So some may say that with a device like the HTC Wizard, that there is little or no need for a service like BlackBerry Connect. Just in case you were not aware, RIM has software called BlackBerry Connect that runs on non-BlackBerry devices, devices that run Windows Mobile, Palm or Symbian.

Anyway, the software exists and has been released in some European and Asian countries that RIM operates the BlackBerry service. Now that the NTP legal battle has been settled, there may be a chance that BlackBerry Connect for Windows Mobile makes it's way to the US and other countries.

From some recent Googling, I've learned that T-Mobile Germany has the software available for their version of the HTC Wizard, the MDA Vario. There is a great discussion over on XDA Developers on the installation of the software, and unfortunately few are having success at getting it to work.

One thing I think many may not understand is that RIM themselves manage the BlackBerry service through their many Network Operations Centers (NOCs) located around the world. Each carrier and corporate customer has a unique account, and PIN code for their devices. This way a corporate customer can have devices from many, many carriers and still provide service through one system. Knowing this, it is absolutely critical that RIM support the software on the device that a person is trying to run it on.

My hope is that RIM starts supporting the BlackBerry Connect software with their corporate customers, who's employees may want to purchase a Palm, Windows Mobile, Symbian or Linux based device instead of a true BlackBerry.

I for one can't live without the functionality of my Windows Mobile 5 based T-Mobile MDA varient of the HTC Wizard.