Research in Motion (RIM) today announced a handset-to-PC “sharing” service, BlackBerry Unite, that enables BlackBerry users to share files — including photos — on office or home computers (see below).
The service is being launched in Spain by Telefonica Espana, that’s also offering RIM’s BlackBerry Pearl 8120 that includes WiFi and a two megapixel camera. The original 8100 has a 1.3 megapixel camera and no WiFi. (I established a moblog for photos taken with the 8100.)
Although Unite is available only in Spain, it will begin launching in the United States and other countries in the near future. I assume “near future” means by the end of the year, but I’m not sure.
Unite’s Pros and cons
I used to post articles about many photo sharing services but there are hundreds and many of them are similar that I decided not to write about every one. RIM’s offering, however, is interesting because it’s the company’s first service of this kind and offers many more features than just photo sharing (such as over-the-air BlackBerry backup).
RIM’s also trying to leverage its expertise to penetrate the consumer market — where it hopes to capture more customers — as well as the SOHO market.
Unite isn’t for everyone. It requires an always-on computer with a broadband connection, maxes out at five people per “group” and doesn’t integrate its calendar or phone book with any other PIM software, such as Microsoft Outlook.
Also, it’s only for users who have the more recent BlackBerry models (88xx, 87xx, 83xx, 81xx).
More details
If you want to read more, check out a fairly detailed article about BlackBerry Unite in my general-themed wireless data weblog, “Wireless Muse.”
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