DailyTech - HP, RIM Form BlackBerry Smartphone Alliance

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Michael Barkoviak - May 4, 2009 1:36 PM

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12 comment(s) - last by ctodd.. on May 4 at 7:58 PM

HP and RIM will work together to make employees work more efficiently

PC maker Hewlett-Packard and phone maker Research In Motion announced they'll work together to offer new services for RIM's BlackBerry smartphone.

“RIM and HP are working together to deliver solutions to customers that weave mobility into their daily operations – from innovative new services in the cloud to managed mobile services for the enterprise,” RIM co-chief CEO Jim Balsillie said in a statement. “Through our collaboration with HP, businesses will have access to an expanded set of applications and services for their BlackBerry smartphone deployments.”

At least one solution from both companies includes BlackBerry Enterprise Server 5.0 support, and will focus on developing service levels and increasing consumer productivity. Joining BlackBerry Enterprise Server 5.0 will be HP CloudPrint, a service web-based service so BlackBerry owners can print e-mails, pictures, documents, and other files using their phone.

CloudPrint is driverless and will have the documents print to the nearest printer in range of the phone user. The service will be available to BlackBerry Enterprise Server customers and BlackBerry Internet Service subscribers, according to HP.

Companies have actively looked for new methods to increase service levels, though manufacturers such as HP and RIM have had a difficult time trying to develop the necessary technologies. Both companies are expected to roll out additional features and services at a later date this summer.

Even though other smartphones have created more competition for RIM, the BlackBerry is still extremely popular among executives, doctors, and other professionals who rely on their mobile device to make calls, send secure e-mails, and other services. The Apple iPhone has cut into RIM's smartphone dominance, but the iPhone is more focused on consumer apps, and has had trouble being implemented in the enterprise workplace.

It's unknown when the software will be released, but it is being shown off during the Wireless Enterprise Symposium, which is underway from Orlando this week.

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Doctors

By dagamer34 on 5/4/09, Rating: -1

RE: Doctors

By TomZ on 5/4/2009 2:09:36 PM , Rating: 2

LOL, that's funny. Typically when I see a doctor, he/she has 3 pagers on his/her waist. Not exactly high tech or progressive.

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RE: Doctors

By quiksilvr on 5/4/2009 2:22:11 PM , Rating: 2

Indeed. A text message on a cellphone is more efficient than a damn pager. Just make a different sound for each type of message.

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RE: Doctors

By omnicronx on 5/4/2009 4:08:20 PM , Rating: 2

Why do doctors need a smartphone at all?

Arn't cell phones still banned in most hospitals in North America(at least around pretty much any medical equipment, i.e no O/R, E/R etc etc..)

It was long ago that cell phones would interfere with these devices, and it is apparently no longer the case, but on last check most hospitals still don't let you use them.

I used to work in the O.R and I remember everyone (doctors included) having to go into the halls before they could use their phones, mainly for 'what if' legal issues.

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RE: Doctors

By omnicronx on 5/4/2009 4:09:54 PM , Rating: 2

yep.. still banned in most Hospitals around North America..

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RE: Doctors

By ctodd on 5/4/2009 7:58:07 PM , Rating: 2

They are not allowed as far as I know, but honestly who really follows the rules? I know some nurses that don't. They keep them at the nurses station with the ringer turned off.

You can set the phone on "Airplane mode" to turn the phone portion off and still use it for applications. Not all medical applications require a network connection. Epocrates uses a local database to store its information. The only thing you need the network for is pill images if you're using the pill identification portion.

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RE: Doctors

By Pirks on 5/4/2009 2:15:00 PM , Rating: 2

quote:
Doctors are moving to iPhones

Why to iPhones and not to something else? I mean what do they find so attractive in iPhones compared to other smartphones?

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RE: Doctors

By TomZ on 5/4/2009 2:40:28 PM , Rating: 2

They're shiny. :o)

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RE: Doctors

By amanojaku on 5/4/2009 2:49:26 PM , Rating: 5

Is that PIRKS questioning people's interest in Apple products?!?

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RE: Doctors

By Pirks on 5/4/2009 3:14:35 PM , Rating: 2

Doctor's interest actually

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RE: Doctors

By Sazar on 5/4/2009 2:57:01 PM , Rating: 2

There are some pretty good applications they can use for reference.

Although, I have a feeling that the new Palm Pre may be a better bet.

My sister-in-law is a doctor and has a Palm because of the wider library of applications for medical use. Also, it's going to be easier to use a keyboard and cursor than a capacitive touch-screen only when you have a glove on.

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RE: Doctors

By ctodd on 5/4/2009 3:57:05 PM , Rating: 4

Probably programs like Epocrates. Maybe they want something they can use outside of work. My wife has tons of Medical utilities which she finds very useful. When she is not at work, she uses it to read Kindle books. There are also a ton of medical e-books out there. Lots of drug reference guides, etc. I think his blanketed statement may be wrong. I wouldn’t think that every doctor is planning to switch, but you will find a lot of them using iPhone. Every doctor and nurse practitioner that I personally know has one. Many use Epocrates.

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