Research in Motion has launched a free cloud service that would allow small and medium businesses (SMB) to centrally manage multiple BlackBerry devices and provide protection for business content saved on the devices. The new service is called the BlackBerry Management Center (BMC) which is an alternative to the BlackBerry Enterprise Server (BES).

The cloud-based BlackBerry Management Center is designed for businesses with up to 100 BlackBerry handsets, which provides access to email from an Internet service provider or use web-based email services.

“We are pleased to introduce RIM’s latest cloud service designed specifically for small businesses,” said Alan Panezic, Vice President, Enterprise Product Management at Research In Motion. “BlackBerry Management Center is a free service and an effective way to centrally manage and support employees’ BlackBerry smartphones in the cloud.”

The BMC features management functionalities that are already available with BES. However unlike BES which requires investment in infrastructure and management software, the BMC is ready to be used and does not require any investment on hardware and software.

BMC simplifies the management of BlackBerry devices. IT administrators just need to add BlackBerry devices centrally and send out invitations to employees. Employees will then have the option of selecting management features they want to activate.

In case of stolen or lost devices, the service helps to minimize the risk by wirelessly back up BlackBerry handsets automatically on a daily, weekly or monthly basis. It also offers protection on a lost or stolen device by remotely locking, initiating a loud ring and displaying a message on the Home screen.  The contents of the device can also be wiped out if necessary including the contents in the microSD card.

Services Angle

Research in Motion has been the leading smartphone manufacturer that offers enterprise mobility. However this past quarter, RIM has been losing out on the battle against Apple and Android. On top of that the company is cutting off 2,000 employees including some of their executives. Going through the pressure, RIM has fortified its strategy by offering new handsets and venturing into the cloud. RIM’s BlackBerry Management Center is not new however but it smartly targets small businesses.