BT has launched a new service that looks to bring the features of the BlackBerry to smaller businesses.While there are many service providers for the BlackBerry device, a company spokesman said, “This is the first time a company is integrating all these services for a small business user,” without need for additional IT server software.With BT’s BlackBerry Internet Service, or BIS, a user need not have an additional e-mail account for his company and can collate mail from at least 10 different e-mail accounts like Yahoo or Hotmail.For owners of the BlackBerry 8700, BT has a special offer on Sat Nav, with the rental free for the first three or six months, on one- or two-year contracts. Interestingly, BT seems to have overlooked the fact that BlackBerrys are not Wi-Fi enabled. So unless BlackBerrys upgrade, small business users paying for services like e-mail, instant messaging through Yahoo and GoogleTalk will soon find themselves 260 pounds (US$488) short for just an e-mail account, and a Sat Nav device. Wi-Fi is scheduled to roll out all over the United Kingdom by the end of this summer.An Ipsos Reid BlackBerry ROI study in 2004, which comprised 210 BlackBerry users, showed that an average user could convert 54 minutes of downtime (time when traveling or when not in front of the PC or laptop) into productive use. But users, thankfully, might still get to relax when they’re traveling on the London Underground. -Radhika Praveen, Techworld.com (London)Check out our CIO News Alerts and Tech Informer pages for more updated news coverage. Related content brandpost Sponsored by Palo Alto Networks Operational technology systems require a robust Zero Trust strategy in 2024 Zero Trust provides a foundation for creating a stronger security posture in 2024. By Navneet Singh, vice president of marketing, network security, Palo Alto Networks Dec 05, 2023 6 mins Security brandpost Sponsored by AWS in collaboration with IBM How digital twin technology is changing complex industrial processes forever As the use cases for digital twins proliferate, it is becoming clear that data-driven enterprises with a track record of innovation stand the best chance of success. By Laura McEwan Dec 05, 2023 4 mins Digital Transformation brandpost Sponsored by AWS in collaboration with IBM Why modernising applications needs to be a ‘must’ for businesses seeking growth Around one-third of enterprises are spending heavily on application modernisation and aiming for cloud native status. The implications for corporate culture, structure and priorities will be profound. By Laura McEwan Dec 05, 2023 5 mins Digital Transformation opinion 11 ways to reduce your IT costs now Reorienting IT’s budget toward future opportunities is a big reason why CIOs should review their IT portfolios with an eye toward curbing unnecessary spending and realizing maximum value from every IT investment. By Stephanie Overby Dec 05, 2023 11 mins Budget Cloud Management IT Governance Podcasts Videos Resources Events SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER From our editors straight to your inbox Get started by entering your email address below. Please enter a valid email address Subscribe