RIM to expand service to Windows Mobile, other operating systems

Research In Motion Ltd. said it would provide software later this year to expand BlackBerry software applications to third-party devices running Microsoft Corp.’s Windows Mobile and, eventually, other operating systems.
The move is aimed at extending BlackBerry applications to a broader range of devices, according to Mike Lazaridis, president and co-CEO at RIM. The cost of the application was not announced.
The new BlackBerry application suite will appear as an icon on the screen of a non-RIM device. When clicked, it will run the BlackBerry suite, while preserving the ability to run Windows Mobile applications.
The software will include support for BlackBerry e-mail, phone, calendar, address book, browser and instant messaging, among other options, via BlackBerry Enterprise Server and BlackBerry Internet Service. The new software also will allow third-party applications.