Orange is offering customers a way to deploy and manage a limited number of BlackBerry devices, without the need to install BlackBerry Enterprise Server (BES) on their network.

The solution is based on RIM's BlackBerry Professional Software (BPS), which supports up to 30 BlackBerry users and installs onto a company's existing email server, whereas BES is typically deployed on a separate server. It supports mail systems based on Microsoft's Exchange or IBM's Lotus Domino.

Available immediately, BPS is designed as a cost-effective alternative to the full BES, which can scale to support thousands of users but is complex to configure and use. But, it offers the same wireless access to email, calendar and address book, and also the same security features, such as the ability to remotely lock-down or wipe BlackBerry devices.

Orange's Martin Lyne said that by cutting out the costly dedicated server, small-to-medium enterprises have greater flexibility to manage their business on the move.

RIM is offering the BPS software and one license free of charge until the end of April. Orange said customers can also get a further five licences free if they deploy five or more BlackBerry devices using its network.