Lenovo and RIM's Constant Connect now available

We know you've been literally hanging on the edge of your seat waiting for this day to come, so it's our honor and privilege to announce that Lenovo and RIM's Constant Connect solution is now available. For those who managed to sleep right through February, the technology enables select ThinkPads to automatically pull down BlackBerry emails whenever it's within range, even if the laptop is completely off. There's no word on what it'll cost to have this added into your next corporate machine, but you can head past the break for a quick demonstration vid if you think you're interested.

Update: It's a $149 option from select business partners and through Lenovo.com.

[shayjd Posted Apr 28th 2009 1:29PM]

sweet.

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 28th 2009 1:36PM]

...

[rudolphe Posted Apr 28th 2009 1:36PM]

I don't get it. Why cant you just download e-mails to outlook as you normally would? What do you gain by using this?

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 28th 2009 1:38PM]

Not having to sync it thru a USB cable, or bluetooth, maybe it is faster. Comes with BB software that is faster than outlook...

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 28th 2009 1:40PM]

Well, if you're without a WiFi connection or hard wire, this appears to act as a replacement for a 3G card.

Providing the hardware cost isn't outrageous this would be a handy little thing to have, however, given the fact that ThinkPad's are usually cost prohibitive in SMB's, and Larger businesses would see more benefit from 3G cards. I hardly see a real market for this.

Though, i could be wrong.

[jerbear Posted Apr 28th 2009 1:44PM]

How is this different than just Bluetooth tethering/syncing? My phone gets all email pushed to it over Exchange and if my laptop is not in range I can either sync it to my PPC via Bluetooth or just fire up WMWifi and get online.

[Alexw Posted Apr 28th 2009 1:47PM]

I think the main advantage is that it's completely seamless, and also syncs up even when the notebook is powered down. Pretty sweet really.

I don't see why it has to be lenovo/rim specific though. I bet I could get this to work with WinMobile, if I have a bluetooth expect card that could power it's self on periodically anyway :(

[MrSpontaneous Posted Apr 30th 2009 10:06AM]

I think it needs additional hardware because of encryption. The entire BES information flow has security built in, and the laptop (plus built in storage) should be no exception.

A less secured option would be awesome, though...

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 28th 2009 1:37PM]

Blackberries and Lenovos are quiet good for data encryption and security. This should like an ideal marriage between he smartphone and the computer.

[newreformation Posted Apr 28th 2009 1:40PM]

you have to use outlook? awww. I personally don't like to use that program, but it seems they are tying you into it with this new service, too bad...

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 28th 2009 1:46PM]

Congratulations, now you too can turn your laptop into a giant Folio!

[y3knik Posted Apr 28th 2009 1:45PM]

Would a simple BT not connection suffice to pull mails from the BB when in range?

[y3knik Posted Apr 28th 2009 1:45PM]

hmm, not obviously went before the wrong word... I mean BT connection not suffice

[Alexw Posted Apr 28th 2009 1:49PM]

Yeah, same diff really. But this card can some how power up periodically (or so they say). I don't see why the system could just "ping" the handset on boot/resume though.

[y3knik Posted Apr 28th 2009 1:54PM]

How exactly are the two devices connected anyways? If the handset itself doesn't have any add ons, I cant imagine anything else except BT.

[Alexw Posted Apr 28th 2009 2:45PM]

He says Bluetooth in the video. It must be a custom BT profile though, there's nothing generic that does this (AFAIK).

[csmitty Posted Apr 28th 2009 2:30PM]

So what goes does syncing email when the computer is off?

I guess I can see this if you need to send some files from your computer w/o wifi, other than that just use your BB. as long as its a 149 fixed cost. I'm sure AT&T would want to charge you $20 a month for the pleasure.

[ThinkpaxX200s Posted Apr 28th 2009 2:34PM]

WoW Thats Fantastic RIM Joining With Lenovo to come up with a Solution for a Problem that Doesnt exist

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 29th 2009 11:30AM]

Why would you even need this? This is a solution for a problem that doesn't exist and that doesn't have any bearing on effective communication. Why not just have bluetooth keyboard profile if you need a full-size keyboard??? Why not just have VGA out for a larger screen? Why not just use your cheaper per person BES for this very same solution???