IBM will expand its portfolio of Managed Wireless Services for theBlackBerry platform leveraging its successful services offering thatcurrently hosts more than 100,000 enterprise end users globally. Theoffering builds upon the strength of the BlackBerry® Enterprise Serverproduct line with a far-reaching suite of services that include hosting,consulting, systems integration, and deployment of enterprise applicationson the converged platform.

Ownership of wireless services in the enterprise has shifted fromProcurement to the CIO. Like corporate data and telephony, the BlackBerryplatform is considered by many to be fundamental to their businessoperations. Large organizations look to outsource these services so theycan focus on their core competencies. Meanwhile, demand increases forinnovative technology and infrastructure to help support the mobile Web, aswireless devices now outnumber landlines. IBM's Institute for BusinessValue predicts more than one billion mobile Web users by 2011.

"We find that our enterprise clients increasingly need to extend wirelessdata capabilities beyond e-mail, and to leverage their enterpriseinvestment on wireless device platforms," said Gary Cohen, IBM's GeneralManager, Global Communications Sector. "IBM's services will facilitate thedeployment and ongoing management of enterprise applications on theBlackBerry platform. We are uniquely positioned to enable our enterprisecustomers to do so on a large scale. As the world's leading IT servicesprovider we are very pleased to be offering these services and to beworking with RIM, an outstanding innovative leader in the wireless datamarketplace."

"In today's business world, BlackBerry is as essential to our organizationas network connectivity, phone and e-mail. At Fluor, we count on BlackBerryto speed our decision making, help solve problems and improve execution,"said Ray Barnard, VP and CIO, Fluor Corporation. "We count on IBM todeliver this essential service and to collaborate with our businesspartners to innovate on new mobile applications that further ourcompetitive advantage."

"RIM is excited to support the expansion of IBM's Managed Wireless Servicesfor the BlackBerry platform," said Jeff McDowell, Vice President, GlobalAlliances at Research in Motion. "RIM believes IBM's hosted services willhelp extend the reach of the BlackBerry platform globally and will helpcustomers realize the full value of enterprise mobility."

Managing customers' wireless applications in an increasingly mobile-centricworld is a key focus of the new alliance between IBM and RIM.