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Blackberry email devices can be so addictive that owners may need to be weaned off them with treatment similar to that given to drug users, experts have warned. But that’s just the few who can’t bear to be parted from their emails. Trawling through web sites we discover a 50:50 split between those who curse the day the BlackBerry was invented (often neglected partners of “addicts”) and others who can’t envisage a life without them. As ever the silent majority sit somewhere in the middle. As with other products, such as data cards providing unlimited broadband access, the Blackberry is just one in a whole range of communication tools which, if used sensibly, will serve you well.

Research in Motion is attempting to increase its dominance by making features of its popular BlackBerry wireless email device available to non-Blackberry users. They will be launching software into the worldwide consumer market, rather than just concentrating on corporate users. It will have the effect of making devices equipped with Microsoft's Windows Mobile work just like BlackBerries. Selling the software could help it gain more subscribers but if the plan is too successful, it could also damage sales of Blackberries themselves, which account for about 70pc of RIM's revenues. However the move is a signal that RIM is preparing for the time when handset sales slow. "Ultimately, when hardware slows down, we will be more and more of a service company," chief executive Jim Balsillie said. Users who download BlackBerry's "virtual application" will be able to see the same rows of icons that appear on the screens of BlackBerry devices. The software can be launched by clicking a BlackBerry icon on a non-BlackBerry device. When closing the software, the non-BlackBerry device returns to its original screen.

With the development of communication technologies, the practicalities of working from home have become increasingly more feasible. The business advantages can be quite staggering. Not only do employers save costs such as office space etc but employees can reduce travel costs and put time to more effective use. The provision of home working can help provide a better work life balance for individuals and enable companies to recruit and retain employees. With data cards providing instant Broadband access to the the office from almost anywhere the costs of setting up a Homeworker are minimal. A mobile phone, laptop and data card along with suitable home accommodation are all that is needed. Here are a few of the considerations to be taken into account before a homeworking arrangement can be made. This include: • The needs of the staff member for more flexible working arrangements • The degree to which elements of the job can be performed from home • The attributes and skills of the staff member including time management, self-discipline and communication skills – especially with the increased reliance on remote working devices such as data cards • The likely ability of the individual to cope with the reduced social contact • The suitability of the home environment in terms of office space including health and safety arrangements • The extent to which you formalise the agreement within the employee’s contract of employment It is often best to begin with a trial period. Put a measurement process in place and if performance does not meet the required standard, end the trial. You should set out with a clear understanding of the arrangement with so both parties know what is expected of them. .A homeworking policy should be prepared and communicated to all members of staff so expectations between colleagues can be managed correctly and a clear monitoring process can be put into place from the outset. By monitoring easily available technology such as Outlook ensure that it works for both parties. Remember, homeworking is not for everyone. Some people are less productive as they miss the social interaction of the work environment. It is all about attitude and commitment.

This is a great addition to the BlackBerry range. The Curve 8300 features a full QWERTY keyboard, but without making the unit overly large. It's certainly more consumer-focused than the 8800, but that doesn't mean it can't turn its hand to business when the time comes. The rounded design of the BlackBerry Curve makes it pleasant to hold and it's small enough to use single-handed if you're just doing a bit of surfing. But it's not so tiny that using two hands feels cramped. The trackball, as per the previous models, is great - an intuitive and natural device to find your way around the interface and web pages. You can navigate up, down, left and right with the single control, and to make a selection you simply press on the ball. The usual layout of menu key and back button sit either side of the trackball with green and red call start and end buttons outside those. The bottom third of the unit is occupied by the QWERTY keyboard. The keys are beveled slightly, which helps avoid the problem of pressing more than one at the same time. Despite the small size, with a little practice you can attain a decent typing speed - certainly good enough for responding to email or composing text messages. At the top is a bright and clear 2.4in screen with a 320 x 240 resolution and the ability to show 65,000 colours. Size-wise, it's not that much bigger than the BlackBerry Pearl - it's obviously wider, but it's only slightly thicker and about the same height: 10.7 x 6 x 1.6cm. The additional width makes it feel a little unnatural when using it as a phone at first, but it doesn't take that much getting used to. It weighs a light-on-pockets 111g. The Curve has a strong consumer feel to it. For example, it features beefed up multimedia capabilities. So, you can now play back video full screen, and RIM has helpfully thrown in some software - Roxio Media Manager - for converting video into a suitable format to play on the device.

With BlackBerry you stay competitive. You can respond to enquiries on the move, get information to make decisions and keep ahead of the game. It allows you to keep on top of the daily demands of your bust business life. With BlackBerry you do more on the move Everyone knows about BlackBerry’s world famous email access but other software capabilities, designed for your business needs can make it an invaluable tool for keeping ahead of the competition. With BlackBerry you get more bang for your bucks Suitable for business of all sizes and in all sectors BlackBerry is cost efficient, reliable and has been known to provide a ROI of nearly 200%, with a potential payback period of less than seven months. With BlackBerry you incur low maintenance A complete wireless communications solution that integrates with your existing IT architecture, BlackBerry Enterprise Server is easy to implement and maintain. With BlackBerry the solution grows with your business You can start with the BlackBerry Internet service which is designed to meet the particular needs of small businesses, delivering wireless communications without the need for costly IT support. As your requirements become greater, you can expand to BlackBerry Enterprise Server, to run along your email server. If you have fewer than fifteen users you can purchase BlackBerry Enterprise Server SBE which is scalable to more than fifteen users when you are ready. If you don’t have an in-house server you could benefit from Hosted BlackBerry Enterprise Server from the company who hosts your mail server. These great options are fully scalable and upgradable

