I'm seeing into the future here and it isn't pretty. RIM launches App World, users go bananas, BES admin jumps into traffic.

Can anyone post some steps to block App World via IT Policy?

Thanks in advance,

JP

Make BB browser default

View Document

Block the URL with a webfilter.

Wow, that was fast; thanks for replying.

I have a default group with several users included that allows web access. The other group is a no web group (80% of the users) so I'm not worried about them since they can't get there.

Are you saying I can block the URL from the BES using policy or block the URL on my network proxy filter?

BES 4.1

Thx,
JP

I think this is just the beginning as mobility grows. This is part of a large question on personal liable & corporate owned devices have been struggling with and trying to find a balance.

Knowing users will use a Blackberry for personal usage do you policy what apps they can use? Do you lock it down (tried that and it was a mess)? Do you pay for the apps they want or is that up to the user etc etc.

I'd like to see some additional policies around this so say you can lock down app types if you don't want games.

Can it be blocked by setting the "Disable Application Center" to true?

Knot as fast as my VMAX

Yes on proxy is easy

KB17809 is for importing the App Store Group into your IT Policy, KB17660 is a reference on how to set it

Fantastic. Just imported it.

Just had a meeting on blocking it.

Let them run what ever they want.

no support from me though

Great, thanks for sharing

Nice.. quick question, if any user installed it before I applied the policy, will it retroactivly remove it? or at least prevent them from running it?

Sounds like the exact same meeting I was in earlier. I'm with you, NO SUPPORT FROM ME!!

Not I.. I'm blocking it from being installed on my devices, all 2000 of them. These are work devices.. last thing I want is to spend time fixing their device because of some software they installed.. let alone if they buy something and want me to swap it to their new device? pfft.. Bllllllllllocked!

I think my main issue is users who buy whatever app and then expense it. Unneeded cost in the current economy. If any app blew up their Blackberry that's their own pain. I'll wipe the device and reactivate it.

Like I said there is a huge shift occuring with mobility and enterprise level admins need to address these things and get the proper guidance from HR/Security/Compliance on what should be allowed or not. Sadly many of them don't understand what is happening and will only react when Joe Executive shows some client the great fart app on their Blackberry. Go Figure.

That will be difficult. Although you wouldn't support the apps, those apps can have side-effects that bring the whole OS down (e.g. memory leaks). So you are in the support loop again!

I had a problem with someone using the facebook app for BB. Since he has installed it, the mails older than 30 days haven't been deleted. So the FB app had a side-effect on his business mails on the BB.

So expect a lot more support if you allow third-party apps, even if they are certified by RIM.

Our policy is very strict. We don't allow any third-party apps, except the ones we we distribute ourselves via software policy (e.g. Bloomberg for BB).

Yup my meeting too, except guess who will have to support it when things go wrong. At least, I will have to support it till I can prove it isn't the BES at fault, then I raise the SEP field around it.

When we allowed iPhones last year, we allowed the App Store. No support from IS - you are on your own. Exact same philosophy with this.

Quick and dirty here for me: 5 min meeting with IT manager, support from IT director = No Apps for you (1 year).

Thanks for this MarkF. Policies imported and tested. Bye-bye App World.

Haven't tried downloading anything but one assumes it will go straight to that sim card bill and the company will have to foot the bill. Won't know though unless it is an itemised bill and it clearly states where the cost has come from.

Good point about iphones it applies there too