Samsung And RIM Ink "BlackBerry Connectivity" Agreement

[Janak Parekh]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.rim.net/news/press/pr-29_01_2004.shtml' target='_blank'>http://www.rim.net/news/press/pr-29_01_2004.shtml</a><br /><br /></div>"Samsung and Research In Motion (RIM) (Nasdaq: RIMM; TSX: RIM) today announced plans to enable BlackBerry® connectivity on Samsung wireless handhelds. RIM's BlackBerry Connect™ licensing program will help Samsung enable its wireless handhelds to connect to BlackBerry Enterprise Server™ using the same secure, push-based wireless architecture and infrastructure that currently supports thousands of companies and government organizations around the world. The companies also intend to work together to enable Samsung handhelds to connect to BlackBerry Web Client™ services for individuals and smaller businesses."<br /><br />The PR specifically says the details will be announced later, but I certainly hope the i700 will be included in the deal. I'd love to get both WM2003 and BES support on the i700; say what you want about RIM devices and their weak PIMs, but the email backend is very robust, and something like that on Windows Mobile devices would give instant credence to Pocket PC Phones as true mobile terminals.

[Jeff Rutledge]

This is exciting. Personally I'm hoping that the rumour that the new HP6000 has RIM compatability. If not though, this might do the trick. The bottom line for me is that my company won't look once (let alone twice) at any non-Blackberry device unless it integrates seamlessly into our existing infrastructure. That means it has to work with our existing BES server without any modifications.

Regarding being able to use it with the i700, would this work? I had always assumed that the device would require a RIM radio built in to work with their back end. Will it work with any GPRS connection? That would be cool...

[Terry]

The AT&T Wireless Blackberry uses GSM/GPRS...so if a PPC supported GSM, and had a CE version of the software, Blackberry wireless e-mail could work. Each Blackberry has a hard-coded serial, similar to a MAC address. A software version of the address would be prone to spoofing, allowing a hacker to receive messages destined for others, so I suspect that any PPC device that supports Blackberry mail would need at least the serial "chip." Simply moving the SIM card from one Blackberry to another allows phone service to work, but not e-mail until the Blackberry is reset in the Blackberry server or desktop software.

FWIW, RIM announced the same agreement over a year ago with Microsoft and we haven't seen a thing.

I am still "stuck" with a laptop, iPaq 5555, Blackberry and CDMA Motorola phone to get reliable software and service for all my portable needs...

[rlobrecht]

This is really exciting news. I think push is the way to go (for some people) with wireless emails, and this will do it. Hopefully it will pave the way for other hardware manufacturers.

Now if they could just find a way to do SPOT on something besides a hideous watch (maybe a CF card.)

[Birdman]

One more reason to hold off dumping my XDA for the XDAII for just a little longer. A PPCPE device with RIM push tech. is EXACTLY what I am waiting for.