BBM Meetings – #2: HowTo manage users

#1 of this blog series explained HowTo order BBM Meetings from BlackBerry Enterprise Store.

BlackBerry Identity Enterprise Admin Console

Now as you’re a lucky owner of BBM Meetings you’ll get an invitation mail as administrator:

If you followed #1 of this series you know that you need a BlackBerry ID to sign in:

If you still don’t have a BlackBerry ID you can register a new one directly from this site. Don’t forget to verify the mail address !

BlackBerry ID enables you to get access to a brandnew console: the BlackBerry Identity Enterprise Admin Console. The first product managed by this console is BBM Meetings.

Tap on “Admin”

From here you can see your Enterprise name, Users and Entitlements. If you need help -besides your profile name you’ll find the ‘Help’ button:

‘Help’ gives you access to a manual as pdf:

from ‘Entitlements’ you get a quick overview about your admins and users:

Invite Users (Hosts)

To invite new users click on BBM Meetings –> Invite Users and enter the email address.

Users in this context are users able to HOST BBM Meetings. Hosting can be done from all supported platforms (OSX, Windows, Android, iOS, BlackBerry10). Host – Users must have created a BlackBerry ID. If they’re hosting from BlackBerry 10 they’ll already have their BB ID, if hosting from iOS or Android and already a user of BBM or BBM Meetings they also will have a BB ID – in all other cases they have to create a new one.

As soon as you have invited a user, your dashboard will change:

Invited users will get an email like this one:

From here they can sign in with their BlackBerry ID – or create a new one.

After login the user gets access to the BlackBerry Identity Enterprise User Console, which looks similar to the Admin Console:

There’s nothing more to manage for the user.

Clicking on the BBM Meeting Icon opens the BBM Meetings website. Now the user can learn about BBM Meetings.

Scrolling down there are the download links for PC or Mac or mobile app stores:

Host BBM Meetings from OSX

After downloading and installing BBM Meetings on OSX you’ll get this:

From here you can attend meetings or host your own. To be able to host meetings click on ‘Login’ (Anmelden)

Only the first time you must login using your BlackBerry ID:

Then you’ll get access to the Meetings Host Menu on OSX:

You can start an Audio Meeting, Video Meeting or schedule Meetings.

Host BBM Meetings from mobile Devices

Here’s the workflow from a BlackBerry 10 device, but it’s similar for iOS or Android devices.

At first download BBM Meetings from BlackBerry World (if not already done)

BBM Meetings needs access to ‘Capture Screen’ if you want to share your screen with others and also to your Contact Info:

To start a Meeting the very first time you must login:

Sign in with your BlackBerry ID:

then enter your name for meetings:

add a photo:

and you’re ready to host your first BBM Meeting:

HowTo host BBM Meetings will be explained in part #3 of this series.

(Host) User Management

The BBM Meetings Administrator get’s an ooverview of his users from the Identity Console:

Good to know:

A (Host) User can only be added to ONE Identity Console – you must remove the user before another admin from another company can add again.

If you’re working on a PC at work, a MacBookPro at home and also use a BlackBerry 10 plus an iPad – then on all your devices you can log in with your Host user BlackBerry ID – this means: the Host user BB ID must not be the same as the BB ID from your mobile device.

Starting a BBM Meeting from one of your devices – per ex. from OSX and then also from your BlackBerry 10 – BBM Meetings knows that you’re the same person and automatically joins to your running conference.

In part #3 I will explain in detail HowTo host a BBM Meeting.

 

BBM Meetings – #1: HowTo order

BBM Meetings was introduced in November 2014 at BlackBerry Enterprise Day in San Francisco.

This Blog Series will help you to start with BBM Meetings if you’re the organizer of Meetings.

BBM Meetings is a product for Enterprise customers, but not only ….

BBM Meetings doesn’t need a BlackBerry Enterprise Service (BES 10, BES 12) running !

BBM Meetings also targets Individuals, small groups or companies.

I’m an Independent Software Architect developing BlackBerry 10 Business Apps for customers all around the world and for me it’s important to discuss with partners and developers immediately. So BBM Meetings is great for me: I can meet others independent of the platform, because BBM Meetings supports:

• OSX (10.5.8+ Snow Leopard)
• Windows (XP, Vista, 7, 8, 8.1)
• BlackBerry10 (OS 10.2+)
• iOS (iPhone and iPad OS 6.0+)
• Android (OS 4.0+)

In another part of this series I’ll explain in detail how easy it is to use BBM Meetings – even if attendees never used BlackBerry software before. (YES: BBM Meetings is a great door opener for BlackBerry)

To manage BBM Meetings we have to distinguish these roles:

• BBM Meetings Administrator
• BBM Meetings Host
• BBM Meetings Attendee

Order BBM Meetings

There’s great documentation about BBM Meetings available online

From these documentation you’ll learn all about the features and HowTo attend at BBM Meetings.

You’ll also notice that you have to pay a monthly fee if you want to host meetings. (In Germany € 9,59 per month)

BlackBerry also makes it easy for you to start and offers a free 30-day-trial.

It seems there’s a huge demand and you’ll have to wait some time before getting your invitation to test BBM Meetings.

From featureset and demos at Enterprise Day in San Francisco for me it was clear I want to buy BBM Meetings to be able to host Meetings.

And there’s a way to order BBM Meetings 🙂

As you probably know the new BlackBerry (2014/2015) is strictly focused on Enterprise.

BBM Meetings is a special kind of app: on the one side it’s a great tool for Enterprises – on the other side it’s also great for ‘proactive’ consumers, freelancers, small companies or groups. I imagine there will be an easier way to buy BBM Meetings in the future, but the Enterprise way already works.

(this workflow below is working without the need to install a BES12 – in another blog series I’ll explain HowTo install and use BES12)

BlackBerry Enterprise Store

Enterprise Orders must be done from BlackBerry Enterprise Store

You can order the new BES12 or BBM Meetings. I’ll report about BES12 in another blog series.

If you never have ordered from BlackBerry Enterprise Store at first you have to register your company

As next from Enterprise Store select BBM Meetings from eBBM Suite.

Attention: As an enterprise customer you must pay the annual fee of € 115 (== € 9,59 per month) – prices for your country may differ.

Now add BBM Meetings to your Cart and follow the payment process.

From your “Hello xyz – Menu” you get access to your Subscriptions, Orders, Downloads, …)

Here are your Subscriptions:

Please note: BlackBerry also added Universal Advantage Support for you.

Hint: After placing the order you’ll get confirmation emails. Some times it takes some time – please be patient.

BlackBerry ID

For some operations BlackBerry is asking you to enter your BlackBerry ID. BlackBerry ID is FREE and if you’re an owner of a BlackBerry 10 Device you already will have a BlackBerry ID. It’s up to you if you want to use the same ID for Meetings Management or if you create a new one.

I’m a developer and so besides my personal devices I’m using many other devices to test apps with and so I’m using more then 10 BlackBerry ID’s

😉 I decided to create a special BlackBerry ID to manage BBM Meetings and other (upcoming) enterprise software .

Here you can register for you BlackBerry ID: https://blackberryid.blackberry.com/bbid/registration/registration_eula.seam

Important: To be able to use this BB ID with BBM Meetings you must verify the email address. Simply click on the link, wait for the email and reply.

Again: it can take some time before getting the mail.

Now you have ordered your BBM Meetings 🙂

Next part of this series will explain HowTo manage users.