BlackBerry support for Microsoft Office 365 now available

RIM has announced the availability of its BlackBerry Business Cloud Services for Microsoft Office 365, which provides cloud-based management of the handsets as well as enabling BlackBerry users to access Office 365 email from their device.

First announced last October, BlackBerry Business Cloud Services for Microsoft Office 365 is available from today and supports wireless synchronisation between Exchange Online and BlackBerry smartphones to offer reliable, mobile access to email, calendar, contacts and tasks, RIM said.

"This new cloud-based option allows customers to cost-effectively support mobility across their organisations and easily manage and secure their BlackBerry deployments," said Alan Panezic, vice president for enterprise product management.

The service is available at no additional charge for enterprise customers already using Office 365 or hosted versions of Exchange Online, and works with BlackBerry smartphones connected via business or consumer data plans.

For administrators, a web-based console provides the ability to provision, manage and secure BlackBerry smartphones, manage user accounts and apply policies, including tools to reset passwords and lock or wipe missing devices.

The service is also aimed at mobile networks and service providers, who can use the cloud service to manage BlackBerry deployments on behalf of their customers, RIM added.

RIM will be hoping the new functionalities help it battle back against its rivals in the smartphone market, where it has been losing market share for some time, forcing it to bring in a new chief executive to try and turn things around.