Lenovo Constant Connect brings BlackBerry email to ThinkPads automatically

After two years in development, Lenovo Constant Connect is finally here. A groundbreaking new tie-up between Lenovo and RIM has led to the creation of a $150 54mm ExpressCard -- which slots into any ThinkPad from around Summer '08 onward -- and automatically pulls down any email sent to your BlackBerry via Bluetooth, even if the laptop is completely powered down. The idea here is to always have your most recent inbox available within eight seconds of opening your machine, and thanks to the card's dedicated Bluetooth radio and 500MB of inbuilt storage, it can pull down and send out emails so long as the card and your 'Berry are within 30 feet or so from one another. Aside from needing an ExpressCard slot, you'll also need a handset with OS 4.2 or higher. It's designed to work with Exchange, Outlook, POP and Gmail, with Lotus Notes support coming in 2H 2009; as for availability, the card will be available through Lenovo and its partners in early Q2 here in America, while those elsewhere in the world will have to wait until the latter half of the year. Full release and demo video is after the break.

LENOVO THINKPAD LAPTOP COMPUTERS TO GAIN NEW LEVEL OF INTEGRATION WITH BLACKBERRY SMARTPHONES

Research Triangle Park, NC and Waterloo, ON – February 16, 2009 – Lenovo and Research In Motion (RIM) today announced that the two companies will work together to promote new Lenovo mobile solutions that will help on-the-go business users enhance their mobile computing and communications experience through tighter integration between Lenovo ThinkPad laptop computers and BlackBerry® smartphones.
Leveraging Lenovo's extensive global R&D capabilities and engineering prowess in laptop computers together with RIM's expertise in smartphones and wireless solutions, Lenovo plans to develop and deliver a range of industry-leading solutions and technologies that can help professionals conduct business more effectively on the go.
Lenovo Constant Connect, the first solution developed by Lenovo, will leverage the strengths of the BlackBerry® solution and Lenovo ThinkPad laptops to deliver an unparalleled user experience for flexible, real-time access to enterprise-based email. Lenovo Constant Connect will allow enterprise email received on a user's BlackBerry smartphone to be automatically synchronized via Bluetooth® onto the user's ThinkPad laptop – even if the ThinkPad laptop is off – without the user having to take any additional steps.
This level of integration and availability dramatically improves access to email on the Lenovo ThinkPad laptop from wherever a BlackBerry smartphone can access a connection. In addition to greater flexibility and convenience, it can also reduce the need to use the laptop with fee-based Wi-Fi® networks. Lenovo Constant Connect is expected to be available from Lenovo and its business partners in the second quarter of 2009 in the U.S, and to be rolled out in markets around the world later in 2009.
"With more and more mobile professionals relying on both their BlackBerry smartphone and ThinkPad laptop PC, we view better integration between the two devices as a necessity. Today's announcement is the first step in combining these best-in-class solutions to deliver a more useful and powerful mobile work experience," said Lenovo CEO Yang Yuanqing.

"Lenovo is adding significant value for our mutual customers by developing tighter and more seamless integration between Lenovo ThinkPad laptops and BlackBerry smartphones," said Jim Balsillie, Co-CEO, Research In Motion. "By leveraging the industry-leading, push-based connectivity of the BlackBerry solution, Lenovo Constant Connect will simplify email synchronization on the laptop and provide mobile professionals with greater flexibility to manage their email on the move."

About Lenovo
Lenovo (HKSE: 992) (ADR: LNVGY) is dedicated to building the world's most innovative personal computers. Lenovo's business model is built on innovation, operational efficiency and customer satisfaction as well as a focus on investment in emerging markets. Formed by Lenovo Group's acquisition of the former IBM Personal Computing Division, the company develops, manufactures and markets reliable, high-quality, secure and easy-to-use technology products and services worldwide. Lenovo has major research centers in Yamato, Japan; Beijing, Shanghai and Shenzhen, China; and Raleigh, North Carolina. For more information see www.lenovo.com.

About Research In Motion (RIM)
Research In Motion is a leading designer, manufacturer and marketer of innovative wireless solutions for the worldwide mobile communications market. Through the development of integrated hardware, software and services that support multiple wireless network standards, RIM provides platforms and solutions for seamless access to time-sensitive information including email, phone, SMS messaging, Internet and intranet-based applications. RIM's portfolio of award-winning products, services and embedded technologies are used by thousands of organizations around the world and include the BlackBerry(R) wireless platform, the RIM Wireless Handheld(TM) product line, software development tools, radio-modems and software/hardware licensing agreements. Founded in 1984 and based in Waterloo, Ontario, RIM operates offices in North America, Europe and Asia Pacific. RIM is listed on the Nasdaq Stock Market (NASDAQ:RIMM) and the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX:RIM). For more information, visit www.rim.com or www.BlackBerry.com.

[Bryant @ Feb 16th 2009 12:10AM]

It's a good concept, especially if you don't have access to the internet on your laptop, don't feel like tethering just to check your mail but still want to, you know, check your mail without squinting.

[J @ Feb 16th 2009 12:37AM]

Holy crap, what? This is ridiculous technology. I can't believe they're doing this. Should be a small, but enthusiastic market for such a service/device.

The real question: with notorious locked-down Bluetooth, will it work on Verizon Wireless? Please say yes.

[Ben @ Feb 16th 2009 2:15AM]

Small? I think this would be a huge market-- it's at the very least a huge potential market. A good chunk of the corporate sector uses ThinkPad computers, and most of these people are going to have Blackberries.

[Brian @ Feb 16th 2009 1:13AM]

Holy crap, something useful!

[Adam H. @ Feb 16th 2009 2:24AM]

No you officially can't use the "I didn't have internet to check that long email, and difficult to read over blackberry" excuse.

Your job has now really become 24/7.

Otherwise, hell yeah!

[Ryan @ Feb 16th 2009 3:41AM]

Wouldn't it just make more sense with the laptop right there to read and send email this way? Yes; I understand that you might not have wi-fi but with today's society drawing more and more to wifi EVERYWHERE, this isn't really an excuse anymore. To tether, via bluetooth, your Blackberry to the laptop in order to send the email seems like a giant waste of time, energy (the card is constantly drawing energy from either the battery or the wall; not very green if you ask me), and effort. I can either send it directly from my BB or get it on my laptop and if I can't, and God forbid.... WAIT! We've grown to connected in society and this is just another step to make us all gadget-ized. For $150, I'll buy something that I don't already have; the capability to send emails should not cost me another bill and a half.... But you do as you please....

[qwert @ Feb 16th 2009 3:50AM]

Interesting idea for shure.
But i wonder how much battery it will drain.
Also constantly having a bluetooth connection open might have some safety implications.
And what about operating systems? I would guess this is closely connected to some windows only think*something software.

qwert

[Cargojack @ Feb 16th 2009 7:34AM]

The Blackberry was once a sign of having achieved some status in your organization.

The Blackberry is really a sign of enslavement to the organization.

[Elliott @ Feb 16th 2009 11:18AM]

do people still use lotus notes?

[Gavin @ Feb 16th 2009 5:37PM]

This is actually going to a great addition to our roaming corporate connectivity. Getting access to your email is not just about having "wireless everytwhere". Most corporate solutions involve some sort or VPN, which involves at least a few security access hurdles to navigate. This solution looks almost seemless in comparison.

My intial security concerns would be on the Bluetooth transfer and storage of emails on the device - encryption please!!