BlackBerry® devices support BlackBerry® Browser Applications, BlackBerry Java® Applications, and BlackBerry® MDS Runtime Applications.

BlackBerry Browser Applications are simplified, web-based applications that users access using the BlackBerry Browser. For example, a developer can create a BlackBerry Browser Application that your organization can use to collect data input from BlackBerry device users.

BlackBerry Java Applications can range from simple applications, such as a game on BlackBerry devices, to complex applications with an advanced user interface and various options for data management, storage, and network communication. BlackBerry Java Applications can use a client-only architecture, meaning that they do not send data to or receive data from a content server, or they can use a client/server application model, sending data to and receiving data from a content server. For example, a developer can create a BlackBerry Java Application so that users can send data to and receive data from a central sales database.

BlackBerry MDS Runtime Applications are lightweight, rich-client applications that are created using BlackBerry® MDS Studio or the BlackBerry® Plug-in for Microsoft® Visual Studio®. BlackBerry MDS Runtime Applications communicate with an organization's systems through the BlackBerry MDS Integration Service, a component of the BlackBerry® Enterprise Server. BlackBerry MDS Runtime Applications can range from simple to complex, but they are typically forms-based applications that you can use to access web services or databases that are located inside your organization's firewall. Web services or a database contain the data and operations that developers can use to create BlackBerry MDS Runtime Applications, and they also process the data that they receive from BlackBerry MDS Runtime Applications. For example, a developer can create a BlackBerry MDS Runtime Application so that users can look up data from a directory in your organization.

Using BlackBerry MDS Studio version 2.0 or later or the BlackBerry Plug-in for Microsoft Visual Studio version 1.1 or later, application developers in your organization can design BlackBerry MDS Runtime Applications that standard BlackBerry Applications (for example, the address book) and custom BlackBerry Java Applications can invoke.

For more information about customizing BlackBerry MDS Runtime Applications, visit www.blackberry.com/developers to see the BlackBerry MDS Studio Developer Guide and the BlackBerry Plug-in for Microsoft Visual Studio Developer Guide.