T-Mobile may soon roll out a version of the BlackBerry-like (tablet-style with QWERTY thumb-keyboard) Dash communicator, a Windows Mobile Smartphone (also known as the HTC S620), with Virtual BlackBerry capabilities preinstalled, according to mobile insider
The Boy Genius.
If this information is accurate, T-Mobile would be the first carrier to do so as part of a new program Research In Motion (RIM) announced in April to allow users of non-BlackBerry devices to download software to access BlackBerry services just like one of its own devices.
Through this program, RIM said it would give Windows Mobile users a virtual BlackBerry experience, with access to the same applications and messaging services offered to regular BlackBerry users. These include phone, e-mail, text messaging, browser, instant messaging, memos, instant messaging, organizer and BlackBerry Maps and support for RIM's hosted BlackBerry Internet Server for individuals and small businesses and the behind-the-firewall BlackBerry Enterprise Service for larger organizations.
RIM's solution, which appears as a BlackBerry icon on the Today screen, acts just like any other third-party application. It allows users to toggle between Windows Mobile and BlackBerry applications and services. When loaded, users will see the familiar interface of a BlackBerry smartphone, while the device's existing Windows Mobile applications are preserved.
The virtual BlackBerry software also supports the wide variety of navigation and keyboard methods (i.e. QWERTY keyboards, keypads, 5-way navigation, touch screen and stylus operation) used in Windows Mobile devices, RIM said in April.
While it isn't clear whether or not current Dash owners will be able to download and support BlackBerry services, there's no reason to think this couldn't happen. That is, as long as they've been upgraded to Windows Mobile 6.
