Industry coverage, news, original feature articles, how to guides, videos, podcasts and reviews of BlackBerry service providers, software, accessories, hosted exchange providers and more

If a small business wanted to go BlackBerry, their choices were limited. They could either outsource the job, or buy separate server computers. The latter wasn’t too attractive, since the servers would cost too much for the return they’d provide. Outsourcing has its own set of problems, especially if the company already handles their e-mail in-house. Research In Motion is giving them a third option, though. Now small businesses can purchase software that integrates BlackBerrys with corporate e-mail systems.

The program can accommodate as many as 30 workers, Co-Chief Executive Officer James Balsillie said in an interview last week. Before this, companies that used the BlackBerry had to buy separate server computers, an investment too large and complicated for most small businesses, he said.

Balsillie is targeting small companies because that market is growing faster than sales to larger corporate customers. Small businesses and consumers accounted for more than half new North American subscribers for the first time last quarter. The software also allows the company to compete on another front with Palm Inc., which caters to smaller businesses.

The opening bid for the software is $499, depending on optional features. The kicker: RIM is giving away the $499 version to a business that buys five new BlackBerrys. So this is really a perfect situation for a small business looking to give its employees PDAs.

[Bloomberg]

Share on Facebook | Add to De.licio.us | Digg This! | Technorati