The Nokia E51 is a traditional design mobile that features 3G and Wi-Fi support, as well as closer integration with IP telephony infrastructure. Antti Vasara, Nokia's senior vice president of mobile devices for enterprise, said the latest handset is aimed at users who primarily make voice calls, but also need to keep an eye on email and manage their schedule. With an updated version of Nokia's Intellisync Call Connect client, the device can integrate with a broader range of IP telephony kit and eliminate the need for separate desk and mobile phones, the company said. "The new thing is mobile unified communications. This device can be your desk phone as well as your mobile phone. When in the office, it can be connected to your corporate phone system and have the same functionality as a desk phone. Why have several numbers and devices?" said Vasara. "Firms want productivity from employees, the ability to respond to customers more quickly, to collaborate better, and be more responsive. We're working with Nokia because voice is important, but in future, users also need to manage email from a single device, and have access to sales force tools." As part of Nokia's E-Series, the E51 can be configured with an ActiveSync client for Microsoft Exchange email systems, as well as Nokia's Intellsync Device Management that enables the handset to be remotely provisioned, locked-down, and wiped in the event of loss.

To keep legal I decided to get my self a hands free car kit. Friends recommended the Parrot CK3200 but I didn’t want to fit it myself. After some research on the net I chose AdaptiveComms as their prices were competitive and they offered a full gold level installation service. I gave them a call and after a few minutes discussion we set a date and time for the fitting. Their fitter turned up spot on time and did a great job. When he had finished there was absolutely no trace of him having been there. He used my phone to test the kit and showed me how it worked. It was all done in about 1 hour. The Parrot kit is great and I am much happier knowing I can take calls and stay legal. Sally T Preston.

The 8800 is RIM's most developed effort to date to combine the 8100 Pearl's consumer-oriented features in a package similar to the business-oriented 8700. In practice that means features such as integrated GPS, 2.4in colour screen, full Qwerty keyboard, high-capacity battery and trackball navigation in a case wider (and slightly thinner) than the Pearl and noticeably thinner than the 8700. The QWERTY keyboard is designed to improve upon Pearl's use of a numeric keypad, but the keys are a bit more cramped together than those of the 8700. The built-in GPS can be used with included navigation software for an extra monthly fee. It has voice-activated dialing, speakerphone, Bluetooth 2.0, media player and microSD memory card slot, with quad-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE and Wi-Fi. Orange, Vodafone and T-Mobile have all announced rollout plans for the device in Europe, while AT&T has an exclusive launch deal in the US. The handset may be an improvement over previous BlackBerry models, but RIM now has other kinds of competition to worry about, particularly in the user-interface department. The company is rumoured to be working on a complete interface overhaul with the BlackBerry 9000 series, but in the meantime Microsoft has launched Windows Mobile 6, and touch-screen phones are on the way from Apple, Samsung (the Ultra Smart F700, announced ahead of 3GSM) and LG (the KE850 Prada phone). There are also other handsets that fall into a similar price bracket to the 8800 but offer 3G, something lacking in RIM's models. Push email and GPS are also no longer unusual in higher-end handsets. "This handset will be extremely appealing to mobile users who have demanding work and social lives," said Charmaine Eggberry, RIM EMEA vice president and managing director, in a statement

Since our aquisition of MPT Cellular Ltd we have been working to intergrate the MPT client base into or own, this has now been completed and we are pleased to report that all the MPT Cellular customers are now fully serviced by AdaptiveComms

Driving while using a handheld mobile phone became illegal in the UK in December 2003 and although thousands of handsfree bluetooth car kits have been installed this leaves millions of vehicles where the owners may feel tempted to answer the incessant ring on their mobile. With on-the-spot fines of £30, rising to a maximum £1,000 fine the case for hands-free car kits is well made. Nokia’s CK range of car phone kits are reasonably priced Bluetooth-based Wireless Car Kits compatible with all recent Nokia Bluetooth phones. Nokia recommends professional installation to avoid pitfalls and to ensure a neat and effective job. It will take less than an hour, be done at your address and should cost less then £200 all-in. Adaptive Comms provide a gold level service for around £200 all-in. This will provide an optimally sited and discreetly fitted car kit solution which will be tested and demonstrated to you by their trained engineer. The kit will be “paired” to your mobile so that it recognises your phone immediately the ignition is switched on. You accept and terminate calls by pressing the centre of the remote control, which has a rotating volume band around the accept/reject button. Pressing it twice will recall the last number. Incoming calls mute the stereo and restore it when you hang up. An LED inside the remote control enables you to find it when driving at night. If you have a Nokia Bluetooth phone then a Nokia hands free car kit is the sensible and safe solution to taking calls on the move.

Manchester-based B2B dealer Adaptive Communications has acquired fellow Manchester B2B dealer MPT. MPT had a turnover of around £180,000 per annum. Adaptive has purchased its assets for an undisclosed sum and taken on its customer database and car-kit installation business. Adaptive director James Brayshaw said the MPT acquisition is the first in its plan for expansion this year: “We are looking to acquire small B2B operations. The past three months have been record-breaking for sales, and we’re looking to expand the operation.” Mobile News 28 January 2008