As fixed/mobile convergence technologies—and their extensions into mobile unified communications—have matured over the past two or three years, the business world has begin to enjoy their benefits, such as increased productivity and lower communications costs. But not users of Research In Motion (RIM)'s enormously popular BlackBerry smartphones.

The problem has been adding VoIP capabilities to RIM's closed, proprietary operating system. But all that changed this week when Santa Clara, Calif.-based Agito Networks announced Agito for BlackBerry which will provide mobile UC support for four dual-mode BlackBerry models: the 8800, the Bold 9000, and the Curve 8300 and 8900.

Just to refresh readers' memories, in addition to the seamless handover between cellular and Wi-Fi networks (which gives users wireless phone coverage pretty much wherever they happen to be—and uses cheaper Wi-Fi connectivity when and where it's available), mobile UC supports/enables presence, instant messaging, plus a lot of PBX functionality, such as extension dialing, single phone number for business and personal calls, a single voice mailbox, corporate directory lookups, and "mid-call" functions such as hold, transfer, and conference.

Get the full story here at VoIPPlanet.com.