The New York City Fire Department (NYFD) recently completed the first stage of its deployment of RIM’s BlackBerry wireless e-mail platform and Consilient MX software to enable its staff members to access the department’s Novell GroupWise e-mail system over the Cingular Wireless Mobitex network. NYFD will also use Nextel devices.

“This past year, there has been a sense of urgency to implement secure, reliable, wireless communication technology that enables us to easily get information to NYFD staff during emergency situations,” says Chief of Operations Sal Cassano.

Consilient MX (Mail eXtension) client software and the WEx (Wireless eXtension) gateway from Consilient Technologies is used to create a connection between the FDNY’s Novell ®GroupWise email server and the BlackBerry Enterprise Server so that department headquarters can communicate securely with the mobile workforce using wireless handhelds.

Consilient Technologies is a provider of mobile business solutions developing and integrating products for mobile workers. The MX mail extension for Groupwise was developed by Consilient through the BlackBerry ISV Alliance Program.

The initial deployment comprises the Office of the Fire Commissioner, the Chief of Department, the Chief of Operations and their staffs. Phase two of the FDNY deployment will involve a rollout to a broader user group at the headquarters’ administrative level.

The BlackBerry platform is popular in government organizations because of its always-on utility, true push functionality and advanced security, including end-to-end Triple DES encryption, FIPS 140-1 certification and optional support for the S/MIME security standard.

“Wirelessly extending inhouse information systems to mobile workers on handheld computers is our core business, and we are very pleased to wirelessly enable the FDNY,” says Trevor Adey, president of Consilient Technologies.