BlackBerry Enterprise Solution uses Triple DES to encrypt data

The BlackBerry® Enterprise Solution uses a two-key Triple DES encryption algorithm to generate message keys and device transport keys. In the three iterations of the DES algorithm, the first 56-bit key in outer CBC mode encrypts the data, the second 56-bit key decrypts the data, and the first key encrypts the data again.

The BlackBerry Enterprise Solution stores the message keys and device transport keys as 128-bit binary strings with each parity bit in the least significant bit of each of the 8 bytes of key data. The message keys and device transport keys have overall key lengths of 112 bits and include 16 bits of parity data.

All versions of the BlackBerry® Enterprise Server, BlackBerry® Device Software, and BlackBerry® Desktop Software support Triple DES.

For more information about Triple DES, see Federal Information Processing Standard - FIPS PUB 81 [3].

RIM patent infringement litigation

In 2000 NTP sent notice of its wireless email patents to a number of companies and offered to license the patents to them. NTP brought a patent-infringement lawsuit against one of the companies, Research In Motion, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia. This court is well-known for its strict adherence to timetables and deadlines, sometimes referred to as the "rocket docket", and is particularly efficient at trying patent cases.

The jury eventually found that the NTP patents were valid, that RIM had infringed them, that the infringement had been "willful," and that the infringement had cost NTP $33 million in damages (the greater of a reasonable royalty or lost profits). The judge,James R. Spencer, increased the damages to $53 million as a punitive measure because the infringement had been willful. He also instructed RIM to pay NTP's legal fees of $4.5 million and issued an injunction ordering RIM to cease and desist infringing the patents. This would have shut down the BlackBerry systems in the US.

RIM appealed all of the findings of the court. The injunction and other remedies were stayed pending the outcome of the appeals.

In March 2005 during the appeals process, RIM and NTP tried to negotiate a settlement of their dispute; the settlement was to be for $450 million. Negotiations broke down due to other issues. On June 10, 2005, the matter returned to the courts.

In early November 2005 the US Department of Justice filed a brief requesting that RIM's service be allowed to continue because of the large number of BlackBerry users in the US Federal Government.

In January 2006 the US Supreme Court refused to hear RIM's appeal of the holding of liability for patent infringement, and the matter was returned to a lower court. The previously granted injunction preventing all RIM sales in the US and use of the BlackBerry device might have been enforced by the presiding district court judge had the two parties not been able to reach a settlement.

On February 9, 2006, the US Department of Defense (DOD) filed a brief stating that an injunction shutting down the BlackBerry service while excluding government users was unworkable. The DOD also stated that the BlackBerry was crucial for national security given the large number of government users.

On February 9, 2006, RIM announced that it had developed software workarounds that would not infringe the NTP patents, and would implement those if the injunction was enforced.

On March 3, 2006, after a stern warning from Judge Spencer, RIM and NTP announced that they had settled their dispute. Under the terms of the settlement, RIM has agreed to pay NTP $612.5 million (USD) in a “full and final settlement of all claims.” In a statement, RIM said that “all terms of the agreement have been finalized and the litigation against RIM has been dismissed by a court order this afternoon. The agreement eliminates the need for any further court proceedings or decisions relating to damages or injunctive relief.” The settlement amount is believed low by some analysts, because of the absence of any future royalties on the technology in question.

BlackBerry PIN

BlackBerry PIN is an eight character hexadecimal identification number assigned to each BlackBerry device. PINs cannot be changed manually on the device (though Blackberry technicians are able to reset or update a PIN server-side), and are locked to each specific BlackBerry. BlackBerrys can message each other using the PIN directly or by using the BlackBerry Messenger application.

A first generation BlackBerry Bold.

• BCESA (BlackBerry Certified Enterprise Sales Associate, BCESA40 in full) is a BlackBerry Certification for professional users of RIM (Research In Motion) BlackBerry wireless e-mail devices.

The Certification requires the user to pass several exams relating to the BlackBerry Device, all its functions including Desktop software and providing technical support to Customers of BlackBerry Devices.

The BCESA, BlackBerry Certified Enterprise Sales Associate qualification, is the first of three levels of professional BlackBerry Certification.

• BCTA (BlackBerry Certified Technical Associate)
• BlackBerry Certified Support Associate T2

Additional information on certifications can be found on the Blackberry.com website.

The BlackBerry Technical Certifications available are:

• BlackBerry Certified Enterprise Server Consultant (BCESC)
• BlackBerry Certified Server Support Technician (BCSST)
• BlackBerry Certified Support Technician (BCST)

BlackBerry App World

On October 21, 2008, RIM announced at the BlackBerry Developer Conference that the company would open an application store for their devices. It was also announced that the store was scheduled to be open in March 2009, and would work in conjunction with PayPal's services. On January 19, 2009, RIM began accepting submissions of applications from developers.

