Federal Agencies and BlackBerrys Archives
Federal Agencies and BlackBerrys
The Justice Department has filed a legal brief in a patent dispute, asking a federal court to delay any immediate shutdown of the popular wireless e-mail system to ensure that state and federal workers can continue to use their devices.
"Government Enters Fray Over BlackBerry Patents: Agencies Depend on Devices, Lawyers Say," by Yuki Noguchi, The Washington Post, November 12, 2005
[T]oday, a federal judge in Virginia dealt another setback to Ontario-based Research In Motion (RIM) in the patent infringement case that’s being waged by NTP against RIM. (See “Setback in Court for BlackBerry Maker” in The New York Times.)
First, why isn’t anyone paying more attention to the RIM patent infringement case? We’re talking about a ban (a ban!) on BlackBerrys in the United States! Knowledge workers in the U.S. spend more time with BlackBerrys than their significant others. Unless a settlement happens (maybe that’s RIM plan of last resort?), this is going to be real interesting to watch. Do CIOs who have rolled out hundreds of BlackBerrys have any kind of backup plans in place for their workers who have grown quite fond of their BlackBerrys?
"BlackBerrys in the News," CIO, November 10, 2005
Don't stand between bureaucrats and their BlackBerrys.
Eager to keep federal thumbs tapping, the Justice Department this week stepped into a long-running patent dispute that threatens to pull the popular and addictive BlackBerry hand-held e-mail device off the market.
The feds want to ensure that even if a judge stops BlackBerry sales and service, government workers won't get cut off.
"Cut Off Their BlackBerrys? Feds Give It Thumbs Down," by James S. Granelli, Los Angeles Times, November 12, 2005
It is said that 10 percent of all Blackberry users in the US are Federal Employees that use their devices to communicate while out of the office. So there was no surprise that the US government put their own two cents in the NTP vs RIM patent infringement case.
"Blackberry Users Are Some Powerful People," BlackBerryCool, November 13, 2005
This memorandum offers advice concerning the use of computers, cellular telephones, and handheld wireless e-mail devices (e.g., Palm Pilots and BlackBerrys, etc.). Whether government-issued or personally owned, the use of these devices is prohibited for distributing partisan political messages while in uniform, on duty, or in a Government building or vehicle.
"Federal Hatch Act Advisory," USDA Office of Chief Financial Officer, Ethics Office, August 8, 2002
More
- "Decentralize and Network the Federal Government Now," by John C. Dvorak, PC Magazine, September 26, 2005
- "Blackberry Jam," by Alina Tugend, GovExec, November 1, 2005 (more than 2,000 in use at EPA)
- "Never away from the office," by Judi Hasson, Federal Computer Week, November 15, 2004
- "Handhelds keep USPS managers in touch," by Jason Miller, Government Computer News, June 21, 2004
- "No Escape From E-Mail: Wireless BlackBerrys Push Limit of Etiquette," by Yuki Noguchi, The Washington Post, September 29, 2004
November 14, 2005 11:51 AM
