Microsoft and RIM ink deal on Blackberry connectivity

By Steve Malone

Posted on 19 Apr 2005 at 10:25

Microsoft and Research In Motion (RIM) have signed a deal to extend the connectivity between Microsoft's new Office Live Communications Server 2005 and BlackBerry Enterprise Server. The deal means that Blackberry subscribers should see improved enterprise level instant messaging and presence. The deal also shows further endorsement of the Blackberry platform by the world's biggest software company.

The combined Microsoft-RIM solution is intended to bring an enterprise's Live Communications Server features to staff using BlackBerry-enabled devices. The deal will enable professionals who are out of the office to transmit instant messages and share presence-based information and stay in touch with the other staff and customers.

RIM says it is working to develop a Live Communications Server Client for BlackBerry that provides security-enhanced Live Communications Server IM connections between mobile BlackBerry users and their Live Communications Server.

Although its overall market share is still quite small compared with Symbian or even Microsoft's own mobile Windows product, Blackberry is becoming increasingly ubiquitous throughout the corporate world as employees out on the road need to keep in touch with their email and other data communications at the office. Bill Gates is known to be a fan.

Microsoft has also been working to extend the capabilities of Live Communications Server to instant messaging products from other vendors. The company reckons that remote communications will become increasingly important as IM, email, SMS and other data tools become part of the office workers' daily tools.

As well as connections to MSN, Communications Server now supports the messaging services from rivals AOL and Yahoo! Microsoft has also recently signed interoperability deals with both Nokia and Symbian in the mobile phone space. The announcement of this deal with RIM puts another piece in Microsoft's goal to be the corporate gatekeeper into the office from the various mobile devices being used today.

RIM says it expects to have product availability by the end of the year, with trials expected to take place by September 2005. The partners say that they will be releasing additional information with more detailed product specifications at a later date.