RIM reassures VARs over new BlackBerry
Handheld device manufacturer claims channel has a key role to play
Research in Motion (RIM) has insisted the channel will play a key role in pushing shipments of the new BlackBerry.
The vendor launched the Black-Berry 8700 earlier this year, and claimed VARs will have an opportunity to add value as mobilisation of the workforce increases.
Lee Underwood, commercial relationship director at RIM, said: “We now have 4.3 million BlackBerry users worldwide. It has developed to become a complete IT tool.
“VARs can mobilise what they are delivering already and drive value-add.”
RIM works with mobile network operators, Orange, Vodafone, T-Mobile and O2, which then filter the BlackBerry through their various sales channels.
“We have dealers that deliver mobile data to small organisations, but at the high-end we also have VARs doing large projects with the big network operators. There is always room for more resellers, but we have pretty good coverage,” Underwood said.
“VARs can do the services on BlackBerry, or project-manage the implementation. If they have the technical background resellers can also offer BlackBerry applications. There is a significant opportunity to add value to existing customers.”
Mark Cope, director at BlackBerry VAR Jem Telecom, said: “We are still finding a BlackBerry demand, but system integrators are finding it difficult to get into the space.”
Cope said the BlackBerry 8700, with its Intel processor, is what the channel has been waiting for.
Seperately, RIM will appear in court on Friday to hear the outcome of its lawsuit with NTP which claimed RIM used patented software in the BlackBerry device.