BlackBerry announces BB 10.1 rolling out to US Z10 users later this month (updated)

BlackBerry Live 2013 has begun, and Thorsten Heins just revealed the first bit of good news for BlackBerry users. The latest version of BlackBerry's OS, BB 10.1 will be rolling out to the Z10 on US carriers beginning later this month. While the new software is mostly about tweaks to the OS for folks with a Q10 in their pocket, Z10 users will get an HDR camera mode, support for contact suggestions, PIN-to-PIN messaging and email with attached messages when they get the update. Additionally, notifications are improved with per-account message notifications and users will finally be able to paste phone numbers into the dialers as well. We still don't have an exact delivery date, as it'll vary by carrier, but at least you know you'll get the new software goodies in the next couple weeks.

BlackBerry's Enterprise Service is also getting bumped to version 10.1 and is available as a free download right now. Most users won't care much about the mobile-management platform, but IT pros will definitely appreciate the simplified deployment tools that can manage not just BB10 devices, but also Android and iOS handsets. There's also a shiny new dashboard that offers all sorts of data and statistics. And, really, who doesn't love piles of data?

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BlackBerry 10.1 for the BlackBerry Z10 Smartphone – It Keeps Getting Better to Keep You Moving

BlackBerry® 10 is designed to learn and adapt to the way you work. It helps you be faster, more efficient and more effective. It keeps moving with you to help you be more successful. And now there's an update. With BlackBerry 10.1, it keeps getting better. BlackBerry 10.1 introduces a number of enhancements to make the overall BlackBerry 10 experience even better and updating to BlackBerry 10.1 is free and easy to do from your BlackBerry Z10 over a Wi-Fi network.

Highlights of BlackBerry 10.1

BlackBerry Hub manages all of your conversations
BlackBerry Hub helps you stay organized, in control and on top of all of your conversations, and with BlackBerry 10.1, it just keeps getting better. You can now view emails that are attached to another email, get contact suggestions when you start addressing a message, and send PIN to PIN messages for direct communication between BlackBerry smartphones.

Personalize your Notifications
BlackBerry 10.1 allows you to set up personalized notifications for your contacts and accounts. Customize ringtones, vibrations and the LED light for calls or message from each of your friends, family or colleagues. You can also set up a different notification for different accounts (such as for different email accounts, Facebook, Twitter, etc.)

Click to call
You can now click on a phone number in an email or BBM message to call the number or copy and paste it right onto the dialer screen in the phone app.

Better cursor control
BlackBerry 10.1 offers better cursor control making it easier to accurately place the cursor and select text. Just tap once to bring up the cursor control, grab the blue circle and drag it around to the insertion point that you want. Improved visual feedback lets you know where you're pointing. You can also tap either side of the circle to move forward or backward one character at a time.

Improved picture capturing
BlackBerry 10.1 adds an HDR (high dynamic range) shooting mode for taking beautiful images in tricky lighting conditions. High Dynamic Range (HDR) mode takes multiple pictures at different exposure levels and layers them automatically to produce a single photo that combines the best of the dark and light areas. It also includes improved red eye and golden eye reduction in the picture editor.

More to discover with BlackBerry 10.1
You'll find a number of new enhancements across the BlackBerry 10 OS like landscape support for the calendar, easier international dialing and so much more. The first step to discovering these new features on your BlackBerry Z10 smartphone is to update your BlackBerry 10 software.

Updating is easy
Updating to BlackBerry 10.1 is free and easy to do. To update your BlackBerry Z10 smartphone to BlackBerry 10.1 look for the alert in the notifications section of the BlackBerry Hub. You can also check for software updates through the software updates section in the Settings menu or through the BlackBerry Link desktop software. The download will happen in the background and the update will be applied without needing to back up your smartphone. All of your information remains safe. For more information on how to update your BlackBerry Z10 smartphone, visit www.BlackBerry.com/update.


Availability
BlackBerry 10.1 comes preloaded on BlackBerry Q10 smartphones, and will be available as an update for BlackBerry Z10 smartphones as a free download. Please check with your local carrier for availability.
Helpful Links:
For more information on BlackBerry 10, please visit: BlackBerry 10.
BlackBerry and related trademarks, names and logos are the property of Research In Motion Limited. BlackBerry is not responsible for any third-party products or services.

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BlackBerry Enterprise Service 10 Version 10.1 Now Available for Download
Multi-platform Enterprise Mobility Management solution adds new "Regulated-level" IT policy controls, simplified implementation with single-server deployment

WATERLOO, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - May 14, 2013) - BlackBerry(R) (NASDAQ:BBRY)(TSX:BB) today announced BlackBerry(R) Enterprise Service 10 version 10.1, an update to BlackBerry's multi-platform Enterprise Mobility Management (EMM) solution that provides device and app management for BYOD and corporate-owned BlackBerry(R), iOS(R) and Android(TM) devices. Today's update brings new "Regulated-level" IT policy controls and settings for government agencies and customers in regulated industries who require an advanced level of security, control and logging of BlackBerry(R) 10 smartphones. It also allows customers to support BlackBerry 10 and BlackBerry OS smartphones from a single server.

BlackBerry Enterprise Service 10 version 10.1 is free to download and existing BlackBerry(R) Enterprise Server 5 customers can exchange their client access licenses for free through 2013(i). To date, 12,000 BlackBerry Enterprise Service 10 servers have been installed by customers around the world.

