RIM

RIM adds BlackBerry app storefront, developer tools

Jason Ankeny — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 15:50:15 -0400

In conjunction with last week's BlackBerry Developer Conference, Research In Motion announced both a new online application storefront and a new on-device application center promising to help developers and operators more effectively reach BlackBerry smartphone users worldwide. According to RIM, the online app storefront will go live in March 2009, although developers may begin submitting their applications and content for inclusion on the site in December--the store will give developers the flexibility to set their own prices and award them 80 percent of revenues generated from sales of their apps. RIM will partner with online payment service PayPal to offer consumers a secure mechanism to purchase apps directly from their BlackBerry devices.

Research In Motion adds it is also collaborating with its carrier partners to provide operator-customized, on-device application centers to nurture after-market application downloads. RIM has already launched an on-device distribution system for individual software applications, most notably the Facebook for BlackBerry Smartphones application. According to leaked information obtained by enthusiast community Crackberry.com, the on-device BlackBerry Application Center will make its debut via the BlackBerry Storm version 4.7 operating system.

In other RIM news, the handset maker announced new versions of various BlackBerry developer tools, including a new public beta of the BlackBerry JDE Plug-in for Eclipse, which promises deeper integration with Eclipse and standard Java projects, pre-processing capabilities supporting a multi-build environment and support for the BlackBerry JDE component pack version 4.3.0 to version 4.7.0. Also noteworthy: New releases of the BlackBerry Plug-in for Microsoft Visual Studio (enabling integration of customized mobile applications with core BlackBerry smartphone applications as well as compatibility with Microsoft Visual Studio 2008 and Windows Vista), BlackBerry MDS Studio (including support for collaborative development, fully integrated JavaScript debugging, hotkeys, mobile application access controls and GPS location notifications) and Plazmic Content Developer's Kit for the BlackBerry platform (offering support for the BlackBerry Bold and BlackBerry Pearl Flip smartphones as well as animated content creation).

RIM additionally touted the launch of BlackBerry Web Signals, which promises to leverage its push technology to automatically notify smartphone users when relevant content is published and enable one-click access to online information. According to RIM, BlackBerry Web Signals offers content providers a range of new services connecting consumers to news, weather, sports, entertainment and financial information based on their opt-in preferences, promising users will spend less time searching the mobile web. BlackBerry partners--including Thumbplay, the CBC and Dada Entertainment--are already planning Web Signals-based services.

For more on RIM's new efforts:
- read this release

BlackBerry Partners Fund contest winners named

Jason Ankeny — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 15:30:13 -0400

The BlackBerry Partners Fund announced the grand prize winners of its developer challenge. The fund--a $150 million venture capital effort formed to focus on applications and services for Research In Motion's BlackBerry and other mobile platforms--awarded top honors to three applications:

Poynt (Developed by Multiplied Media): A free location-based search tool that connects users to nearby businesses, movie theatres and retailers and includes such features like target site browsing, interactive maps, driving directions, GPS compatibility, show times, movie railers and ticket purchase.
Strands Social Player (Developed by Strands Inc.): An integrated, social-networking themed music player that enables users to discover new music, connect with fellow listeners and share their tastes with friends in addition to providing cover art, artist info and song recommendations from a catalog spanning 6 million tracks.
Nobex Radio Companion (Developed by Nobex Technologies): Another music application, this one showing you which song is playing on any of 2700 radio stations--if listeners discovers a song they like, they may click the "Get It!" button, which transmits an email with a link to purchase the track.

All three winners will receive a $150,000 investment from the BlackBerry Partners Fund and are entered into its "Jump Start" early-stage program. The grand prize winners were selected from a pool of 15 finalists.

For more on the BlackBerry Partners Fund grand prize winners:
- read this release
- See screenshots of the winners

DeviceAnywhere adds BlackBerry to app dev services

Jason Ankeny — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 08:02:32 -0400

Mobile application development solutions provider DeviceAnywhere announced its membership in the BlackBerry Independent Software Vendor Alliance Program, promising developers worldwide an efficient new mechanism for application development on the Research In Motion platform. According to DeviceAnywhere, developers may access up to 100 live BlackBerry smartphones spanning 16 different carriers, offering an environment to conduct all stages of application creation, testing, porting and monitoring. The DeviceAnywhere service now provides access to more than 1500 real mobile handsets in all, each connected to live networks for remote access over the web--BlackBerry devices available via the service include the BlackBerry Bold and Curve series smartphones, with new handsets added on a continuous basis.

