For years we have suggested to our clients that they use Windows Mobile devices only due to the extra fee’s BlackBerrys add to phones. You pay for the phone, Internet service, BES service, and then you need a License on your BES server (which must be installed, which is a project, which is even more money). Compare that to windows mobile and you need the phone and internet service. You can see where you save some big cost there. These savings didn’t stop many clients from still wanting to have a BlackBerry (that’s got to say something about either their phones or their marketing)
Well things have changed some. This week it was announced that the BlackBerry Enterprise Server Express will now be FREE. You will still need to install it and get it setup, but now you will not be paying all the extra license fees. This can save you $100/user. BlackBerry’s do have some advantages over windows mobile and with the cost starting to come more inline picking between the two is a lot harder. If you want to learn more about the Free BES Express, check out the FAQ’s on BlackBerry’s Website
BlackBerry Enterprise Server Express: Frequently Asked Questions