WATERLOO, ON – Research In Motion (RIM) has debuted a new BlackBerry application programming interface (API) that will let developers ‘push’ real-time content applications to consumers’ BlackBerry smart phones.
Push technology provides a proactive mechanism for developers to deliver data to BlackBerry smart phones as it becomes available. It brings immediacy to mobile communications that deliver real-time content – such as news, weather, banking, medical, IT services applications and games – as well as preserving battery life and minimizing data usage by eliminating the need for ‘poking’ and ‘polling’ servers, the press release detailed.
“Push technology has previously been available to corporate developers with the BlackBerry Enterprise Solution, and is built into a range of smart phone applications for business," said Alan Brenner, senior vice president of BlackBerry platforms, in the release. "With the availability of this push API, BlackBerry developers can build true push technology into their Java-based consumer applications and enhance the user experience by delivering valuable content to users in real time."
The new BlackBerry push API allows developers to push both content and alerts to BlackBerry smart phone users, meaning users will not have to wait for lengthy content downloads once alerts are received.
The company also rolled out its next generation of push-based server software for business mobility, called BlackBerry Enterprise Server 5.0.
Version 5.0 supports advanced IT administration features and smart phone controls that help to improve the productivity of mobile workers, and more effectively meet the demands of large-scale, mission critical enterprise deployments, the release said.
RIM is offering new technical support, professional services, training and certification programs for BlackBerry Enterprise Server 5.0 customers.
