Internet Service Provider EarthLink has added wireless voice provider to its resume with the release of the all-in-one color BlackBerry 7750 Wireless Handheld with wireless voice and e-mail service.
The device works as a phone, e-mail device and Internet access device. It will be sold, supported and provisioned by EarthLink.
“By adding voice to our growing list of applications-including e-mail, wireless Internet access and attachment viewing-EarthLink becomes the first ISP to offer a comprehensive wireless data and voice solution,” said Brent Cobb, vice president of EarthLink Wireless.
“Beyond giving mobile professionals the benefits of an EarthLink experience when they are away form the office-including blocking virtually all spam from reaching the handheld-offering the BlackBerry 7750 is an important early step in our overall strategy to expand our voice and data offerings and become a complete communications provider,” said Cobb.
EarthLink Wireless will offer unlimited data plans starting at $40 per month and will sell 500 anytime minutes with no roaming fees and free night and weekend calling for an additional $40 per month.
In other RIM news, Nokia Corp. announced Nokia Series 80 Symbian OS-based mobile devices will use the BlackBerry Connect solution, allowing such devices to connect to BlackBerry services.
The partnership means Nokia devices, including the Nokia 9500 Communicator, will include support for the BlackBerry Enterprise Server, which integrates with Microsoft Exchange, IBM Lotus Domino and Novelle Groupwise to enable push-based e-mail, attachment viewing and calendar access. The devices will also support RIM’s BlackBerry Internet Service.
Nokia began offering its 6820 mobile device with BlackBerry e-mail connectivity last February.
“By expanding our range of business devices that are enabled with BlackBerry connectivity, we provide customers a broader choice of devices that best suit their workstyle or lifestyle,” said Niklas Savander, senior vice president of Nokia Enterprise Solutions’ mobile device unit.