[Ed Hansberry]

http://news.moneycentral.msn.com/ticker/article.asp?Symbol=US:RIMM&Feed=Bcom&Date=20030801&ID=2760532

Research In Motion's (RIM) stock surged about 26% Thursday and Friday to $27.28 on very heavy volume. The current speculation is HP is going to put in a bid to buy RIM. RIM makes the Blackberry handheld and HP has sold them for years under the the iPAQ brand to businesses.

If this rumor is true, what do you think HP is up to? Will they continue a Blackberry and iPAQ line or do you think they will merge the technologies into a single handheld?

[Ed Hansberry]

http://news.moneycentral.msn.com/ticker/article.asp?Symbol=US:RIMM&Feed=Bcom&Date=20030801&ID=2760532

Research In Motion's (RIM) stock surged about 26% Thursday and Friday to $27.28 on very heavy volume. The current speculation is HP is going to put in a bid to buy RIM. RIM makes the Blackberry handheld and HP has sold them for years under the the iPAQ brand to businesses.

If this rumor is true, what do you think HP is up to? Will they continue a Blackberry and iPAQ line or do you think they will merge the technologies into a single handheld?

[JonnoB]

Originally Posted by Ed Hansberry

If this rumor is true, what do you think HP is up to? Will they continue a Blackberry and iPAQ line or do you think they will merge the technologies into a single handheld?

I certainly hope not. I like the smaller non-keyboard integrated Pocket PC devices. Sure, I enjoy the ability to snap-on a keyboard (J568 was the best) but not integrated like the bulky Hitachi Pocket PC, or the Clie and Treo Palms. ukeface:

[ntractv]

I have the iPAQ 5555 and my office just equipped me with a Blackberry device. I love this thing. I would like to see an intergration of the two. Be nice if the could do it in the form-factor of the Zaurus' with the slide down keyboard. But when you really think about, always on e-mail on a PPC device. Not likely with the battery life.

[TopDog]

I was lucky enough to borrow a Palm Tungsten W a week, and it was great having a device that was as small as a small PocketPC, with integrated phone, great color-screen and a good thumboard...

Didn't like the Palm OS though (first time I'd ever used it). It would be great seeing a Microsoft-device with the same size and thumboard, but I don't see that happening over night...

[danmanmayer]

I dont know much about rim so what exactly does a rim do that a pocket pc doesn't. I thought it was e-mail some news and chatting??? am i missing something about the rim.

[HOLLYWOOD_]

My company issued BlackBerry out nearly 6 months ago. My PPC sits in my briefcase and gets less than 15 minutes use a day. My BlackBerry stays on my hip in its leather pouch and gets used all day long.

Having Blackberry functionality in a PPC makes me salivate !!!

[Gremmie]

On a company level it would be a good move, HP would have enough cash to help carry out the current lawsuits (which killed RIM last quarter) and they have a large corporate and [especially] government client-base.

[icatar]

Give me a device that combines the functionality of the PPC and always-on email and I'm there! I'm going to see if my company will let me test the Hitachi G1000 from SprintPCS when it is available. Combing that with Microsoft Mobile Information server and that could be the next closest thing.

[HOLLYWOOD_]

PPC needs to find a way to integrate this in a smaller form factor than the Hitachi G1000.

Not to mention a thumboard is a requirement. I know a lot of you are against thumboards, but for those of us who are constantly mobile and get 100+ emails a day, there is no other method for input I can live with.

[thunderck]

RIM and HP?? This would be great!!! Let us consider a couple things.

1.Pocket PC's are sweet and a powerful tool

2.Internet and network access in general at home is a must

Convergence here would be ideal but there are problems. Always on network access for data is great but it uses precious battery life but instant updates on calendar, contacts, and email have proved precious as well. THe problem is services like (network access, hardware device, and always on services) do not all come from one individual vendor. The collaboration between vendors is just not there yet in PPC but we are seeing the beginnings of it with the g1000. RIM has had the collaboration for some time now.

case in point1:

Sprint (the network providor) offers a CF data card and added services (like links to e-mail and the like)
HP or some other hardware providor offers a PPC device.

I know from dealing with Sprint that they DO NOT have access to any handheld manufacturor's SMS harware REgs therefore they cannot offer always on push technology to a PPC with a CF data card. (Blackberry's can)

case in point2:
Sprint network access
hitachi g1000

this device is always on with sprints BCEE service that gives you your e-mail to the PPC because Sprint and Hitachi work closely together and give each other access to the necessarySMS regs.

All this to lead to my main point :mrgreen: THe g1000 is the first Blackberry like device for PPC made possible by a closer relationship between key service providers (hardware and network service). HP makes great hardware but does not have visable inroads into 3G network companies like Sprint or Edge companies like T-mobile. Buying RIM will strenthen HP's position in the future convergence maket-place and make them an even more attractive partnere to network providers. Not to mention RIM experience and street credibility with Big business would be nice. However it will be interesting to see how the court case plays out that RIM is in with Good Technology. Seems like Sprint is leaning toward Good Tech. for a business partner and I also here Sprint Might be working with HP on an upcoming device. :lol:
Might be risky but very nice for HP if RIM keeps morale with corporate America. RIM looks devalued and perhaps a cheap buy :!: