BlackBerry To Get Enterprise Wireless VoIP

Research In Motion (RIM) said Wednesday that it is working with Avaya to add enterprise-class wireless voice-over-IP (VoIP) capabilities to its BlackBerry device platform.

Specifically, the two companies said they were nearing the end of interoperability testing between the BlackBerry 7270 Wireless Handheld device and Avaya's enterprise telecommunications server, which includes wireless LAN support. The companies are showing off their joint efforts at an Avaya users conference this week in Seattle.

"Avaya and RIM have complementary strategies for strengthening the links between business communications applications so that campus workers and customers can communicate more effectively," Larry Conlee, RIM's COO, said in a statement.

The companies said they also are working to integrate voice with enterprise applications already in use on BlackBerry devices, such as sales force automation tools. RIM did not say when the converged capabilities would be commercially available.