4 ms·

I'd be interested in hearing about it. From the (limited) amount I do know, it seemed like BB was a mix of "security by obscurity" with some memory safety (Java

by jtl999 7y ago

I'd be interested in hearing about it. From the (limited) amount I do know, it seemed like BB was a mix of "security by obscurity" with some memory safety (Java) and so called "internal code audits" by RIM.

thedance 7y ago
The security of the BlackBerry came from the fact that an organization could deploy their own data message servers, the “BES” that’s connected directly to your intranet. It was a bit vpn-like, but at the application layer. IT guys liked it because it made them feel like they were in charge, which is the main feature enterprise IT guys shop for.
- rcarmo 7y ago
  This is an extremely accurate statement that can be complemented by the telco side - telcos that sold BlackBerry devices saw it as a great way to "lock in" customers in the business/corporate sector, add an extra data service to the customers' bill, and reduce the number of bandwidth-guzzling PDAs (and PCs) on the fledgeling GPRS networks (which were a far cry from the [3-5]G networks we have today). It was initially played as an exclusive (not many telcos wanted to devote APNs to manufacturers or set up the tunnelling to the BES), which helped cement that worldview. From an IT perspective again, you also had pretty decent device management (activation/restriction/lockout/wipe) features. Customers, on the other hand, loved having usable e-mail and calendaring on their pockets (and later IM, but that's part to RIM's failed attempt at going mainstream, and I do thing I will write that post soon...). Oh, and they also loved week long battery life. Sad that is now a thing of the distant past.
  - amaccuish 7y ago
    Out of interest, how did the connection from the telcos to RIM work? Was it leased lines? I'm presuming it's this direct integration that allowed BlackBerry to push a message straight out to a device, no firewalls in the way?
    - rcarmo 7y ago
      It wasn’t to RIM initially. It was to customer premises via their existing infrastructure (leased lines, usually, but from the telco to the customer). Later (for consumer services) RIM became essentially a large virtual corporate customer, with traffic routed via the Internet.

by jtl999 7y ago

thedance 7y ago

The security of the BlackBerry came from the fact that an organization could deploy their own data message servers, the “BES” that’s connected directly to your intranet. It was a bit vpn-like, but at the application layer. IT guys liked it because it made them feel like they were in charge, which is the main feature enterprise IT guys shop for.

rcarmo 7y ago
This is an extremely accurate statement that can be complemented by the telco side - telcos that sold BlackBerry devices saw it as a great way to "lock in" customers in the business/corporate sector, add an extra data service to the customers' bill, and reduce the number of bandwidth-guzzling PDAs (and PCs) on the fledgeling GPRS networks (which were a far cry from the [3-5]G networks we have today). It was initially played as an exclusive (not many telcos wanted to devote APNs to manufacturers or set up the tunnelling to the BES), which helped cement that worldview. From an IT perspective again, you also had pretty decent device management (activation/restriction/lockout/wipe) features. Customers, on the other hand, loved having usable e-mail and calendaring on their pockets (and later IM, but that's part to RIM's failed attempt at going mainstream, and I do thing I will write that post soon...). Oh, and they also loved week long battery life. Sad that is now a thing of the distant past.
- amaccuish 7y ago
  Out of interest, how did the connection from the telcos to RIM work? Was it leased lines? I'm presuming it's this direct integration that allowed BlackBerry to push a message straight out to a device, no firewalls in the way?
  - rcarmo 7y ago
    It wasn’t to RIM initially. It was to customer premises via their existing infrastructure (leased lines, usually, but from the telco to the customer). Later (for consumer services) RIM became essentially a large virtual corporate customer, with traffic routed via the Internet.