Key features of BlackBerry Enterprise Service 10 version 10.1

-- Regulated-level EMM. BlackBerry Enterprise Service 10 version 10.1
provides customers with an optional set of extended IT policy settings
and controls that restricts the use of a BlackBerry 10 smartphone for
work only (does not allow personal apps and content).
-- Simplified deployment for a lower total cost of ownership. Following a
simple installation process, customers will be able to use BlackBerry
Enterprise Service 10 version 10.1 to manage BlackBerry 10 smartphones,
BlackBerry(R) PlayBook(TM) tablets, iOS and Android devices, as well as
earlier model BlackBerry smartphones. Upgrading to BlackBerry Enterprise
Service 10 version 10.1 is simple and intuitive, and existing BlackBerry
Enterprise Server 5 customers can quickly upgrade to BlackBerry
Enterprise Service 10 version 10.1 with no firewall changes.
-- Dashboard & reporting. New dashboard capabilities provide an "at-a-
glance" graphical view of information and statistics associated with the
customer's complete fleet of devices, providing administrators with
immediate access to the information they need. The dashboard displays a
high level overview of information such as a device deployment summary
by platform and carrier, device compliance state, application
deployments, and more.
-- High Availability. All components of BlackBerry Enterprise Service 10
can now be deployed in a highly available active/passive configuration,
similar to the high availability support offered by BlackBerry
Enterprise Server 5.0. It offers simple, easy to configure threshold
settings and improved failover performance.
-- BlackBerry Support is now included as standard. Care(ii) now comes as
standard with BlackBerry Enterprise Service 10 deployments(iii),
providing 12x5 telephone access to BlackBerry experts, responsive online
support, access to training, productivity and diagnostic tools. Extended
technical support offerings are available.

"The new Regulated-level EMM options in BlackBerry Enterprise Service 10 version 10.1 give our government and high-security customers the advanced settings they need to have complete control of the BlackBerry 10 smartphones connected to their networks," said David J Smith, EVP, Enterprise Mobile Computing. "Extending BlackBerry security, device and application management to iOS and Android frees our customers from the need to invest in multiple device management technologies, giving them an easy and cost-effective upgrade path to a solution that supports their entire mobile environment globally."

"BlackBerry remains the only mobile solution that has a significant focus on security and business," said Rob Enderle, Principal Analyst, Enderle Group. "This allows BlackBerry to stand out positively in a market dominated by consumer focused solutions and appeal to those that rank work and productivity as more important. They also provide the fastest solution which has proven critical to those where seconds mean dollars or lives."

On the Road Map for Enterprises

Announced in March 2013 and scheduled to be available at the end June 2013, a further update of BlackBerry Enterprise Service 10 is intended to extend BlackBerry security capabilities for data-at-rest and data-in-transit and provide complete separation between work and personal data and applications for iOS and Android devices. Subject to approval by the Apple App Store and Google Play, as applicable, the new BlackBerry Secure Work Space for iOS and Android solution would include client applications that secure email, calendar, contacts, tasks, memos, browsing and document editing for the device provisioned with BlackBerry Enterprise Service 10. It would also introduce BlackBerry's single outbound port solution, aimed at greatly simplifying firewall configuration and giving customers a more secure, simple, cost effective and VPN-less infrastructure to reliably manage all of their mobile devices. Additionally, customers would be able to "app wrap" to secure additional applications to run within BlackBerry Secure Work Space through simple interfaces made available with the product. The solution is currently in closed beta with BlackBerry customers and partners worldwide.

For companies that don't require behind the firewall app and browsing access, application management, or advanced security and controls, BlackBerry 10 smartphones support ActiveSync, providing organizations a fast and easy solution for synchronizing with Microsoft(R) Exchange(R), IBM(R) Notes(R) Traveler, Novell(R) GroupWise(R), Hotmail(R), Microsoft(R) Office365(TM), and Google Apps(TM). This is an attractive option for SMBs and larger companies that don't require the comprehensive controls and settings offered by BlackBerry Enterprise Service 10 and are looking for a fast, cost effective way to connect BlackBerry 10 smartphones to their enterprise messaging systems.

Availability

The BlackBerry Enterprise Service 10 version 10.1 server software is available as a free download at www.bes10.com. Annual client access licenses (CALs) are free for BlackBerry Enterprise Server 5 customers trading up existing BlackBerry Enterprise Server 5 CALs through 2013(i), or can be purchased for $59 per year per device. For Regulated-level EMM capabilities, additional carrier charges may apply.

BlackBerry Enterprise Service 10 version 10.1 server software is also available as a sixty (60) day free trial including 20 CALs and can be downloaded here.

The BlackBerry 10 Ready Program continues to run with offers, information and resources to help organizations make the transition to BlackBerry 10 fast, easy, and cost effective. A new free upgrade offer from BlackBerry Enterprise Server 4 to BlackBerry Enterprise Server 5 is now available, saving customers the $995 software upgrade fee. BlackBerry Enterprise Server 5 is required in order to manage BlackBerry OS smartphones through BlackBerry Enterprise Service 10, and existing customers can still take advantage of the free license exchange program at www.blackberry.com/blackberry10ready, which is available until December 31, 2013.(i)

(i) Terms and conditions apply. Subject to change without notice. For more information visit: www.blackberry.com/licensetradeup.

(ii) For customers wanting access to higher levels of support, priority queuing, account management and strategic services, BlackBerry Technical Support Services are available.

(iii) Deployment includes installation of the BlackBerry Enterprise Service 10 version 10.1 server software and purchase of BlackBerry Enterprise Service 10 Client Access Licenses. Only new 10.1 annual licenses are eligible for Care, which is for BlackBerry Enterprise Service 10 support only.