Research in Motion (RIM) announced on Thursday that its BlackBerry platform will support Google Talk instant messaging and Google Local for mobile.

Google also announced Google Mobile Personalized Home Page, while RIM said it would distribute synch software for Macs.

"Instant messaging and local content are two increasingly important areas of focus for mobile applications and we are very pleased to work with Google in extending these two popular Google services to BlackBerry users,” Mark Guibert, vice president of corporate marketing at RIM, said in a statement.

Google Talk for BlackBerry, expected to be available in the spring, is a version of Google's instant messaging application specifically designed for BlackBerry handsets. BlackBerry users will be able to send and receive instant text messages with other Google Talk users; the BlackBerry app will have the same functionality as the desktop version.

When it launched Google Talk, the search goliath said it wanted to make its IM service, which is based on XMPP (define), interoperate with the other networks. Google executives weren't available to discuss whether the creation of a special version for BlackBerry means that global interoperability of Google Talk isn't likely.

BlackBerry users also can download Google Local, giving them access to maps, satellite imagery, driving directions and searches for local businesses.


Full article: internetnews.com