Windows Phone 8 and RIM Announcements Suggest Many Mobile Options for Business


Announcements about Microsoft’s Windows Phone 8 and RIM’s BlackBerry 10 suggest even more options in store for business owners reliant on mobile technology to decrease costs and increase productivity. Mobile devices are changing the way businesses of all sizes operate, and continued development suggests this trend will only grow.

Windows 8 Coming to Phones

Microsoft re-imagines mobile…again. Microsoft executives Joe Belfiore, Terry Myerson, and Kevin Gallo give a preview of Windows Phone 8 due out this holiday season. New developments for the software mean a wider range of phone options, capabilities, and prices, more functionality crossover between Windows Phone and Windows for PC, and a different kind of app. Channel 9

Hardware makers are lining up. You can get a good idea of the variety of devices that will be running Windows Phone 8 by looking at the companies that are already lining up to build hardware for the new Microsoft product. Hardware partners thus far include Nokia, Samsung, HTC, and Huawei. VentureBeat

Tech Developments Continue

Worth a thousand words. Not only will Nokia be a major partner in the Windows Phone 8 roll out, but the Finnish company has been making other strides in mobile phone development. The Nokia 808 PureView boasts technology that produces still and video images so incredible it might be called a camera that makes phone calls. The Verge

Driving innovation. Another big focus of the Windows Phone 8 roll out will be location-based services, again with the help of Microsoft hardware partner Nokia. The company is adding the new feature, Nokia Drive, which will be available to other Windows Phone 8 partners too, so if you’re buying some of these new devices for your business, this feature may well be included. Conversations By Nokia

Behind the Software

Some key features. If you’re still wondering what Windows Phone 8 will mean to your business, here’s a breakdown of key features that are probably most important in this new software platform. They include a multi-core processor, HD display, microSD card support, NFC, Wallet, Nokia Maps, voice controlled assistant, Internet Explorer 10, VoIP, Skype and app compatibility. Check for more details on all these features. Mobile & Apps

RIM Innovation

RIM still going strong. Businesses that benefit from the company’s well-known BlackBerry and PlayBook devices will be happy to hear rumors about the company splitting its hardware from its service side or selling a stake in the company to Facebook or Amazon are unfounded. Instead, the company is preparing a new line of its messaging devices, especially popular with the business market. The Globe and Mail

Look, Ma, no keyboard! One major innovation users will want to look for in RIM’s new BlackBerry 10 is the lack of a physical keyboard. The replacement of a physical keyboard with touch-only functionality has been a hallmark of smartphones, including the Apple iPhone and Google Android, for some time. RIM will be offering a similar experience this time around. The Washington Post

Go to video. But don’t let a company description alone suffice when scoping out the features of the new BlackBerry 10. A video demonstration will give you a much better impression of what this next generation mobile device can accomplish. The BlackBerry bid for the small business mobile market comes with plenty of features. Engadget

Built-in savings. Finally, the BlackBerry 10’s new design has energy efficiency in mind. A recent review reports that the darker display color for the BlackBerry Messenger, one of the device’s most popular features, was chosen because it would help conserve battery life. N4BB.com

Other Developments

Samsung challenges the iPhone. Microsoft and RIM aren’t the only companies making noise in the mobile device space. An important part of any decision about the kind of mobile device you want for your company may have to do with whether the product line is here to stay. Despite the iPhone’s near dominance of the market, at least one other mobile device is mounting a credible challenge. The Next Web

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