MENLO PARK, Calif. -- Looking to up its station in the handheld device pecking order, Dell Computer (Quote, Company Info) Tuesday said it has struck a deal with startup Good Technologies.

Round Rock, Texas-based Dell used to sell devices from Good's chief rival Research In Motion (RIM) (Quote, Company Info). It no longer does. Dell said its customers were clamoring for Good products.

Sunnyvale, Calif.-based Good makes products similar to those that made Waterloo, Ontario's RIM famous: a pocket-sized device, wireless corporate e-mail (called GoodLink) to help keep mobile employees in the loop; applications; and server software. There is also a corporate data center called GoodInfo.

When lined up side by side with RIM's Blackberry, it's tough to see major differences.