Contact management software vendor Sage ACT a software application to link the ACT! customer and contact management database wirelessly with handheld devices operating on the BlackBerry platform.

The product, Handheld Contact, was created for road warrior business travellers, sales executives and field staff who use ACT! to manage their business relationships and need immediate access to their contacts database while out of the office.

According to Sage ACT, there are currently over 25,000 registered ACT! users in Australia and New Zealand with close to the same number of people currently using BlackBerry enabled devices.  BlackBerry’s sales have been globally increasing by about 100% per year, according figures cited by Sage ACT.

The Handheld Contact system works by replicating the fields traditionally displayed by ACT! onto a BlackBerry device, which  uses GPRS and CDMA technology to wirelessly transmit data. Users do not have to be in a wireless hotspot.

Ken Prokopec, business manager for ACT!, said, “The average ACT! user synchronises once every 12 hours using a Palm or Pocket PC device but with Handheld Contact and the BlackBerry they can synchronise every 15 minutes. The benefit here is that staff working remotely never miss a beat.  They can also work more simultaneously with colleagues in the office as there are no lengthy delays with transmitting information.”

Handheld Contact is now available for ACT! version 6.0 onwards.  A license retails for $360 per annum with volume discounts available for five or more licenses.