BlackBerry Intros Mobile Conferencing App for Enterprise Users
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BlackBerry owners in RIM's sweet spot-the enterprise-may delight in a new, free app that lets users easily join and set up conference calls from their smartphones.
BlackBerry maker Research In Motion took a break from chasing consumer Apple iPhone and iPad sales to do what it does best: Ease the ills of enterprise workers. In its BlackBerry Beta Zone April 8, RIM introduced BlackBerry Mobile Conferencing, a free application that simplifies setting up, accepting and participating in conference calls.
BlackBerry Mobile Conferencing integrates with a BlackBerry
smartphone's Calendar application; when conference time rolls around, a pop-up
window appears, enabling the user to dial in with just a click-instead
of having to search for a phone number and paste in an access code.
If there are multiple phone numbers in the invitation-for inside or out of the country, say-the application knows which one
to use. And should a person be dropped from
the call, reconnecting happens with just a click.
The app also simplifies the process of setting up a
conference call from a BlackBerry, enabling users to "turn almost any
meeting invite into a conference call with just a single click," RIM
explained in the Beta Zone. Reservationless or recurring conference information
can also be stored to a conference profile on one's phone, so it can easily be
added to meetings scheduled from the device.
Finally, the app is also discreet with moderator
information, keeping codes hidden from conference attendees.
Interested BlackBerry owners can find the app listed under
"Eligible Programs" in their Beta Zone account. It just requires
BlackBerry OS 5 or higher.
Likely another helpful enterprise tool-should it ever
arrive-is the BlackBerry PlayBook, RIM's promised contribution to the
tablet fray. Introduced in September 2010, the tablet was, after a few delays,
expected to be just days away-on March 11, Boy Genius Report picked up a
newsletter from a Canadian Sears Affiliate Program announcing to members that
the PlayBook would be available for preorder March 12 and begin shipping April
10.
At the CTIA Wireless event March 23, RIM
put an end to the rumors, announcing that the PlayBook would begin shipping
in the United States and Canada April 19, starting at $499. During the
company's earnings call the next day, co-CEO
Jim Balsillie said the most important thing was to get the PlayBook out as soon
as possible, "but to make sure it's stable." By April 19, he believed
that would be the case.
Plus, he added, "it's got a great over-the-air utility
for upgrading ... it's got so many things that future-proof it. ... It's a
winner, it's such a winner."
According to a
new report from Taiwan-based DigiTimes, however, the PlayBook may already
be losing out to the Apple iPad. According to an April 7 report, RIM is being
forced to delay the PlayBook because Apple, churning out iPad 2 tablets, is
using up all of the appropriate manufacturers' touch-panel capacity.
"Sources from touch-screen panel makers also pointed out
that PlayBook shipments were postponed for about a month from the original
schedule due to a delay in software testing," the site reported, "as
well as shortage of touch panels because Apple already booked up most of the
available capacity."
Apple is estimated to have sold one million iPad 2s on the
device's debut weekend, and on March 25 began selling the tablet in an
additional 25 countries.
RIM has invested heavily in the PlayBook and has a good deal
riding on its success. Its earnings guidance for the first quarter of fiscal
2012 was lower than Wall Street expected-and again due to the PlayBook.
"We're investing in opening up a new category, bringing
in a new platform. This is no time for half measures," Balsillie said
during the call. "This is a time of enormous investment and
transition."
