IBM offers BlackBerry support

IBM is to offer support for BlackBerry handsets and functions as a managed service.

IBM Mobile Enterprise Services for the BlackBerry Enterprise Solution is supposed to be a simple to use management tool for fleet workers and other employees that need to keep in touch with the office, and access applications such as business intelligence, email and collaboration software.

The new managed services would cost roughly 30 per cent less than comparible ones and is available on a worldwide basis, according to IBM.

"Mobile access is vital, and enterprises are challenged by rapidly expanding requirements from workers across all lines of business," Dan Papes, vice president of IBM mobile enterprise services, said in a statement.

"To unleash mobile access, IBM Mobile Enterprise Services for the BlackBerry Enterprise Solution offers a flexible set of services to complement a client's existing IT and security strategies and provides a predictable cost structure that allows clients to focus on their core business while leaving the deployment, management and support requirements of a mobility solution to IBM."

The service will be billed for on a monthly basis and is priced on a per user basis. IBM explained that costs for technical, administrative, licensing and support costs were consolidated and flexible, meaning that the system can scale up or down to meet the demands of the business and its users.

"Customers today are facing greater competitive pressures to empower their mobile workforce with secure and effective access to information," added Jeff McDowell, vice president of global alliances at RIM, in a statement.

"IBM is uniquely positioned to help organisations maximise their mobile investments through this new managed services offering."