BlackBerry Enterprise Server Express

Wow, looks like RIM is starting to feel the love from Exchange ActiveSync. They’re now offering a “free” Express version of BES; it supports up to 15 users, and the first user license doesn’t cost anything. In total, BES Express supports up to 15 users, with users 2-15 costing you US$99 each. So, a fully loaded 15-user server costs you $1405, compared with $1099 for the “Small Business Edition” of BES (which then requires CALs @ $99). This is not quite “free”, especially since you’re still paying the RIM device tax. Having said that, it’s an interesting move by RIM to capture a market segment that has historically balked at paying the Big Bucks for the full-blown version of BES.