The unspecified delay, which seriously inhibits the potential of the devices as business tools, results from RIM’s ongoing patent dispute with NTP Inc.
Nokia said the next generation of the handsets will be equipped with the software in other markets when shipments start, possibly late this quarter if the company keeps to its planned release schedule. Meanwhile, fellow BlackBerry Connect licensee PalmSource Inc will push ahead with its plans to offer the BlackBerry client globally after resolving its own issues with RIM.
Nokia will delay the availability of the Nokia 6800 messaging phone with BlackBerry connectivity in the US pending further review of the Research In Motion patent situation, the company said in an official statement to ComputerWire.
Nokia continues to work actively with RIM and the product delay applies to the US market only. Product development between Nokia and RIM continues and launch plans will proceed in Canada, Latin America, Europe, Middle East and Africa and Asia-Pacific.
RIM was less forthcoming regarding the effect of its current legal situation on Nokia’s decision. Nokia is introducing BlackBerry connectivity on its 6800 series mobile communicators on a country by country basis, RIM said in its own statement. Nokia is first launching in Europe and will launch in other countries at the appropriate time. It is best to speak with Nokia regarding their launch plans.
RIM first discussed opening up its BlackBerry system to third-party mobile devices in November 2002, stating its intention to work with Nokia and the Solutions Group of what was then Palm Inc (now PalmOne Inc).
This strategy was further expanded in March 2003 with the launch of the BlackBerry Connect licensing program. This added Symbian and High Tech Computer (which manufactures smart phones and wireless PDAs based on Microsoft’s Windows Mobile platforms) to the list of BlackBerry supporters. PalmSource, Sony Ericsson and Samsung Electronics have also since joined.
But so far BlackBerry Connect has shown few signs of becoming a tangible offering, with no third-party BlackBerry-enabled devices so far reaching the market.
Nokia said it would put the BlackBerry client software on its J2ME-enabled 6800 messaging phone by the fourth quarter 2003 at the latest. However, this intention was not fulfilled and attention shifted to the next generation of the handsets, the 6810 and 6820, due for release in the second and first quarter 2004, respectively.
These updated models were expected to feature BlackBerry software at launch. But Nokia has clearly felt it necessary to rethink its plans, at least as far as launching BlackBerry-enabled devices in the US is concerned.
This article is based on material originally published by ComputerWire
