Google targets business users with BlackBerry connector
Beta software promises to make it easy to run Google Apps on the popular smartphone
May 4, 2009 12:00 PM ETGoogle Watch
- Google gives users control over their searchable life
- Google unveils tools to refine news and image searches
- Google looks for opportunities in dark days of recession
- Google launches VC company
- Google lays off 200 in sales and marketing
- Google Voice -- One number for all your phones
- Preston Gralla: Google Voice: Press "1" to invade your privacy
- Review: Google Latitude puts phones in their place
Computerworld - Google Inc. is looking to pull more business users into its hosted Google Apps fold by making it easier for BlackBerry users to use Gmail and Google Calendar.
The company late today unveiled the Google Apps Connector for BlackBerry Enterprise Server, which is now in beta and slated to be available in July.
The connector is designed to make it easier for people with BlackBerries to access hosted applications like Gmail, Google Calendar and Contacts. The new tool also integrates features in the Google applications with built-in BlackBerry applications, allowing users to, for instance, receive Gmail messages via the BlackBerry smartphone's built-in email client.
Dan Olds, an analyst at Gabriel Consulting Group Inc., called this a smart move for a company eager to bulk up its business presence.
"This is going to make it a lot easier for BlackBerry people to use Gmail accounts and Google calendar," he said. "I think this is a big market for Google. If they're going to offer Gmail and other applications, it's definitely in their best interests to make them run on as many devices as possible, and BlackBerry is a big one. We know they want to get into the corporate market more and become sort of an enterprise replacement for Microsoft and Exchange. This gives them a more compelling story toward this end."
Olds also said a lot of people will find it helpful to have their calendars automatically updated on their BlackBerries when they're updated on their computers, and vice versa. "This is just going to make it easier on people," he said. "That's a handy thing. Anything you do in Google calendar gets into your BlackBerry, and your contacts will be synced as well. It's just helpful."
Raju Gulabani, a product management director at Google, noted in a blog post this afternoon that engineers have been working hard to make sure that using Google Apps on BlackBerries is an easy transition for corporate IT administrators.
"Admins are given full control of the solution and can continue to manage BlackBerry smartphones using BlackBerry Enterprise Server," he wrote. "Google Apps Connector installs on BlackBerry Enterprise Server, connecting it to the Google Apps cloud and synchronizing e-mail, calendar and contacts for all BlackBerry smartphone users."
Read more about mobile devices in Computerworld's Mobile Devices Knowledge Center.
Additional Resources



Learn the important issues you must consider before starting your next mobility initiative. Get your mobility white paper from IDC now, compliments of Sybase.
White Papers & Webcasts
Forrester Consulting Mobility Study: Taking Control of Enterprise Mobile Device Diversity
Download Now
Managing Laptops Outside the Office
Learn how you can reduce costs by tracking mobile computers no matter where they are located.
What IT Must Do to Support Employee-Owned BlackBerry, iPhone and Android Mobile Devices
Download Now
4G Ahead Video Program
Uncover the features and benefits of the two leading 4G technologies for enterprises considering future deployment.
What Are 'Free' Remote Support Tools Really Costing You?
View this webinar's live broadcast on June 11th at 2 PM EST!
The New Mobile Order
Download Now
Data in Action: Making the Planet Smarter
Register Now
Windows Phones and Unified Communications
For more information download this white paper today
Computerworld Reports
Visit the BlackBerry Mobility Zone
Enhance the productivity of your organization by pushing data out to where it's needed most - your mobile workforce.


