Turn your Windows Mobile phone into a Blackberry

bas-touch-proBlackberry addicts are so helplessly hooked on the devices that RIM realizes they need to provide some way to get the Blackberry experience on other platforms.  They have been working on the Blackberry Application Suite for months that is a virtual machine for the RIM OS that runs on the Windows Mobile platform.  Details about the suite have surfaced along with some nice pictures and video of the BAS in action.

Why would RIM want to do this?  I’m not sure I can answer that although in theory it’s always a good thing to get your product on as many devices as possible.  It might be a good way to expose WinMo owners to the Blackberry way and create future Crackberries.  Whatever the reason it is definitely cool to see the HTC Touch Pro turned into a Blackberry, complete with touch screen.

The Berry Review folks who’ve played with this claim that it is a near full implemtation of the Blackberry OS in a virtual machine which is quite a feat.  The user can toggle between the native Windows Mobile and Blackberry OSes which is awfully nice.  Here’s a complete feature list:

Features:

  • BlackBerry Email including attachments
  • RIM Instant Message clients work Gtalk, Yahoo IM, AIM, Windows Live
  • Can send and receive PIN messages and BlackBerry Messenger
  • Supports BES sync of calendar, tasks, address book, & memos
  • PIM/Email databases, unlike BB Connect, are separate. Thus you can have two Exchange accounts (one via WM, one via BES) syncing fully.
  • Browser works just like BlackBerry browser allowing or intranet access on BES
  • Integrates with the phone so you can make calls and all even from links on websites
  • Allows for caller ID in the phone application
  • You can access your windows mobile files from the BlackBerry OS though the opposite is not possible
  • You can easily switch between the BlackBerry and Windows Mobile OS
  • Supports easy switching between landscape and portrait view
  • It works with BIS 2.4+ or BES or both
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