It’s bad news for RIM (RIMM) and good news for Apple (AAPL): two major banks are considering switching from using Blackberrys to iPhones for internal messaging and other tasks.
Bloomberg reports that sources close to Bank of America and Citigroup have said the companies are working on making the iPhone secure enough to be used by the companies’ employees on a daily basis. That’s bad news for RIM and Blackberry as it continues to slip as the choice of corporations to help conduct business. Mashable also reported today that Dell (DELL) is offering its employees the company’s new Windows 7-based Dell Venue Pro instead of Blackberry.
Citigroup (C) and Bank of America (BAC) aren’t necessarily tossing the Blackberry altogether — they’re just hoping to offer more choice to their employees, according to the report. But it goes to show that those employees wish they had a choice, apparently, and the choice some would like to make is for iPhone.
While brass over at RIM responded to the story by saying the number of its corporate subscribers is on the rise, it’s just another indication of the fact that no smartphone is safe in any sector of the market. Apple’s iPhone continues to slug away at everyone, but the amount of choice and innovation out there is only increasing — as are the interesting and cool ways to use mobile devices.
Another day, another iPhone carrier rumor
And speaking of choice and more people getting to use the iPhone, there’s a new “iPhone on a different carrier” rumor going around.
Engadget pointed out that T-Mobile (DTEGY.PK) is currently stocking an iPhone USB charging cable. The guys over at that website can’t really think of a reason why a company that doesn’t carry the iPhone would want to carry the iPhone’s proprietary cable, and neither can we. Could it be preparation for an Apple/T-Mobile partnership?
Who knows? There’s literally a new iPhone carrier rumor just about every week. And T-Mobile was just whining about how not carrying the iPhone is hurting their business, according to the Wall Street Journal.
There’s no denying the power of the iPhone — just ask Citigroup and Bank of America, or RIM for that matter — but for now Apple seems pretty comfortable in its exclusive deal with AT&T (T). It might be giving other companies the apparent privilege of selling iOS devices, but that’s all they get.
