* 25,000 employees moving to Dell Venue Pro
* Dell to push customers to switch as well
* Dell and RIM now rivals in smartphone market
SAN FRANCISCO, Nov 4 (Reuters) – Dell Inc (DELL) will shift thousands of its employees off Research in Motion Ltd’s (RIM.TO) BlackBerry and over to Dell’s smartphones, the company said on Thursday.
The money-saving switch affects the roughly 25,000 Dell employees who carry a company-issued BlackBerry. Dell employs around 100,000 people worldwide.
Dell is also launching an effort to convince its business customers to switch to the company’s smartphone.
News of the company’s plans was first reported by the Wall Street Journal, and confirmed by Dell spokesman David Frink.
Frink said the switch will begin soon, but said it will take some time to complete. (more…)