Wired for business – no strings attached (tdctrade.com)

Angelo Fasulo walks past an old temple on Hong Kong Island, turns a corner and finds himself in a stylish wine bar.

"Hong Kong is great," says the Canadian electronics marketer. "You can be on a trendy street one minute and in a local market the next. The city has a little bit of everything. It's always busy, and never boring."

Then he tapped in a message on the pocket-sized electronic appliance and sent an email answer. He was using his company's icon product, the BlackBerry Wireless Handheld - a combination computer, telephone, calculator, personal assistant, calendar and global messenger. Linked with a local telecommunications company (Orange, in the case of Hong Kong) it's a businessperson's best friend.

Mr Fasulo is looking forward to introducing the equipment to China. He says the machine is ideal for the bustling Hong Kong and China business environment: it doesn't need any cords or plugs, and is totally self-sufficient.

"It's simple, and universal," said Mr Fasulo, manager in Hong Kong of commercial relationships for Canadian-based Research In Motion (RIM) Limited.

"Our wireless BlackBerry offers convergence delivering email, phone, SMS, browser and organiser features in a single, sleek handheld device.It's always on, you're always connected."

He sees Hong Kong as the perfect springboard for international players to enter the China market. "Hong Kong has a busy work environment," he notes. "It's a perfect match for BlackBerry since it helps busy people keep on top of their email and better manage their work day.

"Hong Kong is an easy place to do business. It caters to and welcomes new companies. We made a good choice in establishing a BlackBerry presence in Hong Kong."

Mr Fasulo also said RIM found the Canadian Chamber of Commerce very useful for networking. "As a newly established company in Hong Kong, we needed to have a solid resource base. The Canadian Chamber provided just such a resource. Its members are from an extensive business community who can help to facilitate new opportunities."

RIM, founded in 1984 and headquartered in the high-tech hive of Waterloo, Ontario, is preparing to enter the Chinese market. When Research In Motion decided on its Asian base, Hong Kong was the logical choice. As the telecommunications hub of Asia with its flexible and convenient environment for business, the SAR stood out as best bet for doing business in the region.

From his office in Pacific Place, Angelo Fasulo and his local partners in the Orange network have spearheaded the advent of BlackBerry into the Hong Kong business world. It's a fascinating advance in communications.

One reason is that the advanced communications disciplines built into the BlackBerry are designed specifically to be user friendly. The banker or lawyer who carries the lightweight device doesn't have to be an electronic genius to send or received instant emails; it's as simple as using a desktop computer.

"We estimate the BlackBerry can save up to an hour a day from a busy schedule," said Mr Fasulo. "When a user is in a taxi or waiting for a meeting, he can access and answer his email. You don't have to wait until you are in your office or home to read your messages. BlackBerry takes your email with you wherever you are. The world of communications is in your pocket. "

Costing about the same as a regular electronic personal assistant, the device is marketed as a seamless solution that integrates effortlessly with corporate or personal email. It's billed as ideal for individuals and small to medium-sized enterprises.

Designed specifically for business, BlackBerry has proven particularly popular with bankers and lawyers in Hong Kong. The package of desktop tools, hardware and service software gives secure, easy and affordable links to email to people on the go - anywhere on earth. An earplug is used for telephone calls.

"From our Hong Kong base, we're now working with Hutchison Communications looking at China to study its needs," he added.