HSBC denies gigantic BlackBerry/iPhone switch

Banking giant HSBC has denied reports it is considering switching a 200,000 global handset account from BlackBerry to Apple.

Last week, HSBC Australia and New Zealand chief information officer Brenton Hush was quoted on an Australian technology website as saying HSBC was considering transferring a giant coprorate account to Apple, to obtain iPhones for over 200,000 staff currently using BlackBerry devices.

But a UK spokesperson for HSBC told Mobile News: "I don't know if he was miss quoted or if it was made up, but I can put the rumours to bed now and state there is no truth in it at all. It's simply not going to happen."

However, an HSBC Australia manager of group communications said: "We always explore the potential application of new technologies and this is no different."

Should the move materialise it would see the largest corporate order of handsets for Apple since the device was first launched in 2007.

The updated 3G version of the iPhone has increased the device's appeal to corporate users. It includes push email and is compatible with a Microsoft Exchange server.

BlackBerry maker RIM refused to comment.