Mark Evans tipped me off to this story in the National Post.
It’s an important and significant story for if it pans out the move changes the way people would work, with RIM’s messaging management at the core as it works on more platforms the same way, unlike Microsoft (Outlook, Pocket Outlook, Entourage) yet, integrates with Exchange meaning users really have a choice that’s seamless, not challenging. It also lowers the costs versus the more elegant, yet more pricier GOOD Technologies, GoodLink.
First if RIM does this, initially with WiFi, then WiMax becomes very important and more useful to millions of RIM users. Second if Intel can embed the RIM mail manager software on every PC that uses INTEL processors it strikes Microsoft very hard.
Third this forces companies that compete with RIM to have to rethink how they will reach the consumers (i.e. SEVEN, VISTO, etc). Now that Apple has announced they are moving to INTEL processors it opens up even more possibilities for RIM.
Given RIM’s market dominance and INTEL’s industry clout this is a very interesting move.