Overview

BlackBerry® Mobile Data System (BlackBerry MDS) v4.1 is an optimized application development framework for the BlackBerry® Enterprise Solution. It can dramatically reduce the amount of time and resources required to develop and deploy wireless applications for mobile workers. BlackBerry MDS allows organizations to deliver corporate data wirelessly, leveraging the same proven push delivery model and advanced security features used for BlackBerry email.

BlackBerry MDS components and architecture

BlackBerry MDS provides the essentials for creating, deploying and managing applications for the BlackBerry Enterprise Solution. Its three main components are:

1. BlackBerry MDS Services
   BlackBerry MDS Services are the next generation of the BlackBerry® Mobile Data Service. As part of the BlackBerry® Enterprise Server, they are responsible for managing interactions and requests between BlackBerry smartphones and enterprise applications that sit behind the corporate firewall.
2. BlackBerry MDS Developer Tools
   Use BlackBerry MDS Developer Tools to create wireless applications for BlackBerry smartphones. Learn more about Development Options for BlackBerry MDS v4.1
3. BlackBerry MDS Device Software
   BlackBerry MDS Device Software allows applications built with BlackBerry MDS Developer Tools to run on BlackBerry smartphones.

Find out more

• Read the features of the BlackBerry Mobile Data System
• Compare the BlackBerry Mobile Data System to previous products
• Get the latest resources
• View the pricing for BlackBerry MDS

Features

BlackBerry® Mobile Data System (BlackBerry MDS) v4.1 gives your organization everything you need to build, deploy and manage applications for the BlackBerry® Enterprise Solution

• Provides multiple development options and developer tools so you can choose the methods that best suit your needs
• Uses standard mechanisms and protocols to simplify integration with applications and systems
• Centralizes deployment and management of applications using familiar BlackBerry® Enterprise Server administration tools
• Uses over-the-air (OTA) application installation, deployment, upgrade and deletion facilities
• Protects IT investments by ensuring technologies and systems are reusable
• Saves time and money by reducing development time and complexity
• Optimizes wireless data transmissions for increased performance and lower operating costs

Find out more

• Compare the BlackBerry Mobile Data System to previous products
• Get the latest resources
• View the pricing for BlackBerry MDS

Compare

How is this different from previous products? BlackBerry® Mobile Data System (BlackBerry MDS) now includes BlackBerry MDS Services, BlackBerry MDS Developer Tools and BlackBerry MDS Device Software and enables several enhancements, including:

Web Services support

• BlackBerry® MDS Studio uses exposed Web Services to create mobile applications for BlackBerry smartphones
• Uses standards-based protocols and specifications for integration, such as SOAP, XML and UDDI for corporate data access
• Eliminates the need for, and costs associated with, development and maintenance of custom integration code

Increased scalability

• BlackBerry MDS Services and the BlackBerry® Enterprise Server can be installed on separate machines for greater performance and stability
• Improved handling of push traffic at peak times through the temporary storage of pushed messages
• Broadcast push allows simultaneous content distribution to groups of users

Greater performance

• Support for additional simultaneous persistent socket connections, increasing efficiency and portability of applications using sockets
• Improved BlackBerry transcoder architecture decreases browser rendering times

Additional security features

• RSA SecurID® token support for 2-factor authentication provides extra control for accessing content wirelessly

View a comparison of BlackBerry® Mobile Data Service and BlackBerry Mobile Data System

Comparison Chart

A comprehensive new application development framework

The BlackBerry® Mobile Data Service feature of the BlackBerry® Enterprise Server has been renamed BlackBerry® MDS Services and has undergone significant expansion. The following chart includes a comparison of BlackBerry Mobile Data Service available with BlackBerry Enterprise Server software v4.0, the BlackBerry MDS v4.0 Upgrade Pack for BlackBerry Enterprise Sever software v4.0 and the new BlackBerry® Mobile Data System (BlackBerry MDS) v4.1.

*Check with service provider for availability, roaming arrangements, service plans and features. Certain features outlined in this document require a minimum version of BlackBerry Enterprise Server Software, BlackBerry® Desktop Software and/or BlackBerry® Device Software and may require additional development or third party products and/or services for access to corporate applications and use of certain models of BlackBerry smartphones. Prior to subscribing to or implementing any third party products and services, it is your responsibility to ensure that the airtime service provider you are working with has agreed to support all of the features of the third party products and services. Installation and use of third party products and services with RIM's products and services may require one or more patent, trademark or copyright licenses in order to avoid infringement of the intellectual property rights of others. You are solely responsible for determining whether such third party licenses are required and are responsible for acquiring any such licenses. To the extent that such intellectual property licenses may be required, RIM expressly recommends that you do not install or use these products and services until all such applicable licenses have been acquired by you or on your behalf. Your use of third party software shall be governed by and subject to you agreeing to the terms of separate software licenses, if any, for those products or services. Any third party products or services that are provided with RIM's products and services are provided "as is". RIM makes no representation, warranty or guarantee whatsoever in relation to the third party products or services and RIM assumes no liability whatsoever in relation to the third party products and services even if RIM has been advised of the possibility of such damages or can anticipate such damages.

Resources

Our resources section gives you access to all the BlackBerry® Mobile Data System (BlackBerry MDS) information you’re looking for. Here you’ll find demonstrations, technical overviews, upgrade packages and more.

BlackBerry MDS resources

View the BlackBerry Mobile Data System v4.1 Technical Overview (PDF)

Haven’t upgraded to BlackBerry® Enterprise Server software v4.1 yet? Check out the BlackBerry MDS v4.0 Upgrade Pack

Developer resources – BlackBerry Developer Zone

Learn more about BlackBerry MDS Developer Tools with our set of Flash autodemo tools. These autodemos demonstrate each of the developer tools using realistic data as examples.

Discover the latest BlackBerry MDS Developer Tools for creating your BlackBerry applications. BlackBerry MDS Developer Tools are free of charge and include simulators for testing your BlackBerry applications.

Just getting started? Our BlackBerry Developer Zone gives you more information about the different options and tools available for accessing your business applications from your BlackBerry smartphone.

Pricing

BlackBerry® Mobile Data System (BlackBerry MDS) is available free to customers using the BlackBerry® Enterprise Solution.

1. BlackBerry® MDS Services are included as part of the standard BlackBerry® Enterprise Server*.
   
   BlackBerry Enterprise Server pricing for:
   
   • Microsoft® Exchange
   • IBM® Lotus® Domino®
   • Novell® GroupWise®
2. BlackBerry MDS Device Software is included with the device software. The exception to this is BlackBerry® MDS Runtime, which is required to run BlackBerry® MDS Studio Applications. Download BlackBerry MDS Runtime for free.
3. BlackBerry MDS Developer Tools can be downloaded free of charge from the BlackBerry Developer Zone. Download BlackBerry Developer Tools.

* BlackBerry MDS Services are included with BlackBerry Enterprise Server software v4.1 and higher. Previous to BlackBerry Enterprise Server software v4.1, BlackBerry MDS Services were named BlackBerry® Mobile Data Service and included with the software. For BlackBerry Enterprise Server v4.0, you can download the BlackBerry MDS Services for Web Services upgrade here.