Question : Blackberry firmware deployment

Hello

We are running BES 4.1.7 with Exchange 2003/2007.

We run various devices with various firmware revisions, at the moment we are only updating the firmware if the user experiences a problem with their device. Generally, this is a case of asking the user to download Desktop Manager + firmware, install firmware etc.

I would like to look into a method to centrally upgrade firmware - either wirelessly via the device, wirelessly via the BES, or via some sort of share on the network.

Has anyone any experience in this that they could recommend?

Answer : Blackberry firmware deployment

over the air software updating only works if:
a) you have a device that is capable of supporting it, and
b) your device is at a current handheld version that supports a wireless upgrade, and
c) your carrier has approved the upgrade path from your current firmware version on your handheld to the one you want to go to.

Once all those conditions have been met then the firmware will be available for you to choose to notify your users (or enforce if need be), but only for devices from THAT carrier. e.g you've got a mix of vodafone, o2 and orange devices, but only o2 have approved the firmware. Only o2 devices will be able to upgrade.

So your method will come down to your mix of devices. If they're all with one carrier, and relatively modern, and your carrier supports wireless software upgrades, then go for that. It's clean, works well and means you can keep your devices at a common firmware level.

If they're all over the place, then I would use several methods:
- wireless upgrades for those that can do it
- manual upgrades for those older devices that aren't being replaced anytime soon (I would set up a standalone PC with desktop manager, USB hub and all the handheld code loaded on it. Then use AppLoader to load more than one device at one time and just set them off to upgrade and leave them)
- no upgrades for those being replaced.

hope that helps.