RIM releases BlackBerry software for small business
Research In Motion Ltd. is looking to expand its reach with smaller businesses by introducing software that allowsfirms to link their BlackBerry devices and e-mail systems.
The BlackBerry Professional software, which allows a business’s e-mail server to transmit to thedevices, is aimed at companies with 30 or fewer people. Smaller companies previously had to shell out for separate server computers to perform the same function. The software, with a five-user licence, sells for $499 U.S., or $849 U.S. for 10 users.
Waterloo, Ont.-based RIM is expanding outside its core enterprise market with flashier and more consumer-friendly BlackBerry devices. Small businesses and consumersmade upmore than half of the company’s new North American subscribers for the first time last quarter.
RIM’s main competitor in the small business market is Palm Inc., with its popular Treo device. Palm sold 689,000 Treos in its most recent quarter, while RIM added 1.45 million BlackBerry customers.
Separately, the company also launched its BlackBerry Pearl 8120 phone in the United Kingdom on Monday through carrier O2. The 8120 is notable for its Wi-Fi capability, which lets users make free phone calls over the internet.
AT&T Inc. earlier this year launched a similar BlackBerry with Wi-Fi. Other U.S. and Canadian carriers have released versions of the same phone, but without the Wi-Fi capability.
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