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Overview

One of the cornerstones of the BlackBerry® solution has been the ability to proactively deliver, or “push”, data to BlackBerry smartphones. BlackBerry Push Technology has been used to push emails to users and to synchronize calendar information. However, although BlackBerry Push Technology has been available to developers creating enterprise-based solutions for BlackBerry users registered with a BlackBerry® Enterprise Server for some time, until now, it has not yet been available to those wishing to develop applications for BlackBerry users outside of an enterprise environment. With the introduction of BlackBerry Push APIs, BlackBerry Push Technology can be extended beyond the enterprise to all BlackBerry users, establishing a quality of service that is unparalleled in the industry. Developers can now create applications that push data to any BlackBerry user, providing them with the information they need, whenever and wherever they need it. The primary focus of this service is consumer applications that require alerts, want to replace polling to improve performance and reduce costs, applications using Poke-Pull model, event driven systems as well as applications requiring near real-time notifications. BlackBerry Push API can also be used for enterprise deployments for cross-company applications where using the BlackBerry Enterprise Server push services is not feasible as well as for organizations that do not have a BlackBerry Enterprise Server.

Benefits

BlackBerry Push API offers a number of concrete benefits for BlackBerry users and application developers alike.

Provides information immediately

• Pushing data to the BlackBerry smartphone is the most time-efficient way to get information to BlackBerry users. With BlackBerry Push API, developers can deliver data to their Java® applications on the BlackBerry smartphone as it becomes available, when it matters.

Optimizes network efficiency

• Applications that are developed using BlackBerry Push APIs are very network efficient. Firstly, applications no longer need to repeatedly poll servers for new data. Secondly, BlackBerry Push API is designed to push consumable amounts of data. Content providers can push up to 8KB of data to a BlackBerry smartphone with any given push request. If more data is available, the user can decide whether to retrieve it or not, providing them a measure of control over how much data they transfer, and by extension, how much they pay.

Preserves the battery life of the BlackBerry smartphone

• BlackBerry Push API minimizes the impact on battery life; instead of actively checking for new data, the application simply listens in the background for the server to push data to it. Once delivered, the application can process it as required.

Reduces complexity for developers

• BlackBerry Push API builds upon the established WAP PAP 2.2 standard, which uses XML to define the push parameters for the BlackBerry® Infrastructure. Because the BlackBerry Infrastructure handles the process of managing and delivering push requests, much of the complexity of a pushed-based data delivery service is hidden from application developers

Improves developer margins

• BlackBerry Push API allows developers to create applications which can exploit the unique capabilities that only the BlackBerry Infrastructure provides. Using the BlackBerry Push API, developers can create applications that are much more compelling, that can address a wider variety of use cases, and that result in a true BlackBerry experience for the end user. By doing so, developers can receive an even greater return on their investment.

Getting Started

To request access to BlackBerry Push API, developers can register at www.blackberry.com/pushapi. Once registration is approved, full sample code is provided to developers. This includes both client and server sample application. Developers are initially provided access to the evaluation environment to implement and test their service. After service has been thoroughly tested, Research In Motion (RIM) validates the developer’s client- and server-side applications ensuring development guidelines are met. After this process service is moved into production. Please note that the BlackBerry Push API service is only available to RIM ISV alliance partners. To become a RIM ISV alliance partner please visit www.blackberry.com/allianceapplication. Also note there is a cost associated with this service. Please get in touch with your RIM ISV Alliance contact for further information regarding this.