Eyes on RIM interview exclusive server cloud, keep-Reuters

By Alastair Sharp

TORONTO, March 16 (Reuters)-Research In Motion (RIM.) Has great plans to make a better use of its nerve centre of computers but not open servers for BlackBerry devices so soon, a Senior Executive said on Wednesday.

The company, in which BlackBerry smartphones are the default device that a company gives its workforce for mobile communications, is confident that he has an edge even as companies increasingly allow workers to bring rival products.

RIM is due to launch its tablet computer PlayBook this month or next and expects strong Takeup from companies already accustomed to its smartphone.

"Our strength lies in what businesses want to get more mobile ... we are pure in that pursuit," said Jim Tobin, senior Vice President of RIM software and business services.

RIM's devices are favorites offices due in part to on-site BlackBerry Enterprise Server that connect directly to the back-end systems for corporate e-mail and other data and manage who gets to see it when outside the Office.

Some critics question whether the Canadian company would be better served by transforming servers into generic handler that enables to handle Apple's (AAPL.O) iPhones and iPads and a slew of devices that use Google (GOOG.Or android software).

"Our response now is that we don't need to do this," Tobin said in an interview.

"That does not close the door before bridging out into other things, but it is not the right focus for us now."

Instead, Tobin said that RIM soon will offer cloud-based services equal to the offering server and tightly integrated with Microsoft (MSFT.O) own cloud-based effort, Office 365. Cloud computing in General refers to services hosted in the data center remotely accessible via the Internet.

"We have the physical ability to manage cloud services," Tobin said, referring to the border existing datacenters that move some 15 million gigabytes of BlackBerry traffic per month.

The comments echo similar sentiments of cloud by Hewlett-Packard (HPQ.N) Leo Apotheker, who this week has been the focal point of his vision for the company. [ID: nN14172680] HP plans to launch its WebOS-based Tablet Pad in June.

Tobin said RIM's videoconferencing capability PlayBook was built using open standards that should be able to work with other platforms, but refused to say if a user PlayBook would be able to interact with someone through a consumer product like Skype or Google Gchator software company like Cisco (CSCO.O) and Microsoft.

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