[Tom]

Future Nokia and other manufacturers’ Symbian Series 80 devices will feature BlackBerry functionality as standard from next year.

Research In Motion (RIM) and Symbian announced last week that BlackBerry Connect will be enabled on the next generation of Symbian-based devices from 2005.

The inclusion of BlackBerry will allow users to access all BlackBerry-related services on their devices, such as always-on email and calendar functions. This will also be available to both corporate BlackBerry server and internet-based single users.

The first devices to feature the functionality will be the next Nokia Communicators, the 9500 and smaller 9300, launching early next year.

Nokia’s Series 80 device range will feature a full QWERTY keyboard and a joystick for menu navigation as standard.

Niklas Savander, senior VP of Nokia’s Enterprise Solutions Mobile Device unit, said: ‘By expanding our range of business devices enabled with BlackBerry connectivity, we provide customers with a broader choice of devices that best suit their work or lifestyle.’

The deal is a boost to BlackBerry, which is experiencing strong demand for its out-of-the-box BlackBerrys, as Symbian has so far secured licensing agreements with at least 12 handset manufacturers.

http://www.mobiletoday.co.uk/artman/...cle_1009.shtml