Microsoft and RIM announced at BlackBerry World 2011 a new partnership that will make Bing the default search engine and Bing Maps the default location and mapping service on BlackBerry devices.
Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer made a surprise appearance during RIM co-CEO Mike Lazaridis’s keynote. The Financial Post quotes Ballmer as saying, “This goes way beyond a search box,” when discussing the new partnership. According to Financial Post, the Bing/BlackBerry integration will take place at an OS level and Microsoft will be working to support RIM technology in its cloud offerings.
When Mashable reviewed the BlackBerry PlayBook earlier this month, the unit shipped with Bing as the default search engine and with a stand-alone Bing Maps application. In hindsight, that should have been our first big tip that a more formal announcement between the two companies was coming.
Since launching Bing nearly two years ago, Microsoft has worked to build more partnerships with mobile handset operators. Select Verizon phones powered by Google’s Android OS shipped with Bing as the default search engine. With iOS 4, Microsoft added Bing as a search engine option (Google is still the default and powers the Apple Maps app).
The long-term impact of a Microsoft/RIM deal for search might be minimal, but it is always possible that it could open up future collaboration points between the two companies.
Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer made a surprise appearance during RIM co-CEO Mike Lazaridis’s keynote. The Financial Post quotes Ballmer as saying, “This goes way beyond a search box,” when discussing the new partnership. According to Financial Post, the Bing/BlackBerry integration will take place at an OS level and Microsoft will be working to support RIM technology in its cloud offerings.
When Mashable reviewed the BlackBerry PlayBook earlier this month, the unit shipped with Bing as the default search engine and with a stand-alone Bing Maps application. In hindsight, that should have been our first big tip that a more formal announcement between the two companies was coming.
Since launching Bing nearly two years ago, Microsoft has worked to build more partnerships with mobile handset operators. Select Verizon phones powered by Google’s Android OS shipped with Bing as the default search engine. With iOS 4, Microsoft added Bing as a search engine option (Google is still the default and powers the Apple Maps app).
The long-term impact of a Microsoft/RIM deal for search might be minimal, but it is always possible that it could open up future collaboration points between the two companies.
There’s no arguing that today is all about the BlackBerry Bold 9000 and 9930, however, there was certainly no specific mention as to which exact carriers would be selling the handset.
Well, T-Mobile surely didn’t waste any time in making people aware about their intentions as they officially confirmed through their Twitter account that they’re planning to offer the new handset.
Well, T-Mobile surely didn’t waste any time in making people aware about their intentions as they officially confirmed through their Twitter account that they’re planning to offer the new handset.
In fact, it’ll be their very first 4G enabled BlackBerry smartphone and should arrive some time later in the year – though, no explicit date was attached to its release. Moreover, we’re still in the dark regarding pricing for the next-generation Bold model.
Regardless of that, it wouldn’t surprise anyone to see it priced at the usual $200 on-contract price point.
source: T-Mobile
