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End of Life for BlackBerry MDS Runtime and BlackBerry MDS Studio
Research In Motion (RIM) will end of life (EOL) the below software products and versions:
| Product | Version | End of Availability | End of Support |
| BlackBerry® MDS Runtime | All | December 31, 2009 | June 30, 2010 |
| BlackBerry® MDS Studio | All | December 31, 2009 | June 30, 2010 |
| BlackBerry® Plug-in for Microsoft® Visual Studio® | v1.0 and v1.1 | December 31, 2009 | June 30, 2010 |
Why is RIM giving an EOL for BlackBerry MDS Runtime and BlackBerry MDS Studio?
The BlackBerry application platform will now focus on two development approaches: Java® and web. With these development approaches, application developers can leverage standard development technologies to build compelling applications regardless of the selected approach. Customers can also leverage existing investments, while growing and extending their applications in the future.
The benefits offered in BlackBerry MDS Runtime and BlackBerry MDS Studio will be integrated into the Java and web development tools.
What are the migration paths for developers and customers?
The BlackBerry application platform will provide two approaches to mobilize business data:
- BlackBerry widgets: A new packaging model will be offered that allows developers to leverage standard web technologies such as HTML, CSS, JavaScript® and Ajax, and bundle them in a deployable standalone application. This application approach will allow a compelling experience over standard mobile web applications (browser applications). The new standalone application model will allow integration points with the BlackBerry platform not available with browser applications today
- Java: Rapid application development tools will be introduced into the Java development approach, giving developers access to the benefits offered by BlackBerry MDS Studio development
What will happen with the BlackBerry Plug-in for Microsoft Visual Studio?
Versions of the BlackBerry Plug-in for Microsoft Visual Studio prior to v1.2 that allow development of BlackBerry MDS Runtime applications will be end-of-lifed. The BlackBerry Plug-in for Microsoft Visual Studio, starting with v1.2, will continue to be offered and enhanced, providing new web development and BlackBerry platform capabilities, including BlackBerry widgets.
I understand the tools have an end of life. Are you planning to provide updates as new smartphones are launched with new versions of your operating system?
BlackBerry MDS Runtime won’t be supported on any BlackBerry smartphone running OS v4.7.1 or higher.
How does this affect BlackBerry® Enterprise Server or BlackBerry® Enterprise Server for MDS Applications?
BlackBerry Enterprise Server or BlackBerry Enterprise Server for MDS Applications will continue to support connectivity and deployment of BlackBerry Java and web applications.
BlackBerry MDS Runtime applications will be supported where the outlined versions of BlackBerry MDS Runtime and supported versions of BlackBerry operating systems apply.
If BlackBerry MDS Runtime is no longer supported, what assets from my application can be leveraged as I migrate to a different approach?
Since the BlackBerry MDS Runtime application is based on a web service, standard practices can be applied to communicate with that data source, making it fully re-useable. View an example on how to leverage assets from a BlackBerry Java application