BIOS: Technology Means Business

Research In Motion (RIM) has announced that Google Talk instant messaging (IM) and Google Local for mobile will be supported on the BlackBerry wireless platform.

As mobile technology continues to converge, consumers are becoming increasingly more connected and require access to information at home, at work, and on the road. By extending Google Talk and Google Local beyond the desktop, BlackBerry users will have greater access to the information they need regardless of where they are.

‘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,’ said Mark Guibert, Vice President, Corporate Marketing at Research In Motion. ‘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.’

Google Talk for BlackBerry, a version of the IM application specifically designed for BlackBerry handsets, will allow you to send and receive instant text messages with other members of the Google Talk community, while on the go.

Google Talk for BlackBerry extends the user experience of the popular desktop-based Google Talk instant messaging service to BlackBerry devices, allowing you to add, delete and rename contacts, know when their Friends are online and available, leave conversations and resume them later, copy conversation text into memory and even be notified when a message is being typed.

Google Talk for BlackBerry promises to be easy and intuitive to use. After downloading Google Talk for BlackBerry, you can quickly sign in through your Gmail username and password, access your existing Google Talk contact lists, see which Google Talk Friends are online, and send and receive instant messages.

The service is integrated with BlackBerry to allow for home screen notifications of new messages, integration of Google Talk instant messages in the BlackBerry e-mail inbox and quick access to the BlackBerry Calendar from Google Talk for meeting scheduling.

Use of Google Talk requires a Gmail account which can be obtained when invited by another Gmail user or by visiting . Google Talk users may invite other Gmail users to their contact lists directly from their BlackBerry handset, just as they would from a PC.

Additionally, you can now download Google Local for mobile, which enables BlackBerry users to view maps and satellite imagery, find local businesses and get driving directions on their BlackBerry handsets. Google Local for mobile provides draggable maps, directions and imagery, as well as a ‘click to call’ feature. Google Local for mobile will store any addresses you have typed in or used for directions for quick and access to previous locations.

The satellite imagery viewing of Google Local for mobile allows users to zoom in on an image for a closer look at the terrain, zoom out for a grander perspective, or move the map in any direction. This interactive satellite view gives you a chance to explore and evaluate your locations in far greater detail.

Google Talk for BlackBerry is expected to be available in the Spring timeframe. Google Local for mobile is available today at . Both applications will be free, subject to any data service rates applicable for downloading and using the applications with a limited data plan.