Windows Phone Picks Up 25,000 More UsersWindows Phone Picks Up 25,000 More Users

Dell has announced that they are dumping RIM Blackberries for the 25,000 employees that carry a device now and are going to be giving them the new Dell Venue Pro. Dell is officially declaring war on RIM.Microsoft announced earlier this year that all 89,000 of their employees would be receiving a new Windows Phone 7 device. On top of that they are giving AT&T's employees a phone as well. Now Dell is joining the fray by effectively banishing the Blackberry from their company.

According to the Wall Street Journal, employees that have a Blackberry will get the Venue Pro along with a voice and data plan. Any other employee that wants one will only get a voice plan. They will be able to use the data services via WiFi, or I suppose they could pay for their own data plan.

Microsoft has been selling its mobile platform under various names for over a decade and Dell sold one of those iterations under the Axim label for several years. During this time, neither company rolled Windows Mobile out to all of their employees. From Microsoft's standpoint, it shows the company is really getting behind the platform. From Dell's standpoint, it shows they are solidly behind the devices they sell and are giving RIM notice that they will be challenging them in the marketplace with other enterprise customers.

Dell isn't married to Windows Phone 7 though. While this device is what will be initially available, as they deliver Android based devices in the future, those too will be made available to employees that need to be connected with the company all of the time.