David G: What makes the Blackberry solution special?

David M: The Blackberry solution is special because it allows IBM and RIM's joint customers to deliver additional collaborative value to their user base on top of their existing IT investments. With a robust and secure instant messaging capability of Sametime, these customers can achieve newfound levels of productivity via real-time communication.

David G: If I'm a Notes and Domino developer, how can I put a portion of my application onto a Blackberry?

David M: A Notes and Domino developer can extend their Domino applications to Blackberry via such applications as Sametime agents (i.e. BOT's), Domino Everyplace, WebSphere Everyplace Access, or IBM WebSphere Everyplace Mobile Portal. Depending on the desired richness of experience, developers can easily deliver mission-critical applications to the hands of the Domino mobile workforce.

David G: What are the unique application design issues involved when you're dealing with mobilizing collaboration?

David M: The key issues revolve around handheld device characteristics such as memory, speed, screen real estate, input device (e.g. stylus, keyboard, etc.), reliability of connection (disconnected, intermittent, or always connected), and speed of connection.

David G: It used to be you could guard your corporate data (and even communications channels) behind locked doors and uniformed guards. Now, everyone can take his or her Blackberry everywhere. Can you talk about what that means for security?

David M: Blackberry communication is highly secure--equaling or exceeding what we find in most inter-organizational email. However, users must be careful with mobile devices. For example, a lost or stolen device should be less of a security issue if the user has adhered to password rules. In addition, there should be a way to centrally shut down access for lost or stolen devices, and even better, erase their data when they next try to connect.

David G: I love the idea of real-time team collaboration, especially when I'm on the road. But there's a dark side, which is the darn thing can go off at any time. How do we make this process helpful and not a constant intrusion?

David M: The key here is understanding the proper use of availability. If you aren't able/willing to respond, then you shouldn't appear as available. In the future, availability will be different for different people. So, for example, I'll be able to set it up so that only some people can try to reach me on a mobile device, while others would see me as unavailable. While this functionality will be available in the future, the key concept of understanding the proper use of the technology will still be important.

David G: What's the absolutely coolest example of how this technology has been used? The weirdest? The one you're most amazed by?

David M: Personally, the coolest example is how this technology has impacted the way I actually work and live. I can be on a trade show floor, be asked a question, and have the answer within seconds--merely by finding the right people and seeing whether or not they're available. Another thing I do quite often is IMing from a cab as I arrive from the airport, to find out how a meeting is going or deal with issues requiring immediate attention. Having IM and presence information on my mobile device has meant big productivity gains for me, and faster responses to requests from customers, partners, and colleagues.

David G: Where does IBM see this type of collaborative technology going in the future?

David M: IBM sees presence becoming more and more pervasive, and our focus and partnerships relating to mobile devices is a major step in that direction. We see much more granular presence and availability--where my context, location (perhaps based on GPS), and the person's relationship with me are all part of whether the person sees me as available. We also see presence as being much more than a property of Buddy Lists. It will, and already does, permeate IBM products, showing up in the context of all our business processes; and in many cases it will be roles, not individuals, that you'll see as available.

Craig Schumann is a contest judge who racked his brain trying to choose contest winners. He's also Teamstudio's Senior VP of Development.