Vodafone picks BlackBerry

Vodafone has launched a new global BlackBerry device, based on the tri-band BlackBerry 7230 wireless handheld, with a customised interface designed to emulate the existing Vodafone live! service.

The UK's largest mobile operator will be offering both a BlackBerry enterprise solution for business customers with corporate email, and a BlackBerry service for small firms or individuals who either do not have corporate email and use ISP email, or who wish to access multiple email accounts from a single mobile device.

The BlackBerry enterprise offering from Vodafone is available this month in France, Germany, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands and the UK. BlackBerry for individual customers is due to become available just before the Christmas market in December.

Peter Bamford, chief marketing officer at Vodafone, said: "We have worked closely with Research In Motion to deliver this customised BlackBerry solution."

Jim Balsillie, chairman and co-chief executive officer of Research In Motion, the developer and manufacturer of BlackBerry, added: "We are extremely pleased to expand our working relationship with Vodafone into new markets."