RIM announces partnerships with Microsoft, MySpace, Slacker and TiVo

On Thursday, September 11th, Blackberry specialist Research in Motion (RIM) announced partnerships with Microsoft, MySpace, Slacker and TiVo. RIM plans to work with these new partners to put special software on Blackberry smartphones.

RIM reached an agreement with Microsoft to put Live Search in the Blackberry browser as a search engine and for context-sensitive searches in Blackberry Maps. At the beginning of the year, RIM announced that integration in Hotmail would be improved and a Live Messenger client developed. Live Search for BlackBerry Smartphones is expected to be ship sometime this year.

Next month, a Blackberry application for MySpace is also scheduled to be released. RIM has already released similar software for the competing network Facebook. By the end of the year, TiVo software is expected to be released that will allow Blackberry users to view electronic programme guides and schedule recordings.

In North America and the UK, the TiVo brand has become common parlance for set-top boxes with hard drives. RIM is also collaborating with Slacker, a personalized Internet radio service, although this isn't relevant for Western Europe because Slacker does not broadcast outside the US.

RIM has yet to officially confirm reports of a deal with Ticketmaster, restricted to North America and Great Britain. Aside from the announcement pertaining to Microsoft, all of the announcements are intended to enhance entertainment on the Blackberry, not business applications.

(trk)