SAP (SAP) is launching sales force automation products that will work on the Apple (AAPL) iPhone. As much as any initiative so far this begins to move the handset away its role as a consumer device and in the direction of products like the RIM (RIMM) Blackberry.
As a matter of fact, the SAP launch puts the iPhone ahead of other devices, at least in terms of product availability. According to Reuters "SAP is breaking with precedent by introducing versions of the new software that are compatible with the iPhone ahead of ones for mobile devices that businesses traditionally use." Versions for the Blackberry, Palm (PALM) Treo, and devices running Microsoft (MSFT) mobile applications will be released later.
If other enterprise software companies begin to target the iPhone ahead of the Blackberry, RIMM will have real problems with it legions of business users.
Douglas A. McIntyre