BlackBerry devices
are smartphones that offer secure wireless connections anywhere any
time. Designed by Research In Motion USA Inc, BlackBerry was originally
reputable for accessing emails and instant messaging while on the move,
but has since become a reliable integrated wireless communications
platform. Telecommunications networks in Nigeria like MTN, Glo,
Etisalat, and Airtel (former Zain) currently carry
BlackBerry phones on their networks.
The BlackBerry platform offers two communications solutions. The first
is BlackBerry Internet Solution (BIS), which is designed for single
individuals who want to access internet tools like email, instant
messaging, social media, and the web while on the move. The other is
BlackBerry Enterprise Solution (BES), which allows mobile workers to
access enterprise information while on the move keeping them well
informed at any time.
BlackBerry phones
are proprietary, designed by Research In Motion RIM USA Inc, and
carried by only telecoms networks with license to do so. A number of
telecommunications companies in Nigeria support BlackBerry smartphones
like Globacom, Airtel, Etisalat, and MTN. Genuine unlocked Blackberry
phones are available from leading mobile phones retail stores in
Nigeria.
BlackBerry Internet Solution BIS
BlackBerry Internet
Solutions are designed for single individuals who need access to
internet, social media, instant messaging, and email while on the move.
Small firms that do not have corporate email infrastructure, but use ISP
emails can also use
BlackBerry
internet Solution. BIS can be used by freelancers to keep in touch with
email accounts and clients while on the move. Once an email is sent to
your normal email address, it is pushed to your
BlackBerry device so that you can access it from anywhere without any need for a computer.
BlackBerry
enables you stay in contact with your clients. With BIS, you can access
up to 10 personal and corporate email accounts from your BB device.
BIS also supports POP3 email accounts. With your
BlackBerry
device you can compose, send, receive, and read your e-mails while on
the move. You will also be able to read and view email attachments in
formats like Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Adobe Acrobat.
BlackBerry also supports Instant Messaging like MSN, Google Talk,
BlackBerry Messenger.
BlackBerry
smart phones also access normal phone services like calls, SMS, and
MMS, hence you do not need to carry another phone, your BlackBerry can
do it all. Like most modern
mobile phones, BlackBerry comes with organiser tools like calendar, memo, and so on. Some
BlackBerry devices come with full QWERTY keyboard.
Internet access is part of the DNA of BlackBerry. BB phones can be used
to access wireless internet enabling you to access full HTML pages or
WAP pages using its built-in web browser. BlackBerry devices can also
double as wireless modems enabling you access internet services with
your Laptop or desktop using your BlackBerry device as a wireless modem.
BlackBerry devices are smart phones and hence may come with features
found in business connectivity phones like Wi-Fi, MMS, camera, media
player, maps, GPS, and so on. You can also download apps for your
BlackBerry device for fun, games and productivity.
BlackBerry Enterprise Solution BES
BlackBerry Enterprise
Solution (BES) is BIS and more. The more, being that BES allows secure
enterprise communications between mobile workers and corporate IT
infrastructure. BlackBerry Enterprise Solution allows mobile workers
like marketers, field officers, sales people and top executives to have
secure and reliable access to information required for their
effectiveness. BlackBerry Enterprise Solution is best for businesses
with corporate email infrastructure.
BlackBerry Enterprise Solution is used by companies to extend the
reach of their network infrastructure. Mobile workers can access emails,
enterprise applications, enterprise data, and office applications from
anywhere just as if they were in the office. Organisations that desire
to use BES will require a
BlackBerry Enterprise Server for secure communication between mobile
BlackBerry devices and company's network infrastructure.
With BlackBerry, employees can keep in touch with the office keeping
them up to date with latest information that will enable fast decision
making.
BlackBerry Enterprise Solution is a back-end system installed behind
your corporate firewall, offering end-to-end encryption, which ensures
corporate data security.
