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Overview
BlackBerry® Mobile Data System (BlackBerry MDS) v4.1 is an optimised application development framework for the BlackBerry® Enterprise Solution. It dramatically reduces the amount of time and resources required to develop and deploy wireless applications for mobile workers. BlackBerry MDS allows organisations to deliver corporate data wirelessly, leveraging the same proven push delivery model and advanced security features used for BlackBerry email.
BlackBerry MDS components and architecture
BlackBerry MDS provides the essentials for creating, deploying and managing applications for the BlackBerry Enterprise Solution. Its three main components are:
- BlackBerry MDS Services
BlackBerry MDS Services are the next generation of the BlackBerry® Mobile Data Service. As part of the BlackBerry® Enterprise Server, they are responsible for managing interactions and requests between BlackBerry smartphones and enterprise applications that sit behind the corporate firewall. - BlackBerry MDS Developer Tools
Use BlackBerry MDS Developer Tools to create wireless applications for BlackBerry smartphones. Learn more about Development Options for BlackBerry MDS v4.1 - BlackBerry MDS Device Software
BlackBerry MDS Device Software allows applications built with BlackBerry MDS Developer Tools to run on BlackBerry devices.
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Features
BlackBerry® Mobile Data System (BlackBerry MDS) v4.1 gives your organisation everything you need to build, deploy and manage applications for the BlackBerry® Enterprise Solution
- Provides multiple development options and developer tools so you can choose the methods that best suit your needs
- Uses standard mechanisms and protocols to simplify integration with applications and systems
- Centralises deployment and management of applications using familiar BlackBerry® Enterprise Server administration tools
- Uses over-the-air (OTA) application installation, deployment, upgrade and deletion facilities
- Protects IT investments by ensuring technologies and systems are reusable
- Saves time and money by reducing development time and complexity
- Optimises wireless data transmissions for increased performance and lower operating costs
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Compare
How is this different from previous products? BlackBerry® Mobile Data System (BlackBerry MDS) now includes BlackBerry MDS Services, BlackBerry MDS Developer Tools and BlackBerry MDS Device Software and enables several enhancements, including:
Web Services support
- BlackBerry® MDS Studio uses exposed Web Services to create mobile applications for BlackBerry smartphones
- Uses standards-based protocols and specifications for integration, such as SOAP, XML and UDDI for corporate data access
- Eliminates the need for, and costs associated with, development and maintenance of custom integration code
Increased scalability
- BlackBerry MDS Services and the BlackBerry® Enterprise Server can be installed on separate machines for greater performance and stability
- Improved handling of push traffic at peak times through the temporary storage of pushed messages
- Broadcast push allows simultaneous content distribution to groups of users
Greater performance
- Support for additional simultaneous persistent socket connections, increasing efficiency and portability of applications using sockets
- Improved BlackBerry transcoder architecture decreases browser rendering times
Additional security features
- RSA SecurID® token support for 2-factor authentication provides extra control for accessing content wirelessly
View a comparison of BlackBerry Mobile Data Service and BlackBerry Mobile Data System
Comparison Charts
A comprehensive new application development framework
The BlackBerry® Mobile Data Service feature of the BlackBerry® Enterprise Server has been renamed BlackBerry® MDS Services and has undergone significant expansion. The following chart includes a comparison of BlackBerry Mobile Data Service available with BlackBerry Enterprise Server v4.0, the BlackBerry MDS v4.0 Upgrade Pack for BlackBerry Enterprise Sever v4.0 and the new BlackBerry® Mobile Data System (BlackBerry MDS) v4.1.
| MDS v4.0 | BlackBerry MDS v4.0 Upgrade Pack for BlackBerry Enterprise Server v4.0 | BlackBerry MDS v.4.1 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| BlackBerry MDS Services | Available as a component of BlackBerry Enterprise Server v4.0 | Download | Available as a component of BlackBerry Enterprise Server v4.1 |
| Administrative and Management Service | yes | yesNew Management Console for BlackBerry® MDS Studio Applications | yesUses BlackBerry Manager for all BlackBerry MDS Applications |
| Provisioning Service | yes | yesAdded Provisioning for BlackBerry MDS Studio Applications | |
| Data Optimisation Service | yes | yesAdded Optimisation for BlackBerry MDS Studio Applications | yesEnhanced |
| Connection Service | yes | yesUses existing MDS v.4.0 | yesEnhanced |
| Application Integration Service | no | yesNew for BlackBerry MDS Studio Applications | |
| Application Repository | no | yesNew for BlackBerry MDS Studio Applications | |
| BlackBerry MDS Developer Tools | |||
| BlackBerry MDS Studio | no | yesNew for Web Services Download |
|
| BlackBerry Java Development Environment* | yes | yesUpdated Download |
|
| BlackBerry Browser Development Guides* | yes | yesUpdated Download |
|
| Plazmic Content Developer's Kit* | yes | yesUpdated Download |
|
| BlackBerry MDS Device Software | |||
| BlackBerry MDS Runtime | no | yesNew for BlackBerry MDS Studio Applications Download |
|
| BlackBerry Java Virtual Machine* | yes | yes | yesUpdated |
| BlackBerry Browser* | yes | yes | yesUpdated |
Resources
Our resources section gives you access to all the BlackBerry® Mobile Data System (BlackBerry MDS) information you’re looking for. Here you’ll find demonstrations, technical overviews, upgrade packages and more.
BlackBerry MDS resources
View the BlackBerry Mobile Data System v4.1 Technical Overview (PDF)
Haven’t upgraded to BlackBerry® Enterprise Server software v4.1 yet? Check out the BlackBerry MDS v4.0 Upgrade Pack
Developer resources – BlackBerry Developer Zone
Learn more about BlackBerry MDS Developer Tools with our set of Flash autodemo tools. These autodemos demonstrate each of the developer tools using realistic data as examples.
Discover the latest BlackBerry MDS Developer Tools for creating your BlackBerry applications. BlackBerry MDS Developer Tools are free of charge and include simulators for testing your BlackBerry applications.
Just getting started? Our BlackBerry Developer Zone gives you more information about the different options and tools available for accessing your business applications from your BlackBerry smartphone.
Pricing
BlackBerry® Mobile Data System (BlackBerry MDS) is available free to customers using the BlackBerry® Enterprise Solution.
- BlackBerry® MDS Services are included as part of the standard BlackBerry® Enterprise Server.*
- BlackBerry® MDS Device Software is included with the device software. The exception to this is BlackBerry® MDS Runtime, which is required to run BlackBerry® MDS Studio Applications. Download BlackBerry MDS Runtime for free.
- BlackBerry® MDS Developer Tools can be downloaded free of charge from the BlackBerry Developer Zone. Download BlackBerry Developer Tools.
* BlackBerry MDS Services are included with BlackBerry Enterprise Server v4.1 and higher. Previous to BlackBerry Enterprise Server v4.1, BlackBerry MDS Services were named BlackBerry Mobile Data Service and included with the software. For BlackBerry Enterprise Server v4.0, you can download the BlackBerry MDS Services for Web Services upgrade here.