RIM releases new SMB BlackBerry platform divorced from the enterprise server

Research in Motion (NASDAQ:RIMM) is selling BlackBerry push email services with the enterprise server. Today RIM announced a scaled-down version of its suite of mobile business services targeted at small- and medium-sized business, using software that runs on any old Windows server or desktop PC rather than over its dedicated BlackBerry Enterprise Server (BES) platform.

The solution is the popular MDaemon Messaging Server RIM acquired with its acquisition of Alt-N, with BlackBerry juice added to the mix. By adding BlackBerry support to the platform current MDaemon customers can start adding RIM’s smartphones to their device portfolio and offer many of the functions of BES. Or if a business wants to start fresh, it can go with the MDaemon solution or opt for RIM’s SMB standby, Enterprise Server Express, which is essentially the full BES with a limited license.

According to RIM, both solutions offer similar features: push e-mail; synchronized calendar, contacts email folders and distribution lists; message flagging; meeting invitations supports; attachment viewing and editing; inbox search; IT policy management and remote wipe. The key differences are the MDaemon solution supports some of the former Alt-N’s popular functions like inter-office communications and collaboration and archiving. The MDaemon doesn’t have the complete security package of BES and Server Express, but pricing appears to be much more flexible and the implementation is accomplished through a simple download and installation wizard.