Start Blackberry devices compete with Nokia Communicator

There was nothing unusual in front of the Presidential Office on Thursday afternoon last week. On the sidelines of a meeting with the leaders and members of the Ombudsman of Indonesia, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono seen holding the phone.

The crowd of reporters stood not far from where the President made a phone call. The other person is the President of the Task Force Commander Army Lt. Col. Garuda Peace. Inf. R. Haryono who was in Lebanon.

"The fall of shot from the direction of Israel? Hours 7:30 yes. From our position what? Okay, 35 miles from our position," said the President, as he repeated the answer from Haryono.

Occasionally the call disconnected. The President then handed the phone to the Nokia Communicator Military Secretary Maj. Gen. Budiman to contact the other person again.

Through these conversations the President received a report about the situation in the Peace Corps in Garuda. At that time, rocket attacks from Lebanon into Israel and the opposite was happening.

Head of State also ensures the safety of the troops and asked Haryono to continue coordinating with local governments, the UN Peace Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), and Jakarta.

The President appeared in public was using the phone's not everyday events. Generally conversation occurred in the study, then the President gave a press conference about the results of those conversations.

This rare event to open the curtain on what the phone is usually used President.

Presidential Palace in the environment, the Nokia Communicator is still a mainstay, not only for communication the President, but also to the ministers. A number of assistants of the President is often seen holding the Nokia Communicator. One was the Minister of State Enterprises Sofyan Djalil.

Nokia Communicator is also a choice of Minister / State Secretary Hatta Rajasa. As a minister who knows the process of adopting various rules, the reporters are often 'hold up' Hatta to ask whether the president had signed his name on the draft regulations.

Not once or twice, Hatta should check directly to the number of staff. This was done in front of reporters. He swiftly find a contact person to go, press the call key, and check the final position of the draft regulation. All done with the help of Nokia Communicator.

Blackberry overtaking

Although still dominate, the Nokia Communicator is now starting to get competition. Is the field of presidential spokesman Dino Patti abroad Djalal and presidential spokesman Andi Mallarangeng seen other gadgets using non-Nokia Communicator.

Since 2 years ago, Dino uses intelligent mobile devices that was rising in Indonesia. Especially if not Blackberry.

"It's been 2 years I use a Blackberry. Long before people talked about as crowded now," he said.

On various occasions, Dino was seen reading e-mails and open news sites by handheld devices made by Research In Motion (RIM). Currently, 10 staff who helped Dino activity, also equip themselves with the Blackberry.

Although claims are still difficulties that newer devices operate, Brenda admitted she was very helpful.

"I am persuaded Dino. It's sophisticated, yes, but I have a lot to learn again," he said.

Besides Dino, Andi, and his staff, Health Minister Siti Fadillah Supari also included in the line of Blackberry users.

On one occasion, one journalist said that BlackBerry users Mrs. Minister can be reached via BlackBerry Messenger, chat facilities are available on that device. He himself had tried.

Before you hit in Indonesia, a Blackberry was already known in several countries, including the United States. Blackberry still remember how to shake the world when the president-elect of the United States Barack Obama acknowledged proximity to Blackberry.

Photographer for The New York Times Ozier Muhammad managed to capture the moment when Obama was lying on the couch, with his left hand holding the paper, and Blackberry in his right hand.

"Senator Barack Obama campaign with two loyal friends: Blackberry hers and Obama's Campaign Strategy Chief David Axelrod," so the sound of the manuscript images posted on The New York Times mid-November last year. In the photograph, Axelrod sat near Obama.

In the environment of Indonesia Presidential Palace, Blackberry fame has not won a position now held by the Nokia Communicator. However, it seems the future of competition between two brands will be more bitter, considering now RIM provides a variety of models.

By Rachael Ariyanti
Journalists Bisnis Indonesia