Microsoft picks BlackBerries for research

Microsoft engineers are to undertake research among BlackBerry device users to find out how they use the wireless internet data terminals.

Microsoft's Usability Group engineers want to find out exactly what qualities have made these devices so popular in the US, in the hope of learning enough to make their own devices similarly user-friendly and popular.

The BlackBerry is made by Canadian company Research in Motion (Rim) and is an internet email pager with built-in personal digital assistant functions.

Dilip Mistry, mobility marketing manager at Microsoft, said his company has no plans to work with Rim in Europe. "Over here, there are going to be lots of wireless devices, but we haven't seen any demand yet."

Microsoft recently announced its Stinger software platform and smartphone, which offers the same functionality as the BlackBerry's operating system.

But Mistry denied that Microsoft's platform will compete directly with the popular Canadian device.

"We are collaborating with the Rims and Compaqs of this world, but Rim, Palm and similar devices are very limited in what they can do," he said.

Also published in Computing

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