Handhelds Have Software TooRobert O'Brien, Chief Officer-Technology Division of the New York City Transit Authority agrees, "Blackberry Handheld Software allows me to be more productive during the day and reduce my 'overtime' since I can now access my email on the train ride home and prepare my day on the train ride in." Located in the Wall Street area of New York, N.Y., WS Communications, Inc. provides wireless communications business solutions to Fortune 500 companies. WS Communications is a subsidiary of Wall Street Technology Group, Inc., a professional services organization specializing in information systems management, telecommunications and systems support services. Research In Motion, RIM and Blackberry Handheld Software are trademarks of Research In Motion Limited. Research In Motion and RIM are registered, U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. Microsoft is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corp. in the United States and/or other countries. All other brands, products and company names mentioned herein may be trademarks of their respective holders. Research in Motion Ltd.'s pocket-size BlackBerry two-way wireless messaging device is a good pick for employees who are frequently out of the office but need to keep up on their Microsoft Corp. Exchange e-mail, and the packet radio network-based unit also makes a convenient PIM. Because the product costs $800, organizations won't want to buy one of RIM's devices for each e-mail user, but, judging from PC Week Labs' tests, the investment makes sense for personnel who can't afford delays in getting and answering e-mail. Not all e-mail can be forwarded, however. Attachments can't be sent, and the BlackBerry device is not designed to deal with lengthy messages. Users can set up filters to send only messages with specific subjects or from particular people. Because the BlackBerry software runs on a user's desktop PC--rather than on an Exchange server--users must leave their PCs on when they are away to redirect messages between the handheld unit and the Exchange server. The redirection software uses an Internet connection to the BellSouth Mobile Data packet radio network to forward e-mail to the BlackBerry device. Too tiny to type much. Although the miniature keyboard on the BlackBerry has a standard QWERTY layout, most people aren't going to be touch-typing lengthy memos on this thing- -two thumbs are about all we could fit on the cramped keyboard. RIM has thoughtfully programmed some keyboard shortcuts. For example, when addressing an e-mail message, pressing the space bar inserts the @ sign. |