RIM releases BlackBerry software for small business
Last Updated: Monday, November 5, 2007 | 2:18 PM ET
CBC News
Related
Research In Motion Ltd. is looking to expand its reach with smaller businesses by introducing software that allows firms to link their BlackBerry devices and e-mail systems.
The BlackBerry Professional software, which allows a business's e-mail server to transmit to the devices, 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 consumers made up more 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.
Share Tools
Top News Headlines
- Raitt closer to ending CP Rail strike
- Labour Minister Lisa Raitt is prepared to end the Canadian Pacific Rail strike if necessary, after both CP Rail and the union rejected a proposal for voluntary arbitration by the government-appointed negotiator on Sunday. Raitt tells CBC News she is "extremely disappointed." more »
- Syrian regime denies role in Houla massacre
- The UN Security Council condemned the Syrian regime at an emergency meeting Sunday, holding president Bashar al-Assad's military responsible for the massacre of more than 100 people, dozens of whom were children younger than 10 years old. more »
- Ryder Hesjedal wins prestigious Giro d'Italia
- Victoria, B.C., native Ryder Hesjedal has become the first Canadian to win one of the cycling world's three Grand Tour events, wrapping up the 2012 Giro d'Italia with an excellent performance in the final stage in Milan. more »
- Neighbour may have helped find missing kids in Mexico
- Two Winnipeg children who had been missing for nearly four years were found in Mexico after a man raised concerns about his neighbour, according to a private investigator. more »
Latest Business Headlines
- Bankia asks Spain for €19B
- The board of directors of Spain's troubled bank, Bankia, has asked the Spanish government for €19 billion ($24.5 billion Cdn) in financial support. more »
- EI reforms aim to boost employment, Flaherty says
- Finance Minister Jim Flaherty defended his government's proposals to change employment insurance, saying the aim is to remove "disincentives to employment." more »
- Employment Insurance review boards to be scrapped
- The federal government is scrapping two review boards used by people appealing decisions made about their employment insurance. more »
- Ottawa moves to limit foreign investment reviews
- The federal government is raising to $1 billion the amount of foreign money that can go into a Canadian company before the investment is reviewed. The review has been used in the past to block foreign takeovers of MDA and Potash Corp. more »
Lang & O'Leary Exchange
Markets
| Index | Last Trade | Change |
|---|---|---|
| TSX COMPOSITE | 11576.47 | 10.4 |
| DOW | 12454.83 | -74.92 |
| NASDAQ | 2837.53 | -1.85 |
| SP 500 | 1317.82 | -2.86 |
| NYSE COMPOSITE | 7534.32 | -18.01 |
| AMEX | 2227.37 | 1.45 |
| TSX-VENTURE | 1309.27 | 26.8 |
The data on this site is informational only and may be delayed; it is not intended as trading or investment advice and you should not rely on it as such.
Business Features
- Teen struck by lightning in Ottawa dies
- Missing Winnipeg children found in Mexico
- Quebec tornadoes cause millions in damage
- Syrian regime denies role in Houla massacre
- Montreal protesters march in peaceful defiance
- Woman's remains found in hockey bag on Cape Breton river
- Remains found in bag on Cape Breton river ID'd
- Everest team unable to bring down Toronto woman's body
- WWE apologizes to Brazil over Canadian's flag stomp
