RIM Plans Aftermarket Palm OS BlackBerry Software

Posted By: Ryan on Monday, September 27, 2004 9:26:08 AM

Research In Motion (RIM) today announced plans to offer an aftermarket BlackBerry Connect software download for the Palm OS from PalmSource. With the BlackBerry Connect software download, customers with existing Palm OS-based wireless devices will be able to sign up for BlackBerry wireless services.

"We are working closely with PalmSource to provide Palm OS users the power of always-on, push-based BlackBerry services," said Mike Lazaridis, president and co-CEO, Research In Motion. "By making BlackBerry Connect software available as an aftermarket download, customers will be able to enjoy BlackBerry services on a much broader array of existing and future Palm OS devices."

"Our work with RIM on BlackBerry Connect demonstrates our dedication to providing Palm OS users with leading solutions," said David Nagel, president and CEO, PalmSource. "We believe that RIM's innovative BlackBerry wireless platform and PalmSource's robust operating system will enable customers with Palm Powered devices to enjoy the freedom and productivity benefits of wireless email on the go."

The Palm OS platform powers more than 35 million mobile devices from manufacturers such as Aceeca, AlphaSmart, Fossil, Foundertech, Garmin, GSPDA, Kyocera, Lenovo, palmOne, QTech, Samsung, Sony, Symbol, and Tapwave. Palm OS device manufacturers will also be able to ship the BlackBerry Connect solution with their hardware.

"BlackBerry is a popular solution for our customers that want to utilize always-on, wireless connectivity to email and calendar functions," said Jim Straight, Vice President of Wireless Data at Verizon Wireless. "By making BlackBerry services easily available on a broader array of CDMA-based devices, corporate customers and small business users will have more options to utilize this powerful business tool."

For corporate customers, BlackBerry Enterprise Server software tightly integrates with Microsoft Exchange or IBM Lotus Domino (Novell GroupWise support is expected later this year) and works with existing enterprise systems to enable secure, push-based, wireless access to email and other corporate data.

For individuals and smaller businesses, BlackBerry Internet Service allows users to access multiple existing corporate and/or personal email accounts (including Microsoft Exchange, IBM Lotus Domino and many popular ISP email accounts) from a single device.

Further details and information regarding pricing and availability will be available at a later date.

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Great for Treos

LiveFaith @ 9/27/2004 1:46:36 PM #

This should be excellent for the Treo 600, 650 or 800g. Seems like PalmOne would really try to promote this with cell carriers.

Pat Horne; www.churchoflivingfaith.com

RE: Great for Treos

hkklife @ 9/27/2004 2:13:08 PM #

Agreed. Actually, I think a cross-branded P1 TreoBerry or whatever would be great. Have both the P1 and RIM Blackberry names on the unit, kinda like the Franklin Covey packaging for existing Palms.

This can only be a good thing for the Treo line and the long-term prospects of the platform. I just hope that RIM & P1 can both do their portion of handling support for this add-on software and its integration with the hardware.

RE: Great for Treos

radleyp @ 9/27/2004 5:47:34 PM #

I don't see the point of this. A Blackberry is an always-on device with the right battery power. There is no way you could leave any Palm on all the time without draining the battery quickly. Or am I missing something? Philippe Radley

RE: Great for Treos

hkklife @ 9/27/2004 5:50:43 PM #

Like the old i705 Palm did (and, presumably, the T|W though I never used one). Set it to "wake up" every 10 mins/30 mins/hour or whatever. Log on, DL mail, give an alert if desired, then go back to sleep. I would assume the above could be done without even powering the screen on.

I'd trade off a bit of "always-on" RIM functionality in favor of being able to do 1000s more tasks on a Palm OS machine over a lame duck Blackberry.

e_tellurian @ 9/27/2004 1:44:01 PM #

Is Canada great or what! Our portion of $30,000,000 was well spent to help build RIM.

What do we do ... please.

Democratic collaboration with good friends is always a win-win. Now if we could just get the West Coast to think of more ways to build with our friends in the North, South, East and West we could add more value for all Canadians and continue the tradition RF started long ago.

Well done!

E-T

e-tellurian

completing the e-com circle with a people driven we-com solution

Could THIS be why the POS wireless handhelds were abandoned?

Strider_mt2k @ 9/27/2004 5:48:21 PM #

I wonder if this is connected in some way with the wirless Palm folks being abandoned?

Like a, "We'll let you in on our network, but not until you discontinue yours." kinda thing?

RE: Could THIS be why the POS wireless handhelds were abandoned?

LiveFaith @ 9/27/2004 10:27:21 PM #

Strider,

I don't know the specifics but I have been wondering if a PalmOne-RIM merger might be in discussion? I know RIM is trying to connec with others, but it sure seems that these 2 could find some real benefits with one another. Mainly, holding the Redmond dark side at bay a little longer?

Imagine a "blackberry" that could run 20,000+ Palm OS apps ... imagine a T5-TC2-TW2-Treo with optimized BB networks for e-mail/IM/web/video/"voip" etc etc.

Anyway, I know I'm getting a little over the top, but it seems to make real sense for both. Most importantly PalmOne has gone for almost a year without a split/merger/buyout/namechange ... totally unacceptable, :-)

Pat Horne; www.churchoflivingfaith.com

So when is it coming??

cyman777 @ 8/10/2005 6:34:45 AM #

...Just got a blackberry for work and as my company locks my Treo from the intranet with a proprietory VPN I cannot access my e-mail on my Treo but could, if there was a palm RIM client... :-(

Any updates on this software?

RE: So when is it coming??

AdamaDBrown @ 8/10/2005 1:24:33 PM #

Nothing, unfortunately. We were told in January that it was "coming soon..." that was the last I heard of it.

Palm Software on sale