIM killer until you add Microsoft Exchange with ActiveSync.
Microsoft Exchange with Active Sync is not as much as a threat to BES and RIM until you add the iPhone. Together they provide a superior combination that gives each user a start of the art device and removes the tight fist of RIM from the neck of your mail server.
Together Apple and Microsoft provide a superior combination in
1.User interface on the iPhone (Fully Featured Email Reader, Touch Screen),
2.Ability to configure wireless access through the easy to use iPhone Settings
3.Redundant connectivity options to email and (Internal & External Wireless)
4.Eliminate the reliance of a third party (RIM)
5.Eliminate at times a 4th party (cellular carrier) disruption in connectivity to email and corporate services.
What is takes for the Blackberry to work:
Who is invited to the RIM Party?
1. Corporate Blackberry
2. Corporate Email Server
3. Blackberry Enterprise Server
4. Corporate Internet Connection
5. RIM Servers located at RIM Headquarters
6. RIM Servers Connection to Corporate Carrier (AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon, Etc)
7. Your Carriers ability to communicate with the RIM device
If everyone of the above does not show up or decides to delay entry into the party you might as well have a traditional cell phone.
What it takes for the iPhone and Exchange Server with Active Sync to work:
Who is invited to the Apple & Exchange Party?
1. Your iPhone
2. Corporate Email Server
Why so few? Read below. You now have lots of optional paths for your email to get to your iPhone.
Optional attendees
Corporate Internet Connection
This is required for email delivery outside your corporate wireless network. However with the iPhone you have the option of using a secure wireless network to deliver email rather than depend on others to carry the traffic for you.
Corporate Wireless Network
See Above. You can always use your Carriers network for internet access, however with WiFi as part of the iPhone and the unnecessary steps to communicate through a carrier and to a 3rd party (RIM) via an additional licensed server (BES) you can always get access to drectly to your Exchange Server.
Corporate Phone Carrier
When you purchase the iPhone you would need data service, since you likely plan on carrying the device for remote email access. This would be required. AT&T would charge you at a minimum $45 a month for unlimited data and 200 SMS messages. You can pat $55 for unlimited data and 1500 SMS or $65 for unlimited data and SMS. However other than the device, the only additional changes (those that would be required other than your email server costs) would be these costs. There is no need to run a second server (BES), pay a per device license (included with the Exchange CAL) and support a third party server that does not function unless RIMs has its servers up as running (BES).
Any Wireless Network
Since iPhone supports a wide variety of VPN connections as well as ActiveSyncs encrypted email connection you can use almost any internet hotspot from anyplace in the world.
Understanding how RIM communicates to corporate email
Understanding how RIM communicates to corporate email is key to understanding clearly how the new combination of the iPhone and Microsoft Exchange saves you time, money and a lot of headache.
RIMs claim to fame is the ability to push email between your email server and each RIM device. This is done by using a dedicated server in your Data Center that intercepts email sent to your mail server. This dedicated server (BES) then passes this email to a RIM server (located at RIM HQ) and then RIM passes the email via the cellular network to the RIM device. The process is as complex as it sounds. It is also prone to failure at many locations (not including the 100s of possible failures points along the internet path where this can take place).
When RIM first developed this technology it was beyond what many could expect, or had imagined. However the core process has see little change in the years since it has been developed, which is why RIM is stuck with aging technology and new vendors like Apple are able to threaten the RIM stronghold on enterprise email devices.
If you have not figured it out, the RIM device you have in your pocket is 100% dependant on RIMs existence and there servers being up, connected to the internet and the carriers network with out interruption to bring you the service that you expect.
If Apple, and Microsoft close up shop 10 minutes after you purchase, install, deploy and train your users on the iPhone and Exchange server combination, you will still have email to your phone. RIM devices would cease to function because they are 100% dependant on RIM Corporate to pass all your email through the BES server to there servers and then to you device.
When you add the advanced interface of the iPhone and Apples willingness to add new features and functionality at no additional cost (iPhone updates to date including new features total 4 so far ) to the iPhone customer verse RIMs insistence on purchasing a new device every time they add something new.
Future expansion with the iPod Touch
You have to also consider the iPod Touch. While the device is currently being marketed as a n iPod to consumers this will in the end be a WiFi only device that provides the same features as the iPhone less the phone network connectivity.
Security
If you are worried about iPhone security, you can remote wipe devices just like you can a Blackberry, however this extends beyond connectivity to just the carrier network since this feature is also available when a device is connected to WiFi.
Keep in mind this is only a discussion of the Email connectivity between the iPhone and Exchange. I dont want to make RIM feel too bad be comparing web browsing and the ever growing feature list of the iPhone.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From http://www.apple.com/iphone/enterprise
Enterprise features in iPhone 2.0 software beta.
Upcoming iPhone support for Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync and industry-standard corporate security standards will allow IT professionals to seamlessly integrate iPhone into their enterprise environments. New features include:
Push email
Push contacts
Push calendar
Global Address List
Certificates and Identities
WPA2/802.1x
Enforced security policies
More VPN protocols
Device configuration
Remote wipe
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync support.
If your office uses Microsoft Exchange Server 2003 or 2007, iPhone 2.0 software will allow you to wirelessly push company email, calendar events, and contacts over Wi-Fi or EDGE networks to iPhones. With secure push email and over-the-air contacts and calendar features, users will stay up to date wherever they go. And thanks to the iPhone Multi-Touch display, users will find it easier to perform common tasks such as accepting meeting invitations and finding contacts in the company directory or Global Address List (GAL).
IT administrators can securely manage any iPhone that contains confidential company information with remote wipe and enforced security and password policies. These device configuration and remote management capabilities allow IT departments to quickly and seamlessly deploy iPhone throughout their companies.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Enterprise-grade networking.
iPhone 2.0 software supports Cisco IPsec VPN to ensure the highest level of IP-based encryption for transmission of sensitive company information. Employees will be able to authenticate via password, two-factor token, or digital certificate. iPhone will also support WPA2 Enterprise with 802.1x authentication the standard for Wi-Fi network protection. These features help provide safe access to sensitive company information on iPhone.
But I still recomsnd the Blackberry to people because its an awesome phone and system. But I love my iPhone and the simple system that Apple has created!
