RIM Announces Blackberry Suite for Windows Mobile

Research In Motion (RIM) today announced plans to release a "Blackberry Application Suite" for select Windows Mobile 6 devices later this year. Once installed, the software will provide users with a virtual BlackBerry application experience, including support for BlackBerry email, phone, calendar, address book, tasks, memos, browser, instant messaging and other applications developed for the BlackBerry platform.

“Extending BlackBerry applications to a broader range of devices is an important element of RIM's strategy to provide an open platform that supports industry standards and addresses the various needs of our customers and partners,” said Mike Lazaridis, President and Co-CEO at Research In Motion. “This new software will provide a range of important benefits, including easier support of Windows Mobile-based devices within BlackBerry Enterprise Server environments, a consistent user interface for BlackBerry applications across various devices, and the ability to run third-party applications developed for the BlackBerry platform.”

The new BlackBerry application suite will complement existing Windows Mobile 6 functionality and will appear as an icon on the screen in the same manner as other third-party applications. Upon clicking the BlackBerry icon, a suite of BlackBerry applications will load and will feature the familiar user interface of a BlackBerry smartphone. The device's existing Windows Mobile applications are preserved, allowing the user to easily and quickly switch between the Windows Mobile applications and the BlackBerry application suite.

Devices running the BlackBerry application suite will also be able to connect to BlackBerry services via BlackBerry Enterprise Server as well as BlackBerry Internet Service.

The full range of BlackBerry applications, such as email, phone, text messaging, browser, instant messaging and organizer will be included. BlackBerry “push” technology – messages and information updates can be delivered automatically to the Windows Mobile-based device, is also another major feature included in the suite. The platform will also include support for 3rd party BlackBerry applications and touch screen support.