For more on DeviceAnywhere's BlackBerry services:
- read this release

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Microsoft rumored to eye RIM takeover bid

Jason Ankeny — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 15:06:00 -0400

With Research In Motion stock in freefall from a high of $148 on the Nasdaq just four months ago to its present sub-$60 valuation, rumors are circulating the handset maker may soon find itself the target of a takeover bid by Microsoft. Speaking to Reuters, Canaccord Adams analyst Peter Misek argues that "RIM is a massive strategic fit" for Microsoft, adding "I'm fairly certain they have a standing offer to buy them at $50 [a share]." The argument in favor of a Microsoft/RIM deal is that acquiring the BlackBerry product portfolio would enable Microsoft to compete head-to-head with mortal enemy Google as the web services giant enters the mobile device market with the HTC-produced G1, the first commercial handset based on Google's Android mobile OS. Moreover, Microsoft boasts the balance-sheet strength to cut such a deal, with $23.6 billion in cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments as of June 30. Combine that with an equity component, and Microsoft could avoid the debt markets in financing a bid.

But as Wired points out, entering the hardware market would force Microsoft into direct competition with its current Windows Mobile manufacturer partners--according to Research Capital analyst Nick Agostino, it doesn't make any more sense for Microsoft to acquire RIM to strip the company of its hardware to focus on the OS, either. Instead, Agostino believes Microsoft may be interested solely in RIM's email application, and says RIM is far better off toughing out the economic downturn on its own. "They're only now starting to tap the consumer market," he said. "If they truly believe that their onslaught of new devices has potential to shift gears into even higher growth I would say that a $50 offer is way too low."

It's also worth noting that while speaking at a recent Churchill Club event in Santa Clara, Calif., Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer predicted RIM and its smartphone brethren Nokia and Apple will all falter as the market expands because those companies tie their software so closely to their proprietary hardware. In other words, Ballmer argued, the same software licensing strategy that galvanized Microsoft's desktop dominance will apply to the smartphone hierarchy, with the real battle for supremacy taking place between Symbian, mobile Linux and Windows Mobile.

For more on the Microsoft/RIM rumors:
-read this IntoMobile article

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RIM to launch BlackBerry Application Center

Jason Ankeny — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 13:26:52 -0400

Device maker Research In Motion is poised to introduce the BlackBerry Application Center, a virtual software storefront to rival Apple's App Store and Google's Android Market. According to leaked information obtained by enthusiast community Crackberry.com, the on-device BlackBerry Application Center--which will make its debut via the BlackBerry Storm version 4.7 operating system--will enable users to discover, browse and install third-party BlackBerry apps hosted by mobile operators, serving as the primary interface between the consumer and the carrier's directory of downloadable software.

The BlackBerry Application Center promises one-click, browser-based installation--users will only see applications available for their specific device model and OS version, with related information for each app including full descriptions, the date of the most recent software update and alerts when new updates become available. Carriers will assume responsibility for hosting application data and sending updates to a RIM-hosted server backend.

Last month, mobile content and applications provider MobiHand announced a partnership with CrackBerry.com to launch their own on-device application storefront for BlackBerry smartphone users. The digital retail portal enables consumers to browse and search thousands of applications optimized for their particular Research In Motion-produced device, and will integrate with the BlackBerry Wallet m-commerce service to simplify to purchasing process. According to MobiHand, users may purchase applications in a single click, with over-the-air delivery following within seconds of registration. No word on how, if at all, the launch of an official, RIM-operated BlackBerry app service will impact MobiHand's rival effort.

For more on the BlackBerry Application Center:
- read this Crackberry.com article

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RIM expands BlackBerry Developer Conference

Jason Ankeny — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 16:16:07 -0400

Research In Motion offered up new details about its BlackBerry Developer Conference, taking place Oct. 20 through 22 in Santa Clara, California. According to RIM, the developer community event will now feature five tracks, more than 75 sessions and presentations from the winners of the BlackBerry Partners Fund Developer Challenge (to be announced Oct. 21) alongside RIM staffers, industry technical experts and related thought leaders--developers may also sit down for pre-scheduled one-on-one meetings with RIM, network with fellow BlackBerry developers and attend hands-on workshops and roundtable discussions.

