Google

Research In Motion Ltd. said yesterday that Google Inc. has tailored its instant messaging and local mapping services, already widely used on PCs, to run on BlackBerry wireless devices.

The first feature, called Google Talk, lets users send short text messages to anyone who has an account with Google. The second provides maps, driving directions and satellite images.

Although the BlackBerry's principal function remains wireless e-mail, there is a growing appetite for more features on mobile communications devices as the networks that support them get faster.

"Instant messaging and local content are two increasingly important areas of focus for mobile applications," Mark Guibert, RIM's vice-president of corporate marketing, said in a statement. "Google Talk for BlackBerry and Google Local for mobile will offer additional flexibility to BlackBerry customers in terms of how, when and where they stay in touch." creates couple of bells for BlackBerry

When RIM introduced the BlackBerry seven years ago, it deliberately avoided the temptation of trying to add bells and whistles to a device designed mainly for e-mail. That strategy of keeping the design simple and efficient allowed RIM engineers to outmanoeuvre bigger rivals, such as Motorola Inc., which were working on their own wireless e-mail devices.

Even today, RIM devices lack cameras and digital music players, key features of rival products such as Palm Inc.'s Treo.

But the Waterloo, Ont.-based company has been working gradually to increase the stable of software applications that will run on RIM devices, as competitors do the same.

San Jose, Calif.-based Intellisync Corp., for example, is rolling out what it calls "unified messaging" software, which ties together voice, e-mail, instant messaging and text messaging into a bundle of mobile services that can be accessed and controlled from a single screen.

Last year, Google's competitor Yahoo Inc. brought its instant messaging service to the BlackBerry. RIM said the Google mapping service is available immediately and Google Talk should launch on the BlackBerry in the spring.

Neither Google nor RIM will charge for the features, but users may incur extra charges from their wireless phone companies.
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