BlackBerry Messenger launching on iOS ‘before the end of summer’, CEO confirms

First, it was going to be available “this summer”. Now, it is coming “before the end of this summer”. I’m referring to BlackBerry’s way overdue iOS and Android edition of the Messenger software which once used to be the primary reason teenagers in emerging markets opted for BlackBery handsets.

Company CEO Thorsten Heins made the new timeframe official during a quarterly earnings call this morning, while revealing disappointing results…

According to MobileSyrup, the free BlackBerry Messenger app will support devices running iOS 6 or later and Android OS 4.0 or higher. As for the iOS edition, initially the app will be limited to messaging and groups.

Advanced features such as voice, screen sharing and the BBM Channels will be added via future updates at a later stage.


More at iHash.eu

BlackBerry rolls out Secure Work Space to iOS and Android

Canadian smartphone maker BlackBerry today announced Secure Work Space, a new option for increased enterprise security on iOS and Android devices. Part of BlackBerry Enterprise Services 10, Secure Work Space extends BlackBerry security for iOS and Android smartphones and tablets without the need for a VPN infrastructure. Specifically, the option provides secure email, calendar, contacts and browser, as well as secure document management and work app deployment…

According to a media release, the solution enables customers to separate work from personal data without having to rely on the pricey VPN infrastructures to access enterprise data behind corporate firewalls.

BlackBerry provides security at the device, server and network level. Secure Work Space leverages the same trusted behind-the-firewall connection available for BlackBerry smartphones and extends BlackBerry security capabilities for data-at-rest and data-in-transit to iOS and Android devices.

More at iHash.eu

Please Pay To Make Them Stop

Customer: “I’m done doing my copies over there.”
Me: “Oh, great. Did they turn out okay?”
Customer: “Yes.”
Me: “Good.”
Customer: “Where do I pay?”
Me: “You paid already.”
Customer: “No, I didn’t; the machine told me to take my card out.”
Me: “Yes, the new machine doesn’t require your card to stay in the whole time. The good thing about that is people won’t forget their cards anymore!”
Customer: “Okay, but I still haven’t paid.”
Me: “Yes, you have.”
Customer: “No! I put my card in and then it told me to take it out!”
Me: “Yes, because it remembers your card. You hit “end session” on the screen when you were finished, right?”
Customer: “Yes.”
Me: “Did it ask you if you wanted a receipt?”
Customer: “Yes. It’s right here. But I want you to print me a new one so you can prove that I’ve paid.”
Me: “I’m sorry?”
Customer: “I have a receipt here, but I don’t think it’s true because I didn’t leave my card in.”
Me: “You don’t have to leave your card in. That receipt will be correct. And the next person’s job will not be charged to your card, because you hit “end session”.”
Customer: “Okay, but how do I know that this receipt isn’t lying?”
Me: “Why would it be lying?”
Customer: “Because my card wasn’t in the machine while I did my copies!”
Me: “But it’s not supposed to be. That’s how the new machine works. I can print you another receipt over here if you want.”

(The customer gives me her card, and I print her receipt, which is identical to the one that came out of the copier.)

Me: “See? It’s the same.”
Customer: “But how does it know?”
Me: “I don’t know; it’s just smart I guess!”
Customer: “No! HOW does it know!? HOW does it work!?”
Me: “You mean how does the technology work?”
Customer: “Yes! It’s blowing my mind!”
Me: “Um, I don’t know how it works; I’m sorry. It will just have to continue to blow your mind.”

The Key To Karma

(A sour-looking customer comes in to check in. Throughout, I try to remain polite and friendly, but he just grunts and snatches his key out of my hand and goes up to his room. A few minutes later, he storms back in, and flings the keycards at me.)

Customer: “THESE KEYS DON’T WORK!”

Me: “I’m sorry about that; maybe I made a mistake keying them.”

(I check the system.)

Me: “Huh, these say that they are working. Are you sure that you went to the right room?”

Customer: “I went to 510!”

Me: “It says 518.”

(The customer turns pale, snatches the keys again, and storms off. I don’t hear from him again, so I guess he got the right room. Meanwhile, I get a nasty call from the person who was in room 510, saying that someone had tried to break down her door, screaming!)

They Paid The Price

(I work in the print and copy area of my store. A customer is giving my new coworker a hard time about the cost of copying. I walk over.)

Customer: “Your prices are OUTRAGEOUS; I refuse to pay that much! You’re an idiot! You’re all idiots! You should be doing this for free for me, because of how dumb you all are!”

Me: “What my coworker has explained to you is correct. We price match all of our competitors, and I can guarantee you that we have the cheapest price.”

Customer: “I will NEVER use your services. You are thieves who are trying to rip-off an old woman! I will take my business elsewhere!”

(The customer storms out.)

Coworker: “I bet she’ll be back.”

(A few hours later, the customer returns.)

Customer: *meekly and very politely* “I’d like this done, please.”