Research in Motion has recently filed a really cool patent application entitled Advanced Voice and Data Operations in a Mobile Communications Device.
The abstract details:
A system and method for integrating voice and data operations into a single mobile device capable of simultaneously performing data and voice actions. The mobile device working in a network capable of exchanging both cell phone calls and data items to the mobile device. By wearing an earphone or an ear-bud device the user is capable of dealing with voice conversations while working with data centric information related to the current caller. By providing a data-centric device with voice capabilities there is a new range of features that allow incoming data events to trigger outgoing voice events.
In plain English… You can talk on your BlackBerry and send email at the same time.
This should completely eliminate these type of calls. “Let me hang up and send it to you and I will call you right back.“
This patent isn’t that revolutionary. In fact, it isn’t revolutionary at all.
UMTS and higher already do simultaneous data and voice.
While RIM is a few gens behind in connectivity, I still love their devices.