On March 4, 2009, RIM officially named the store "BlackBerry App World" (previously called the BlackBerry Application Storefront). It was also confirmed that the service would not initially be available for desktops, and only a web-based catalog would be accessible from non-BlackBerry devices.

On April 1, 2009, at CTIA's trade show, RIM announced that App World had gone live,

At the BlackBerry sponsored Wireless Enterprise Symposium (WES), it was announced that an average of 1 million apps were being downloaded each day.

On August 19, 2010, BlackBerry App World 2.0 was released. This new version introduced BlackBerry ID - a single sign, account system that can be used on both the BlackBerry client and the BlackBerry App World desktop storefront. In addition to BlackBerry ID, BlackBerry App World 2.0 also introduced direct credit card billing and carrier billing for AT&T Wireless subscribers.

Government regulation

Some countries have expressed reservations about the BlackBerry's strong encryption and the fact that data is routed through Research In Motion's servers, which are outside the legal jurisdictions of those countries. The United Arab Emirates and Bahrainwere reported  to consider the BlackBerry as a "security threat" for this reason, with the former having earlier been reported as trying to get users to install an "update" on their BlackBerry devices, ostensibly for performance enhancement, but which turned out to be spyware that allowed call and email monitoring.

On August 1, 2010 Telecommunication Regulatory Authority (TRA) of The United Arab Emirates officially announced the suspension of BlackBerry Messenger, Blackberry Email, and Blackberry Web browsing services in the country as of October 11, 2010. This measure was taken due to failed attempts to bring the service and have it hosted locally as per the UAE Telecommunication regulations.

On October 8, 2010 the TRA officially announced that the BlackBerry services e.g. BBM E-mail web will continue to work as regular.

Other countries threatening to ban the use of the BlackBerry Messenger include Algeria, Indonesia, India, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia.

Indian authorities have asked Research in Motion (RIM), the Canadian manufacturer of BlackBerry to provide them some means to access the encrypted data for calls to, from or within India, following concerns that it could be used by terrorist and rebel groups to carry out proxy war attacks on India. In the November, 2008 Mumbai attacks, terrorists used mobile and satellite phone technologies after which security agencies and Government of India have become more strict and alert towards communication within the country. BlackBerry has indicated willingness to set up a server in India by October, 2010 and giving the country limited access to its highly effective encryption technology.

Saudi Arabia has also threatened to ban the service, but it was reported close to reaching an agreement with RIM to set up a server for the service inside the Kingdom.

The BlackBerry Store

In December 2007 a BlackBerry Store opened in Farmington Hills, Michigan. While it is the only BlackBerry store currently in existence, it actually was not the first. There were three prior attempts at opening BlackBerry stores in Toronto, London, and Charlotte,but they eventually folded. The store offers BlackBerry device models from AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon, and Sprint, the major U.S. carriers which offersmartphones. Employees are trained not only on the BlackBerry devices themselves but in the practices of each service provider. There is also an unofficial BlackBerry store called BlackStore in Caracas,Venezuela, because of the BlackBerry brand's popularity in Venezuela, especially in Caracas and Maracaibo, making Venezuela one of the biggest BlackBerry consumers in the world. There is also a BlackBerry Store in the Atlanta airport.

Blackberry Storm 2: Breathtaking Mobile Phone with Great Features

Blackberry has carved its own niche in the mobile manufacturing segment with phones that ideally suit the executives or the working professionals. The phones are sophisticated in looks and have associated features to help them with their work while they are on move. Blackberry storm 2 is one of the recent phones to roll out from the house of Blackberry and since then it has significantly captivated the fascinations of the mobile users.

A completely changed look from other blackberry phones is the first thing that might pleasantly amuse you. The phone is without any keypads and every operation can be handled by the just scrolling your fingers at the sensitive TFT capacitive touchscreen. The larger screen of 3.25 inches ensures a smooth scrolling and it also presents a clearer view of the multimedia applications like pictures, graphics, videos and off course games.

The phone is enables with lots of multimedia features wherein you can hear to songs, watch videos and play engrossing games. The communication is quite clear with the latest 3G compliance and you can seamlessly surf through the Internet or can download the relevant files in a speedier way. If you are addicted to photography they you are provided with 3.15 mega pixel camera with auto focus and LED flash so that you can get sharp pictures.

Blackberry storm 2 is available with the physical as well as online providers. The advantages of seeking it through online stores are that you save precious time in comparing through all the available deals and you also save lots of sweat and effort that would be needed to visit the physical stores. Blackberry storm 2 deals are available with all the major network service providers that include O2, Orange, T mobile, 3, Vodafone and Virgin. These are available under various deals like payg, contract, sim free, sim only and others.