Almost overlooked amid the hype of Compaq Computer Corp.’s new iPAQ Home Internet Appliance introduced last week was the news that Compaq would being reselling another alternative Internet access product-Research In Motion Ltd.’s BlackBerry wireless e-mail device.
Under a recently expanded strategic alliance, Compaq will market RIM’s BlackBerry solution for the 950 pager and the 957 personal digital assistant under its own brand. The RIM 950 handheld product will be branded as the iPAQ BlackBerry W1000 while the RIM 957 PDA will be branded as the iPAQ BlackBerry H1100. The W1000 is available today in both the United States and Canada, while the H1100 is expected to roll out in mid-September.
The BlackBerry solution allows users to access corporate e-mail using Microsoft Exchange or Lotus Domino Notes on the device. Compaq is a major distributor of the Microsoft Exchange platform. Adding wireless connectivity to this enables the company to offer a full, end-to-end solution-from the server platform itself to installation, support services and now wireless access.
Specifically, the solution includes the iPAQ BlackBerry devices with a Compaq ProLiant ML330 server with messaging server software from Microsoft and BlackBerry’s Enterprise Server software.
The announcement is the latest in a string of Compaq initiatives aimed at meeting alternative Internet access needs. In April, the company introduced the iPAQ Pocket PC, a handheld computer based on Microsoft’s Windows CE platform. The device features expansion modules allowing various wireless connectivity solutions.
