Back in August when RIM acquired Torch Mobile it was assumed that a WebKit-based browser was going to be developed for BlackBerry smartphones. Thanks to MobileCrunch, the development of a WebKit-based browser is further confirmed by a job notice posted on LinkedIn where RIM is looking to hire a “WebKit Developer at Research In Motion”.

POSITION SUMMARY

We are currently looking for a talented and passionate individual to join a growing team within the BlackBerry Platform organization. Utilizing their expert knowledge in C++ programming, the successful candidate will be working in a fast-paced, dynamic development environment to develop a WebKit-based browser for the BlackBerry Platform.

I could only hope that RIM hiring another developer means they are looking to speed things up a bit. I already think my BlackBerry rocks, but objectively speaking, I definitely wouldn’t mind a better browser.

For more info check out the job posting on LinkedIn. Best of luck if you decide to apply!

RIM, along with AT&T, Bell, Rogers and T-Mobile, have made the BlackBerry Bold 9700 official with an expected worldwide launch in November!

The BlackBerry Bold 9700 smartphone offers top-of-the-line performance, functionality and features with support for 3G HSDPA networks around the world, a next-generation (624 MHz) processor, 256 MB Flash memory, built-in GPS and Wi-Fi®, a 3.2MP camera and a sharp, dazzling display. Cutting edge engineering and premium finishes extend to the exterior of the handset as well, with a smoothly integrated touch-sensitive trackpad and a highly tactile, distinctive, fretted keyboard. The dark chrome frame and leatherette back add to the new smartphone’s sleek and elegant look, while the narrow profile, balanced weight and soft-touch sides allow it to feel incredibly comfortable in one hand.

“The BlackBerry Bold 9700 builds on the success of the original BlackBerry Bold with new, state-of-the-art features and a smaller, lighter and highly optimized design that looks, feels and performs great,” said Mike Lazaridis, President and Co-CEO, Research In Motion.

I don’t know about you but I can’t wait to get my hands on this awesome BlackBerry. For more info head over to blackberry.com/bold9700 or check out RIM’s press release after the jump.

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Originally, PocketMac for BlackBerry users received free and unlimited email support from RIM. Today RIM has issued an end of support notice for PocketMac via this knowledge base article.  Here are the details:

Please be advised that as of October 2, 2009 PocketMac is no longer supported by Research In Motion.

Please contact PocketMac at www.pocketmac.com if you require support for PocketMac for BlackBerry smartphones.

Please note that related references and troubleshooting steps have been removed from www.blackberry.com.

This shouldn’t come as a surprise since RIM recently released Desktop Manager for Mac. If you plan to continue using PocketMac and need support be sure to send the PocketMac developers a message directly.

UPDATE It’s been announced! Check out the full press release after the jump for all the details about RIM and Adobe working together to bring full Flash support to BlackBerry devices. *

Back in August I mentioned a rumor that RIM and Adobe were working on making BlackBerry devices Flash-enabled. Adobe and RIM will finally be announcing Flash support for BlackBerry tomorrow at MAX!

Tomorrow at MAX, Adobe’s worldwide developer conference, Adobe Systems Incorporated will announce with partner Research In Motion (RIM) their progress in bringing Flash support to BlackBerry devices.

RIM, the company behind BlackBerry’s wireless platform, including email and touchscreen technologies, is joining Adobe’s Open Screen Project, a 50-organization-members-strong organization that aims to promote better apps for richer mobile, television, and desktop browsing experiences for users.

The rumor so far is that Flash support will be available for BlackBerry devices by next summer but at the rate RIM is going with their development I wouldn’t be surprised if we see an earlier launch. Of course, as history has shown us, Flash support could also be pushed back. I guess we’ll find out tomorrow!

via ReadWriteWeb

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If you’ve been waiting for a better BlackBerry Browser you’ll be happy to know that RIM has just acquired Torch Mobile, an experienced developer of WebKit solutions!

This is great, especially with the recent rumor that RIM will add support for Flash and Silverlight in the upcoming BlackBerry Browser.

Here is Torch Mobile’s announcement from their blog:

Torch Mobile is excited to announce that our company has been acquired by Research In Motion (RIM), one of the most renowned mobile technology companies in the world. Our team of developers will join RIM’s global organization and will now be focused on utilizing our WebKit-based mobile browser expertise to contribute to the ongoing enhancement of the BlackBerry® platform.

Torch Mobile’s team of highly skilled developers has been actively involved in Open Source development and includes contributors, Commiters and Reviewers of the WebKit project. As part of RIM, these developers will continue to be active participants in the WebKit development community.

Torch Mobile is the creator of the WebKit-based Iris Browser. I’ve included info about both WebKit and the Iris Browser after the jump.

