Network Architecture

The network architecture for BlackBerry^® devices is set up for both Enterprise Applications and Consumer Applications. The system is set up so that it provides built in security and encryption across the link. 

All development options leverage the same architecture for communication. In both cases, there is a two way communication between the device and the servers. Not only does the device send information to the server, but the server can proactively send information to the devices.

Enterprise Applications Network Architecture – The basic process begins with the BlackBerry^® device connecting to the carrier gateway. It then directly VPNs through the corporate firewall to the company's intranet. All the data coming out of the BlackBerry device is encrypted and does not decrypt until after it is behind the firewall. One major benefit of the encryption is that you, as a developer, do not have to do anything as this is all handled automatically by the BlackBerry network infrastructure. The only requirement is that the BlackBerry device must be part of the BlackBerry Enterprise server.

So essentially, from the device software to the application server, all the complexities are handled by the BlackBerry^® network architecture.

BlackBerry Internet Service –When a BlackBerry device does not have access to the BlackBerry Enterprise server, they are connected through a service called BlackBerry Internet Service. This service is basically the BlackBerry Enterprise server for consumers hosted by RIM. This is an out-of-the-box service that comes ready to activate with every BlackBerry smartphone. The basic process starts with unencrypted data coming from the device, going through the carrier gateway, and straight out to the internet.

The major advantage of the BlackBerry Internet Service is the seamless connectivity. For example, the user accesses the internet through Carrier A, signing into the internet with APN. While they are traveling, they begin roaming with Carrier B, which requires the user to manually switch the APN in order to continue internet access. Applications that use the BlackBerry Internet Service do not have to worry about users crossing carriers and losing internet access – the applications are constantly connected.

From an application perspective, all the complexities in managing wireless networks, roaming, handling single degradation, battery life, etc. are abstracted from the user due to the BlackBerry^® Mobile Data System (MDS). Out of the box, BlackBerry MDS provides:

• End to End security
• Managed Wireless Connectivity
• Standard Protocol Interfaces, e.g. HTTP, HTML, WML, etc.
• Device & Network Independent Push and Pull