The Rise Of The Blackberry Killers (RIMM)

AT&T (T) and T-Mobile are about to introduce portable e-mail devices that work just like the RIM (RIMM) Blackberry.

According to Reuters AT&T said its new Pantech "duo" runs on Microsoft Corp’s mobile phone operating system and has a miniature computer-like keyboard, as well as a standard phone keypad. T-Mobile has a similar device.

The trouble with trying to unseat the Blackberry is that most of its service is run through corporate IT departments who get Blackberry e-mail servers so that they can provide a secure and seemless environment for all of their employees using the little device. There are some people who just use the Blackberry without company support and use their wireless carrier to store and send e-mail, but they are probably a modest part of the device’s user base.

RIMM’s shares have gone from $38 to $122 in the last year. Is that because users like the Blackberry? Yes, But, corporate IT departments like the system that runs the Blackberry as well. And, getting all of those IT departments to change out the software is not going to happen.

Douglas A. McIntyre