Glo mobile BlackBerry
Glo mobile was the first GSM operator to introduce BlackBerry in
Nigeria. Globacom currently offer BlackBerry Internet Solution for
individuals and BlackBerry Enterprise Solution for organisations.
BlackBerry from Glo is available to prepaid and post-paid customers. Glo
offers a number of BlackBerry devices.
Like with its internet bundles, Glo mobile offers the most cost
effective data plans for BlackBerry prepaid subscribers. BIS Monthly
offer 30 days BlackBerry Internet data access at N2,800. BIS Weekly
offers 7 days internet data access at N900, you can get 24 hrs internet
access via BIS Daily at a cost of N250. Glo BES goes for N4,200, N1,400,
and N300, for monthly, weekly, and daily BlackBerry access
respectively.
To activate BIS Monthly, BIS Weekly, or BIS Daily on your prepaid BlackBerry phone SMS
bismonth,
bisweek,
bisday respectively to
777. To activate BES Monthly, BES Weekly, or BES Daily on your prepaid BlackBerry phone SMS
besmonth,
besweek,
besday respectively to
777. Make sure you have enough credit on your phone to pay for the applicable data plan.
For more information on BlackBerry from Glo mobile, visit Globacom website at
www.gloworld.com. You can also visit a Glo world near you.
MTN BlackBerry
MTN was the first GSM operator to make BlackBerry available to both
pre-paid and post-paid subscribers in Nigeria. By making BlackBerry
available to prepaid customers, MTN empowered ordinary people to own
BlackBerry devices. Now small time free-lancers and businesses can keep in touch with clients using their MTN BlackBerry devices.
Here are BlackBerry prepaid plans for MTN Nigeria:
- MTN BIS Weekly - N1,000 send bbweek to 21600 to activate
- MTN BIS Monthly - N3,000 send BIS to 21600 to activate
- MTN BIS Quaterly - N8,000 send BBQ to 21600 to activate
Here are prices of some BlackBerry phones from MTN with one month free subscription:
- BlackBerry Torch 9800 - N86,000 (with 1 month free subscription)
- BlackBerry Bold 2 9700 – N63,000 (with 1 month free subscription)
- BlackBerry 8520 – 36,000 Naira (with 1 month free subscription)
Visit
MTN Blackberry page.
BlackBerry from Airtel mobile
Airtel, formally Zain, carry a number of BB devices like:
Airtel BlackBerry is available to both prepaid and post-paid subscribers.
Here are BlackBerry prepaid plans for Airtel Nigeria:
- Airtel BIS Daily - N200 send BISDAY to 440 to activate
- Airtel BIS Weekly - N1,000 send BISWEEK to 440 to activate
- Airtel BIS Monthly - N3,000 send BISMONTH to 440 to activate
For more information on BlackBerry from Airtel and these BlackBerry devices, visit Airtel website at
ng.airtel.com.
Etisalat BlackBerry
Etisalat Nigeria offers BIS and BES services. The cost of Etisalat
BlackBerry services is affordable. BIS Monthly offer 30 days BlackBerry
Internet data access at N3,000. BIS Weekly offers 7 days internet data
access at N1,000, you can get 24 hrs internet access via BIS Daily at a
cost of N250.
To activate BIS Monthly, BIS Weekly, or BIS Daily on your prepaid BlackBerry phones dial
*399*1#,
*399*6#,
*399*5# respectively. Make sure you have enough credit on your phone to pay for the applicable data plan.
Etisalat carries the
BlackBerry Torch 9800. Other BB phones advertised by Etisalat include
BB Curve 8900, BB Curve 8520, BB Bold 9700, BB Bold 9000, and BB Storm 9500.
For more information on BlackBerry from Etisalat, visit Etisalat website at
www.etisalat.com.ng. You can also visit a Etisalat Experience centre near you.
Other network operators like Starcomms, Visafone, Multilinks and Zoom mobile may also offer BlackBerry.
