Apparently RIM has decided to expand IT management solutions beyond the Blackberry and upon other mobile OS devices.
Unfortunately the company pulled the press release from their website, although bloggers and journalists were able to view some of the juiciest details before it was pulled.
The single web-based console is being designed to provide IT administrators with a simple and efficient way to distribute software and manage policies, inventory, security and services for BlackBerry devices, as well as other mobile devices. IT administrators will be able to manage devices over-the-air, including activating devices, distributing software and applications, locking or wiping devices, enforcing and resetting device passwords, setting IT policies, and managing optional mobile applications for end users.  (Courtesy of ZD Net, original PR from RIM)
The company is planning on supporting smartphones upon other platforms including iOS, Symbian, Windows Phone 7 and Android (the latter which RIM has been courting for quite some time).
While while embracing rivals will boost RIM’s image amongst IT professionals (as they’ll only need one tool to managed multiple smartphone OS’s), it’s probably also a sign that RIM is losing confidence in their ability to compete against iOS and Android.
RIM seems to be preparing themselves for a corporate world dominated by iOS and Android devices, with Blackberry smartphones becoming a rarity instead of the norm.
Originally posted on May 2, 2011 @ 1:54 pm