Native BlackBerry10 Support for access to BES10/MDS

My organization only allows access to Mobile Admin through the BES. Currently the Mobile Admin application in the BlackBerry World store is an Android port that is not allowed on the BES10 side of a B10 device. This will only be remedied by solarwinds making a Native BB10 QNX app. I would like this to be done asap as my organization will now be re-evaluating other products that can fit our need of remote management.

Find more posts tagged with

blackberry_enterprise_server

mobile_admin_roadmap

prodfr

mobile_admin

blackberry10

Status: None

Comments

FormerMember

Same problem here. We need the native App for Playbook OS 2.1 and BB10. Only this can be deployed to the devices. This deployment is a prerequisite to access the MA-Server through the BES10 securely.

FormerMember

Yes we are in the same boat as the two of you.

One of our teams were using this product on the old BES system and as part as our BES 10/z10 rollout I was evaluating deploying mobile admin to all IT staff. Looks like we will have to find something else

wgv

We used MobileAdmin alot and were happy with it but now we have implemented the new BlackBerry BDS10, MobileAdmin has become useless because you cannot install the app into work space.... Do you have a timeframe for BlackBerry 10 Support?? Hope you programm a native app for BlackBerry soon!!!

matusja

We are having the same issue. Do you have a timeframe for Blackberry 10 support for Z10 and Q10. We like the app and do not want to have to look for a new one.

steely

Come on Solarwinds, you released an update June 1st of the Mobile Admin client for BB10 building my hopes up yet again, only to be let down again because it still can't be published from the server as it is an Android app, what is going on? it is even named in the Blackberry World "Solarwinds Mobile Admin Client for BlackBerry 10". Please Please Please can you fix this.

ahampton

Might as well add my 2 cents...

I opened a ticket with BOTH BlackBerry and Solarwinds (#481323). Like others before me, I soon discovered
that the BlackBerry World version of Mobile Admin was an Android port. I even went as far with BlackBerry to research if it was possible to 'move' an app from the personal space to the work/MDS connected space on the device. No luck. So I have to ask, WHY does an Android port of Mobile Admin for BB10 even exist? Why spend time on something that is likely to NEVER be used (please someone correct me if I am wrong). The only way to utilize it would be via VPN - not something those with a BES/BDS server are likely to jump at (myself included). The existence of the ported app actually leads BES/Network admins believe that a jump to a Z10 would not create issues, or at the very least deprive them of their most important app.

I did not realize how much of the Mobile admin community is using BlackBerry and have re-committed to Blackberry by deploying BDS/BB10. It appears that there are multiple requests for this and at least since February of this year, and even more requests in the comments of each request (these are being read, correct?). By far this appears to be the most requested Mobile Admin feature request - and yet there does not appear to be an 'official' response posted here. Without a viable solution other than using the 'work' browser, those of us Admins (who are undoubtedly the testers of the new Blackberry's), are left without a client based solution.

Mobile admin is easily one of the most valuable tools in our toolkit, and a blessing that family gatherings, vacations, etc. are not completely interrupted when something goes wrong...Mobile admin is there to handle the interruptions and eases the pain of being ‘always on’.

I had once condsidered myself a product evangelist for Mobile Admin...

Please Solarwinds, address this – quickly.

FormerMember

Still no native app. We will change to BB10 this year and if there is no native mobile admin app we will look for an alternative solution and say "bye bye mobile admin".

However, I will open an additional ticket to give SolarWinds a chance.

dsbalcau

Hi All,

I’m the Product Manager for Mobile Admin and I wanted to let you know we are listening to your requests. I completely understand the frustration around BB10 expressed on this thread and I wanted to provide feedback on where we are and why.

When Blackberry (formerly RIM) moved to QNX, they made a clear decision to leave their app developer ecosystem behind. From a code perspective, there is nothing that can be salvaged from the old Blackberry platform when writing for BB10 (for all apps, not just Mobile Admin), so supporting BB10 is a ground-up effort.

Many of you have asked why the Android port of Mobile Admin on Blackberry App World says “Mobile Admin for Blackberry 10” when it is not a native app. This was not by our request, but was changed by Blackberry for ALL Android ported apps in the Blackberry App World during the BB10 launch in order to make their app ecosystem larger than it truly was. Recently Blackberry has allowed name changes and we will soon change the name so that it is clearer to our users.

As far as futures are concerned, we can’t be explicit beyond our What We Are Working On post. That being said, we hear you loud and clear.

So you are probably thinking “What are my options?” Although a native app would be ideal, there are some workable solutions available:

You require access through the BES MDS (VPN equivalent) to connect to the Mobile Admin server
1. There is no way to access the BES MDS connection from the Android app because of the way the app is sandboxed. If you need a secure connection to the Mobile Admin server, we recommend that you connect to the Mobile Admin Server directly via HTTPS. This may not work for all environments given the constraints of your network, but should be workable.
Your company requires apps to be deployed from the BES
1. The BES10 does not allow Android ported apps to be deployed from the BES. We recommend that you use the Mobile Admin web client.
You require a Native App
1. I would definitely appreciate some more explicit feedback on the functionality you are missing when using the Web Client and/or Android port (not just “native is better”). Currently, you can use the Web Client and/or the Android port in conjunction to access most of the functionality of the Mobile Admin server.
  1. Known deficiencies of the Web Client:
    1. No Remote Control functionality (RDP/SSH)
    2. No Notifications Dashboard
  2. Known deficiencies of the Android ported app:
    1. Cannot connect to the BES via MDS
    2. Cannot receive Mobile Push Notifications (This is an item we are actively investigating)

Although the solutions here are not ideal, hopefully I’ve given you some options and communicated that we are listening and are investigating solutions to this problem. I’m happy to continue the conversation as Blackberry evolves their support for BB10 and their Android ported app ecosystem.

gary.morrison

For our team, RDP is important functionality.

As weasle mentioned, although there may be some work arounds they really aren't very practical and that is especially true if a native app is on the horizon.

mbourgon

The workarounds aren't doable for us - our systems group isn't about to allow that server to be reached from the outside world.

We're moving to Q10s/Z10s now - our new Ops person got one, and I know I'm getting one soon. We use both Solarwinds and (Rove) Mobile Admin, but if we have to ditch y'all so that we can do our jobs, you bet I will.

tilo

We still have the same problem... We replace all BlackBerry to OS10 an there's no native app for deployment with BES 10 in work perimeter. A case was created with #505766 and they made two suggestions (VPN or Web Client). A native app is much easier to handle for our consultants.

FormerMember

If solar winds does not come up with a native client for BES 10 before our next renewal, we will be looking for another remote admin product. Thanks

evertonian

Are you still holding out on developing for BES10? I understand very large volumes are being rolled out at other companies including the one I work for. As Blackberry is the only secure mobile device for the enterprise I will have to look elsewhere for a remote admin tool at this rate.

dsbalcau

Hi evertonian,

Sorry, but there are no plans to support BB10 at this time with a native Mobile Admin app. This was discussed in January on this thread: Re: Mobile Admin Support for Blackberry 10