The main advantage RIM hasand arguably the one thing that has kept it in the game up to nowis the existing BlackBerry Enterprise Server (BES) infrastructure. But, if the new BlackBerry 10 (BB10) devices don’t work with the current BES platform, BB10 could be dead on arrival.

Galen Gruman of Infoworld explains in detail the chaos that awaits the launch of BlackBerry 10. The current BlackBerry Enterprise ServerBES 5.0.3is done, except for a maintenance update that will take it to BES 5.0.4. The existing BES will not be able to manage BB10, and customers will be forced to migrate completely to BB10 all at oncescrapping the existing BES and replacing itor they’ll have to run a BB10 infrastructure in parallel with the current legacy BES system, and manage them both simultaneously.

Will companies continue to bet on RIM if it includes investing in a whole new infrastructure anyway?RIM has a lot riding on the success of BB10possibly, the company itself. The platform seems promising. Back in May, I wrote after attending RIM CEO Thorsten Heins’ keynote presentation at BlackBerry World in Orlando: “Does BlackBerry 10 look capable and innovative enough to excite users and keep BlackBerry in the game? Yes, I think so.”

I stand by that statement. However, what I hadn’t anticipated was BB10 being completely incompatible with the existing BES system. On its own, BB10 appears to be a worthy mobile platform. But, if the companies that rely on BlackBerry mobile devices have to scrap their BES infrastructure and start over anyway, they’re likely to consider other options like Android, iOS, or Windows Phone.

Keep reading…

Read also:

BlackBerry sinks to zero sales in 'a meaningful number' of stores (CNET)

BlackBerry sales dwindle to nil in “meaningful number” of US stores (SlashGear)

BlackBerry problems strike again (Moneyweb.co.za)

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