RIM (RIMM) is making some headway in getting carrier support for its mobile device solution services, as Sprint (S) announced on Thursday that it would support RIM’s BlackBerry Mobile Fusion. The key feature of Mobile Fusion is that it doesn’t just help companies manage BlackBerry devices but iOS and Android devices as well, thus giving it appeal for longtime BlackBerry enterprise customers who want to branch out and allow more devices on their networks. Sprint’s full press release is posted below.
Sprint Adds BlackBerry Mobile Fusion to its Mobile Device Management Suite
New solution joins expanding Sprint Professional Mobility Services portfolio which simplifies device management and security for businesses
OVERLAND PARK, Kan. (BUSINESS WIRE), October 18, 2012 – Sprint (NYSE: S) today announced the addition of BlackBerry® Mobile Fusion to its suite of Mobile Device Management (MDM) solutions for businesses.
Sprint is focused on Mobile Device Management solutions to help companies manage and secure devices across all carriers and operating systems so companies can deploy and maintain one solution for all of their mobile devices. Sprint is the first to offer BlackBerry Mobile Fusion as a carrier-billed application, which also simplifies the billing process for businesses.
“Businesses need a simple solution to manage and secure the growing variety of devices used in the workplace in order to protect corporate data, establish and enforce use policies, and administer the applications employees use to conduct business efficiently,” said John Dupree, senior vice president of business sales – Sprint. “Adding BlackBerry Mobile Fusion to our portfolio broadens the options we have available for our customers to meet their varied needs and mobile environments.”
Built on the foundation that has established BlackBerry® Enterprise Server as the gold standard for government and businesses, BlackBerry Mobile Fusion delivers a cost-efficient, secure, reliable and scalable solution that consolidates the management of smartphones and tablets running BlackBerry® OS as well as Android™ and iOS®, and provides a single, unified, Web-based console for easily management of all devices.
“We’re pleased to work with Sprint to enhance the value-added services that help Sprint customers manage, secure and deploy corporate and BYOD devices,” said Richard Piasentin, vice president and managing director for the U.S. at RIM. “BlackBerry Mobile Fusion delivers enterprise-grade MDM for all devices within an organization, supports the unique BlackBerry Balance technology in BlackBerry smartphones and PlayBook tablets that keeps business information and applications highly secure and separate from personal information, is backed by global support services, and gives IT departments a simple and straightforward upgrade path to BlackBerry Enterprise Service 10.”
Mobile Device Management solutions are one component of Sprint Professional Mobility Services. This portfolio of enterprise-grade managed services was designed to meet any business customers’ unique needs, from providing a greater level of security and management of devices and applications via Mobile Device Management to handling the complexity of cross-carrier expenses, deployment, lifecycle, policy management and dedicated support with Mobility Management. A recent addition to this portfolio is BYOD Management, which provides companies with a simple turnkey solution to manage the security, administration and shared costs associated with allowing employees to use their preferred device for work purposes to be more productive.
Teaming with trusted, leading companies to deliver these services, Sprint Professional Mobility Services offers multiple options to help solve the challenges of any type and size of organization across a multicarrier environment. More information about all services within the portfolio is available at www.sprint.com/itsecurity.
Sprint Mobile Security and Network leadership
Sprint is committed to comprehensively addressing mobile security for businesses and consumers, and to developing and raising awareness of security and protection solutions. In 2011 Sprint launched the Mobile Security Council to bring together key players in the mobile ecosystem to address protection, safety and security needs important to consumers and businesses.
Sprint also offers bundled, value-priced mobile security and safety solutions for consumers. Sprint Guardian is a collection of mobile family safety and device security features that provide families relevant tools to help keep their smartphones – and their families – safe and secure.
In addition, to ensure that demand for connectivity for mobility solutions will be met, Sprint has embarked on a multiyear network initiative, Network Vision, designed to enhance customers’ network experience with faster data speeds, improved voice quality and easier connectivity. Sprint expects to complete the majority of Network Vision by the end of 2013.