Halliburton will phase out Blackberry phones and transfer their employees to the iPhone company wide. This is yet another blow to Research in Motion (RIM), which is struggling as more people replace their Blackberry phones with iPhones or Android-based phones. Halliburton claims to have done a large amount of research into both the Android and iOS operating systems and found that iOS would provide the security they wanted along with the control and capabilities for application development. With such a large company making the switch away from RIM's phones, should midsize businesses follow suit?

As RIM continues its downfall, it only makes sense for IT departments to start looking into a switch away from the phone that made the company so successful. Apple has been instrumental in helping Halliburton make the transition from Blackberry to the iPhone, and why wouldn't they be? Acquiring such a large account would give any company ample reason to bend over backward. With only three real options for smartphone technology, the research into what will work for both the IT department and employees of a midsized corporation can be completed in a matter of months. Of course, there is no best option for all companies. The operating system, capabilities, and security specifications vary, and what an IT department needs might be met by any one of the three.

Blackberry phones are becoming a thing of the past, especially since RIM's new CEO says he won't change his current strategy. Making a change would seem to be a good idea, as more people switch away from RIM phones. According to Apple Insider, the loss of Halliburton is just another example of how RIM is falling lower in the rank of the corporate world. From Playbook's failure to the stepping down of the company's co-CEOs, it seems there is a new development every day that points to RIM's slow failure. The business world will continue to see more companies step away from their trusted Blackberry and move to friendlier phone technologies.

If you're looking to make a switch, it won't hurt to ask for help making the transition smooth for your company. For the most part, a switch from Blackberry to any other smartphone will be fairly painless for employees. But the IT department will likely require extra time and training. Ensuring that your IT department is able to quickly diagnose and fix issues as they arise is vital to a painless switch. Training offered by by the phone manufacturer is the best way to prepare for a switch for IT departments. Throughout the entire process of switching, IT departments in close contact with phone developers will be able to ask questions and receive up-to-the-minute training.

This post was written as part of the IBM for Midsize Business program, which provides midsize businesses with the tools, expertise and solutions they need to become engines of a smarter planet.