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Imagine if Batman had a BlackBerry. Man, just think of all the nifty things he could do with it. For starters, he could probably ditch half of his utility belt. No, I doubt he could shoot his grappling hook out of the BlackBerry’s speaker, but he sure could use it to get information on the Joker and that pestilent Penguin. Maybe the folks at BIO-key International had Batman in mind when they released the PocketCop application this week. It’s a law enforcement tool that allows officers to get information on things like wanted persons and stolen property right from their handheld devices.

BIO-key added integration with computer-aided dispatch systems for sending status updates silently and securely. The feature is scanner-proof, which is critical in surveillance and undercover operations, BIO-key said in a statement.

PocketCop 3.5 also takes advantage of BlackBerry’s built-in browser and its “over-the-air” deployment capabilities to turn the smartphone into a thin client on demand. Automatic software updates ensure that any enhancements get installed quickly and easily, according to the vendor.

The program was actually tested by the St. Paul Police Department, where it was a success. It even “exceeded every expectation we had,” according to lead IT analyst Glen Pettit.

Of course, you and I won’t be able to take advantage of this, as it’s only available to law enforcement agencies and sworn officers of the law. It ain’t cheap, either: New clients will be forking over $5,000 to get set up.

[InformationWeek]

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