IT decision-makers and CIOs know that behind-the-firewall connectivity options with BlackBerry are a well-known industry differentiator. Security is embedded within BlackBerry’s DNA – secure encryption, FIPS 140-2 certification, and the most third-party security certifications makes BlackBerry the smartphone of choice for some of the world’s most security conscious organizations.
BlackBerry Work Drives is a free application for BlackBerry 10 devices that requires BlackBerry Enterprise Service 10. This app enables BlackBerry customers to remotely access, edit and manage content located on enterprise network drives. Once the network drives are mapped through the Work Drives applications, native applications like File Manager and Documents To Go can be used to manage the network files and folders.
Key Features of the Work Drives app
- Mapping Network Drives: Connect and manage multiple network drives from your BlackBerry 10 smartphone
- File Manager Integration: Access documents and network folders from the File Manager application
- Document Management: Create and edit documents located on network drives using BlackBerry 10 applications like the bundled Documents To Go
- Email: Attach documents to email from shared network drives, and save attachments directly from an email to a shared network drive
- Note: BlackBerry Work Drives is supported on BlackBerry 10 devices provisioned on the BlackBerry Enterprise Server. It requires installation of BlackBerry Enterprise Service 10 and BlackBerry Balance and works in the Work perimeter only. It requires BlackBerry 10 OS version 10.0 and above.
Putting BlackBerry Work Drives to Work
Throughout my testing of this capability, I was pleased to be able to edit my team budget via our shared network drive on my BlackBerry 10 smartphone, and upload the revised file back into our team drive – all from the comfort of my couch at home. All I had to do was connect my team’s network drive to my Work Drive application by typing in the network path and my login credentials. The network drive is also saved in my File Manager app, so I only needed to type in the file path once. Once your network drives are mapped through the Work Drives application, native applications like File Manager and Documents To Go kick in to help organize and manage the network files and folders.
Having the ability to access files stored on my various network drives with the tap of an icon from my smartphone means I have the freedom to work on whatever I need to, whenever I need to. Having this capability fully integrated within the BlackBerry 10 platform is an undeniable bonus for those who use network drives in their daily work. I don’t need to go into the office to plug in (although my BlackBerry co-workers are awesome), or carry my laptop around in my already overstuffed work bag to have direct access to my corporate network drive. After speaking with the product team about BlackBerry Work Drives on BlackBerry 10, it’s clear that we are committed to empowering connected BlackBerry customers who we know will embrace the mobility capabilities fully integrated within their BlackBerry 10 smartphone.
Do you use network drives at work? How will you use Work Drives on BlackBerry 10 to be productive on the go? Share in the comments below.
