Bing integration coming to RIM devices
By
Nigel Brooks
May 4, 2011 -
Spetnik Technology News
Research In Motion will integrate Microsoft's Bing in its smartphones on an operating system level.
In a surprise appearance at the BlackBerry World event currently taking place in Orlando, Florida, Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer announced his company has joined forces with Research In Motion to bring Bing to RIM devices.
RIM's PlayBook tablets and BlackBerry smartphones, including those sporting the new BlackBerry 7 OS, will feature a deeper integration of Microsoft's Bing search and mapping applications.
As Google continues to climb in both the search engine and the mobile operating system markets, Ballmer's announcement demonstrates yet another attempt by Microsoft to push back against the flow. Earlier this year, the company announced a partnership to incorporate its Windows Phone 7 mobile OS on future Nokia devices.
Additionally, the news follows RIM's recent launch of two new BlackBerry smartphones. Also announced at BlackBerry World, the BlackBerry Bold 9900 and 9930 will both be based on the new BlackBerry 7 OS and will include a QWERTY keyboard, a 2.8-inch touchscreen and near-field communication technology.
While RIM's positioning in the smartphone market has slipped in recent years, it is still very much a force to competitors. According to a recent comScore report, RIM accounted for 28.9 percent of the U.S. smartphone market as of February, trailing only Google, which held 33 percent of the market.
Recent headlines:
RIM's PlayBook tablets and BlackBerry smartphones, including those sporting the new BlackBerry 7 OS, will feature a deeper integration of Microsoft's Bing search and mapping applications.
As Google continues to climb in both the search engine and the mobile operating system markets, Ballmer's announcement demonstrates yet another attempt by Microsoft to push back against the flow. Earlier this year, the company announced a partnership to incorporate its Windows Phone 7 mobile OS on future Nokia devices.
Additionally, the news follows RIM's recent launch of two new BlackBerry smartphones. Also announced at BlackBerry World, the BlackBerry Bold 9900 and 9930 will both be based on the new BlackBerry 7 OS and will include a QWERTY keyboard, a 2.8-inch touchscreen and near-field communication technology.
While RIM's positioning in the smartphone market has slipped in recent years, it is still very much a force to competitors. According to a recent comScore report, RIM accounted for 28.9 percent of the U.S. smartphone market as of February, trailing only Google, which held 33 percent of the market.
Recent headlines:
