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20,000 Jamaican teachers to get BlackBerry smartphones in new partnership with RIM

By Michelle Haag on 7 Aug 2011 02:32 pm
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Jamaican teachers getting BlackBerry smartphones

Research In Motion has teamed up with the Ministry of Education to provide approximately 20,000 teachers in Jamaica with Blackberry smartphones for the new academic year. The Canadian High Commission is supporting the initiative, which is aimed at improving communication and increasing technology awareness.  

Under the partnership with RIM, the company will be making two of its newest technologies available to teachers – the Blackberry Mobile Voice System, which will reduce costs by having one phone extension for multiple numbers; and the Blackberry Pushcast to enable distribution of content such as PowerPoint presentations, videos, or audio files.

Users will benefit from closed user group (CUG) service, whereby calls between the teaching population and the Ministry will be free of cost; instant messaging with other smart phone users; and panic button for automatic calls to the police, fire department, and other emergency services.

The project is slated to last for a maximum of three years initially with new devices being issued after the first two years, and an option to extend it following review of the program at that time. They are also looking into using the smartphones to input grades and student attendance data into the Ministry's database management system. Kudos to everyone involved, this will be a great partnership. Thanks for the tip Lucky45!
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Source: Jamaica Information Service

Topics: Jamaica Teachers News & Rumors International News

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Michelle Haag Michelle Haag 1141 (articles) 1618 (forum posts)
41 comments

rickyfagan1

Being a Jamaican, this is cool.
Good Job RIM

godfada

So happy to see my country named on Crackberry! Good move on the minister's part...Blackberry is the most used smartphone in Jamaica, even kids have blackberry!...Big up Jamdown!

swade86

i like this move RIM, this a very good look for my country

dalus87

Definitely cool to read this headline. Jamaica is a Blackberry Nation.

Shadolinx

Seems like a good partnership. RIM currently has the top smartphones of choice in Jamaica.

HunterRemington

And totally reiterates the value of BlackBerry in the world at large. While other platforms are focused so intensely on entertainment, RIM reminds us of the versatility of their product. It is awesome that something we all love for very specific and personal reasons, will have such a positive impact on so many people. Viva La BlackBerry.

coolaide

With deals like this, RIMs not going anywhere for a while. Even though we dwell on comparisons with other smart phone and hope that RIM keeps up. We tend to forget all the businesses that would not dare to switch to another platform. I know of a few that jumped on the iPhone bandwagon to find out they traded a workhorse for a toy. Good job RIM!!!!!!

Deltaflyer

My company is about to dump RIM in favor of Apple due to better product quality and cheaper plans. It seems with OS7, the emphasis was on creating a better multi media experience than a better UI.

GULCer

This is the biggest waste of money ever. Give me a break, you think the teacher having a Blackberry is going to help out those students? If so, I have some beach front property in Kansas to sell you as well.

Want to do something good for society? Give money to aid organizations that will actually feed the hungry or clothe the naked. Giving smartphones to teachers is not doing any good for society. This story make me dislike RIM even more than before.

sk8er_tor

You're a moron.

theonick

+1

SteakArmstrong

+2 This guy needs to suck a d!ck

diegonei

+2

If you don't think being able to prepare classes, answer to emails, plan your schedule and all the other things (there was a teacher and apps post here in CB some time ago) a BlackBerry can d for a teacher is a good go, then you really need your brain scanned.

Michele Weisneck

I agree. I am a teacher and I do use my BB a lot. I do happen to be in a district that is willing to buy a lot of technology for its teachers. That being said, there are a lot of districts that cannot afford technology. This economy hits everywhere.
If you don't think this will help teachers be more efficient, more technology focused then it really shows how little you do know.
Teachers do not put in 40 hour weeks my friend. Our day does not end when the last bell rings contrary to popular belief. The amount of expectations and requirements for teachers coming down from the government is incredible - no other profession on this planet has so many demands put upon them and for so little pay.
Stick to what you know and quit bashing a good deed.

andrewmcwhirter

My girlfriend is a teacher and I agree 100% with what you said. She works crazy hours preparing lesson plans and correcting outside of the classroom that it makes me wonder why anyone would want this job. However, she loves it. She is always trying to find better, quicker ways to help save her time and make her job more efficient. This program from RIM seems like a great idea. I hope other school boards and/or governments take notice and look into implementing this.

Michelle Haag

Except Mike and Jim regularly contribute money to charity. In fact, they got flack for doing so because this was one of the factors that knocked them out of the billionaire club.

Lifestyles

If you hate RIM so much... why are you browsing Crackberry? You come across like one of these analyst types that will post shit about RIM, from their Blackberrys, watch the stock price drop, and then buy them up cheap. Your brand of loyalty doesn't help RIM, the economy, or anyone else. It is all self serving. If you have nothing good to say about a good deed... well... Take your opinions elsewhere.
As a long time BB user (since 2001), I am getting tired of all the high school finger pointing and name calling going on in the tech world around RIM, their brand, and their product.
Technology is there to be used if you choose to use it... Some people have smart phones and only ever use it for a phone, or computers and use it for email and browsing only. Not much use having a tool box full of useful tools if you are not going to use them... but in this case, it seems that they are giving the teachers a chance to use these tools for the betterment of the students. What do you use your phone for?
'nuff said.

john dunbar

"Feed the hungry, and clothe the naked". Now there's the ultimate poverty cliche. I knew there would be a d-bag somewhere in this post. Hating a company more for helping people better educate their children? So what else did big bad RIM do to you...not put out a processor fast enough for your Angry Birds app, not make a "retina display"? I'm sure your schedule is packed with important meetings for all your altruistic endeavors but the fact is, this helps Jamaican children. Just another putz on this sight willing to put down anything RIM does.

Jimcmf

It will help cut costs and run the schooling system more efficient.
Now ... 20,000 PlayBooks would be a good addition to those phones, right?

gwzach

Smart move RIM. Bravo.

csmith954

This is a great move for RIM! The should start more initiatives like this.

theonick

Yup Jamaicans already LOVE BB's and this is a good deal for RIM and a great initiative of the JA gov....... ps. i LOVE being Jamaican :)

kastortroy

This shows the true power of Rim and its contribution. Im proud to be Canadian

technique-1

need a deal like that here in barbados...not only for teachers but employees islandwide...

EchoTango

As long as I get to deliver them.....

Ah, strolling the Gap, Bathsheba, Oustins Fish Market, Chalky Mountain.....Rum Punch.....

talex05

yes I give thanks seen

CVCKDB8

I think its safe to say we can put those "RIM is gonna end up selling or go bankrupt" stories to rest now. RIM is gonna be around a long time, I think as consumers we are just gonna be mad at them for not being #1 in smartphone innovations. but eventually they will have all the same original ideas everyone else has in a smartphone as well as there own. we just gotta ride it out for now with RIM I guess. "Patience is a Virtue"

EchoTango

Not to knock RIM's great deed to help out another country, which I'm in full support. I can't help wondering if the units are new versions or old stock that needed a home.......

Again, a great thing to do even if it helps RIM clear out some warehouse space !

advil_yum

the 1000's of last gen blackberries have to go somewhere, eh? May as well get a charity tax write-off for them!

Jmaxim

Dont get it. Would understand more had it been the playbook.

Supa_Fly1

Excellent Move RIM!! Education is at the heart of RIM's foundation; Lazaridis - educated at the University of Waterloo and it's global headquarters are just across the street from the main campus.

Ja uses a BlackBerry!

Sangster International Airport - great uncle rewarded (heritage).

JustBlackBerryUnlocks

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