May 3, 2011

Research in Motion May 2 acquired Ubitexx to add mobile device management for Apple iOS and Google Android smartphones and tablets via one console. ORLANDO, Fla. -Research In Motion May 2 said it acquired Ubitexx, a software maker that willenable RIM to help its enterprise customers securely manage Apple iOS andGoogle Android smartphones and tablets.Financialterms of the buyout, announced at the Blackberry World developer's conferencehere, were not disclosed. RIM willaugment its Blackberry Enterprise Server, which acts as a gatekeeper forcorporate data exchanged via Blackberry handsets, to protect Apple's iPhone andiPad, as well as Android-based Samsung Galaxy S smartphones and the MotorolaXoom and LG G-slate tablets. From a singleconsole, IT administrators will be able to provision software updates andmanage policies, inventory, security and services for iOS and Android devices,in addition to Blackberry gadgets.Administratorswill also be able to activate devices and push software updates over the air,lock and wipe devices, reset passwords and manage certain mobile applicationsfrom the console.RIM warnedthat certain management features, such as push technology and IT policies, areexpected to remain exclusive to BlackBerry devices because they are builtdirectly into a device's operating system.AndrewBocking, vice president of handheld software product management for RIM, said theUbitexx buy is central to RIM's plans for a multi-platform BlackBerryEnterprise Solution intended for enterprises and government organizations.With the buy,RIM is joining Sybase, Good Technology, Zenprise and Mobile Iron and a numberof other mobile device management software makers who acknowledged the so-called consumerization of IT .That is theidea that corporate knowledge workers insist on using their iPhones, iPads andAndroid devices as their primary business device.IT administratorsneed to strike a balance between helping their employees use their devices ofchoice while protecting any proprietary, corporate data that resides onthem. This challenge is what RIM intends to address with itsmulti-platform BlackBerry Enterprise Solution.Themulti-platform BlackBerry Enterprise Solution with iOS and Android devicecoverage will be available later this year. Those interested can register for aproduct review of it here .