BlackBerries to help Chicago manage youth services

Chicago’s Department of Children and Youth Services will be getting free Research in Motion BlackBerry services and devices through a donation from Sprint and eAccess Solutions. Sprint will donate one year of free BlackBerry service, and eAccess Solutions will contribute 17 BlackBerries. EAccess is based in the Chicago area and specializes in mobile data hardware, software and integration services. The department manages programs for children and youth through a citywide partnership involving more than 300 community organizations, social-service providers and institutions. Department personnel will use the BlackBerry devices to coordinate its efforts with other agencies. Dave Bean, president and chief executive officer of eAccess, approached J.W. Penland, area vice president for Sprint, with the idea of working with Children and Youth Services, a Sprint spokeswoman said.