HSBC considers getting 200,000 iPhones

HSBC's Australia and New Zealand chief information officer apparently told ZDNet.com.au this week that, "We are actually reviewing iPhones from a HSBC Group perspective...and when I say that, I mean globally." Adopting the iPhone would mean HSBC would have to ditch the currently deployed BlackBerry smartphones, which could result in an order of up to 200,000 iPhones.

While it is true that the iPhone 3G implemented features that makes it more attractive to the enterprise, these pale in comparison with the features already offered on RIM's BlackBerry platform. Moreover, the iPhone only implements a reduced set of Microsoft's push mail and device management features. This simply does not stack up to any Windows Mobile 6.0 devices on the market. 

With no advantage other than aesthetics, I suppose, I can't help but think of it as nothing more than an ill-advised decision.

To read up more about this story:
- check out this BusinessWeek article