IBM to Offer RIM Blackberry Devices

IBM and Research In Motion (RIM) said Wednesday that they would team to deliver RIM’s BlackBerry devices to IBM’s enterprise customers.

The solution is designed to provide companies with the flexibility and convenience to complete a variety of wireless enterprise activities, including reading and sending email,
logging on to corporate intranets, updating calendars, and accessing automated sales tools, both companies said in a statement.

Besides adding BlackBerry to its portfolio of wireless products, IBM said it would establish a “competency team” with the ability to develop enterprise-grade wireless systems to its customers. It said in a statement that the team would deliver consulting, design and systems integration services.

RIM has had success getting large PC vendors such as Dell and large ISPs such as America Online and EarthLink to sell its products, which use the paging network to deliver e-mail and some Web content.

“Customers today are asking IBM Global Services to help them extend their enterprise communications to the wireless world and to deliver complete mobile e-business solutions,” said Dean Douglas, general manager, mobile e-business, IBM Global Services. “With this collaboration, we will be able to provide end-
to-end services for a leading wireless email solution using BlackBerry with IBM’s enterprise services.”

AllNetDevices.com contributed to this article.