Many of us work in a corporate environment and require access to the mail, calendar and contact information from mobile devices. In a corporate environment it is not unusual to have security requirements that limit options for the devices that can be connected to the corporate mail and PIM services. Most corporate environments have went with a BlackBerry Enterprise (BES) server to manage their mobile devices and provide a secure method of providing email and other related services to mobile users.
This article attempts to summarize the options and current state of accessibility on those options with a heavy emphasis on Blackberry technologies.
1) Talks on a Nokia S60 Mobile Phone with the BlackBerry Connect Client
When Blackberry Connect came into the market about 6 years ago it allowed blind users access to corporate environments that were blackberry only for the first time. Nokia E61, E70 and E90 phones support blackberry connect. This has provided a robust, stable and powerful screen reader based solution for blind users for the last 6 years. This solution is extremely feature rich providing magnification, voice out put and braille output. The screen reader for blind users is extremely stable and works in all built in apps, third party apps and for web browsing. However, it is difficult to set up, extremely difficult to find these handsets (6 year old handsets require a purchase from abroad of an unlocked phone). Periodically, the phone will require a wipe and reinstall to continue to function for certain users. The solution itself consists of a desktop software "blackberry connect desktop" and the proper version of the handset software "blackberry connect", this needs to match the firmware+model of the phone. As of today, this solution is difficult or impossible to support. For example, it no longer works on Lotus Notes as of version 8 with a BES.
2) Blackberry Curve with the "blackberry screen reader"
In the spring of 2012 this solution was released and is supported on a limited number of blackberry curve devices. This is an extremely easy to install & support screen reader. It is offered free by RIM. It is reportedly unstable. According to many users on the screen reader mailing list (1 user stated it needs to be rebooted 10 times a day on his phone (Which requires him to remove the battery cover and battery). The screen reader provides good support for email, contacts, calendaring and dialing. It does not support or work with web browsing, html and many of the installed or third party apps. It does not provide magnification or braille output.
3) Blackberry Mobile Fusion or Good client
At present a number of organizations are planning on (or have started) exploring Live email services that expand beyond supporting blackberry hardware.
IOS (iphone/ipad) & Android both have an accessibility suite available. The possibility of having a new solution that might meet the needs of the blind population is extremely exciting. The BlackBerry Mobile Fusion (BMF) http://goo.gl/8K1yF offering may allow organizations to continue to offer options that people with disabilities could use
Recently, there has been a great deal of talk about the solutions that are currently being explored. For example, the US government is currently exploring the possibility of replacing their blackberry solution with the "good" offering http://goo.gl/g121V – although it has been reported that good has some serious accessibility issues, perhaps with section 508 requirements, soon going forward this will be an option.
At present both IOS (iPhones) and Android have extremely stable and feature rich screen readers that are significantly more powerful, capable and feature rich than either of the other 2 offerings.