Scheduled highlights of this year's BlackBerry Developer Conference include the new track dubbed "Future Trends and Technologies for Mobile Developers," which will offer interactive sessions led by the RIM development team. The track will spotlight the future of wireless application development for the BlackBerry platform, with live demonstrations of new and upcoming tools as well as APIs. There are four other tracks:

• Managing Development and Deployment--Presentations by members of the developer community on creating customized build and testing environments as well as taking applications to market.
• The Ins and Outs of Java Development--The latest on the BlackBerry Java Development Environment, including practical insights and sample code reviews for mobile applications including rich media content, location-based services and tight integration with core applications on new BlackBerry smartphones.
• Next Generation Mobile Web Applications--How to extend web-based applications and content services to BlackBerry smartphone users via the Internet or a corporate intranet using AJAX, JavaScript and custom Java code.
• Mobile Applications for the Enterprise--Spanning the basics of integrating mobile applications with corporate application servers to developing, deploying and managing apps in conjunction with the BlackBerry Enterprise Solution.

Submission deadline for the BlackBerry Partners Fund Developer Challenge is Sept. 30. Prizes will be awarded in the categories of Most Innovative Game, Most Innovative Multimedia Application, Most Innovative Personal Productivity and Lifestyle Application, Most Innovative Enterprise Application and Most Innovative Web Application--three finalists will be chosen in each category, with two grand prize winners receiving a $150,000 investment from the BlackBerry Partners Fund. For more information about the competition, click here.

For more on the BlackBerry Developer Conference:
- read this release

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IBM extends Lotus email access to AT&T, Sprint phones

Jason Ankeny — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 20:58:31 -0400

Computing giant IBM announced an expansion of its relationship with operators including AT&T and Sprint to provide expanded email access to IBM Lotus Notes and Domino software via mobile handsets. AT&T and Sprint have certified for use by subscribers IBM's Lotus Notes Traveler software, which enables wireless replication of Lotus Notes email, calendaring and personal information management data on select smartphones including the AT&T 8525, AT&T Tilt, Moto Q Global, Palm Treo 750, PantechDuo (Mustang C810), Samsung Blackjack, and Samsung Blackjack II (i617) as well as Sprint's HTC Touch, Samsung ACETM, Palm Treo 700wx and Palm Treo 800w. Sprint customers may also access corporate email on select non-PDA devices. According to IBM, the move continues its efforts to promote mobile access to its open collaboration software--in a related announcement, the firm said it will partner with device maker Research In Motion to launch the full line of Lotus collaboration software along with IBM Cognos business intelligence software on BlackBerry handsets.

For more on IBM's Lotus expansion:
- read this release

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RIM details BlackBerry's global expansion

Jason Ankeny — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 19:52:49 -0400

During its annual shareholder meeting last week, BlackBerry device maker Research In Motion outlined plans for international expansion as well as investments in new handsets and software. RIM co-CEO Jim Balsillie said it hopes to extend BlackBerry service into markets including Russia, Latin America, China and Southeast Asia, countering investor and analyst concerns the firm will be unable to sustain its history of expansion. Last month, RIM posted a profit outlook that fell shy of expectations despite more than doubling its quarterly earnings. RIM added it will also introduce new devices and applications as well as bolster R&D spending.

For more on RIM's outlook:
- read this DailyTech article

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BlackBerry OS 4.5 due in September

Jason Ankeny — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 19:11:30 -0400

Expect new features including push AOL email and Hotmail/MSN accounts when device maker Research In Motion releases its BlackBerry OS 4.5 in September. According to The Boy Genius Report, which secured a copy of a RIM slide presentation, all new BlackBerry devices launching prior to September will arrive with 4.5 software already installed--the upgraded OS will support a full list of downloadable attachments including .doc, .ppt., .xls, .wpd, .txt, .html, .pdf and .zip, and users may save all attachments including audio and video formats provided the file size does not exceed 3MB.

For more on the BlackBerry OS 4.5:
- read this Boy Genius Report article

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Global smartphone sales grow 29 percent in Q1

Jason Ankeny — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 18:01:13 -0400

Worldwide smartphone sales totaled 32.2 million units in the first quarter of 2008, a 29.3 percent increase over the year-ago quarter, according to a new report issued by market research firm Gartner. North American smartphone sales totaled 7.3 million units in Q1, a 106.2 percent year-over-year increase, while smartphone sales in Europe, Middle East, and Africa totaled 11.7 million units, a 38.7 percent leap. Nokia remains ahead of the vendor pack, commanding over 45 percent of the global smartphone market and notching a year-over-year sales increase of 25 percent--Research In Motion held on to second place, improving its worldwide market share to 13.4 percent and continuing to dominate the U.S. market at 42 percent. Apple moved into the number three slot, with 5.3 percent of the global smartphone market and jumping to number two in the U.S. with 20 percent. Gartner anticipates touchscreens, usability and application integration will continue to drive smartphone growth, especially as vendors and operators expand their portfolios to include open-platform devices.

For more on the Gartner smartphone report:
- read this release

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