Who’s excited for some new BlackBerry Browser action?!

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We’ve already seen a full list of features for OS 5.0, the new BBM 5.0, a video of OS 5.0 running on the Curve 8900 and a Storm, but it’s always good to hear what others have to say about it. Zack Whittaker of ZDNet did a nice writeup with screenshots of OS 5.0.

News is spreading quickly within the underground BlackBerry community of a leak within Research in Motion, the company that makes the phone, of the latest BlackBerry operating system. Designed for the Curve, the new OS (which has been rumored for some time) could easily be the upcoming release for other models such as the popular Bold.

Intrepid student that I am, I downloaded it and installed it on my Curve 8900, and through the perfectly seamless upgrade transition, I have discovered a bunch of new features which not only progresses what these devices can do on a software level, but also show a little more about where RIM is going and the connections it is making with other companies – Google, for example.

To be honest, it’s not easy seeing what’s new in the settings unless I constantly switch back and forth between the latest released BlackBerry OS and the leaked one. I can’t be bothered with that, so some of what you see below may already be old-hat (and evidently, I haven’t noticed since owning my phone).

Check out the gallery here or head on over to ZDNet for the full article and Zack’s breakdown of features.

Security is very important to businesses, which is why many trust the security that BlackBerry offers. Last week I posted about BlackBerry’s 26 advatanges over the iPhone, one of my favorites being:

Blackberry is an encrypted military-grade security platform, with 100% market share at FBI, CIA, White House, Congress, Department of Defense, major consultancies and major investment banks. In contrast, iPhone has security vulnerabilities.

RIM announced today a new model for their BlackBerry Smart Card Reader that is a lightweight, wearable, ISO 7816 compliant card reader that enables proximity controlled access to a users BlackBerry and computer.

Features:

• Enhanced Design – a sleeker design measuring only 3.98” x 2.4” x 0.57” and weighing only 2.26 oz. makes the peripheral more comfortable to wear. It also features a larger display and backlighting for easier viewing, as well as power management features that can extend battery life between charges (900mAh integrated lithium ion battery).
• Increased Security – when used with the BlackBerry® Enterprise Solution, the new BlackBerry Smart Card Reader offers additional security options that can be set by the IT administrator.
  • Additional Content Protection – IT administrators can configure settings to allow handset passwords to work only if the BlackBerry Smart Card Reader is within range. These settings add another layer of protection on top of the handset password and will also be enforcable for a secondary password* required to unlock encrypted data on the handset.
  • More Complex Bluetooth Passwords – the previous BlackBerry Smart Card Reader model supported a randomly generated 8-digit numeric Bluetooth pairing PIN and this new model can now support more complex Bluetooth pairing PINs with both characters (symbols, letters, capital letters) and numbers.
• Support for a Wide Range of Smart Cards – the BlackBerry Smart Card Reader supports all ISO 7816 compliant smart cards and provides out of the box support for Personal Identity Verification (PIV) cards, Common Access Cards (CAC) and Safenet 330 cards.

The new BlackBerry Smart Card Reader is expected to be available in September and is being previewed this week at the LandWarNet 2009 Conference in Ft. Lauderdale, FL.

For more info visit blackberry.com/go/smartcardreader or check out the full press release after the jump.

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Image via Google Image Search

Here’s an article where a kid asks RIM’s Co-Chief Executives Jim Balsillie and Mike Lazaridis if they are planning on making a BlackBerry that is suitable for kids.

TORONTO (Reuters) – It took a child to stump the creators of the BlackBerry, one of the world’s top selling smartphones and a part of most executives’ attire.

“Are you going to make a phone more for kids so that my Mom will let me get one?” the child said from the packed audience at the annual general shareholders’ meeting at Canada’s Research in Motion on Tuesday.

That kid knows a quality smartphone when he sees one. Very good choice .

Read more @ Reuters

CIO has a bunch of pictures of RIM’s BlackBerry booth at CTIA Wireless 2009.

Here’s what the pictures include:

• The entrance to RIM’s CTIA BlackBerry booth, located in the central hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center.
• CTIA attendees making their way through the Partner Programs section of RIM’s BlackBerry booth, where third-party organizations tout their latest BlackBerry-related software and services.
• Information desk where CTIA attendees pick up BlackBerry Access Passes. The passes look like credit cards, and they can be held up to scanners at various exhibits through the CTIA BlackBerry booth to request additional information on products and services via e-mail.
• BlackBerry App World exhibit at RIM’s CTIA BlackBerry Booth
• New BlackBerry products on display at RIM’s CTIA booth
• More…

Click here to head over to CIO for the rest of the pictures.

By Al Sacco:

BlackBerry-maker Research In Motion (RIM) has undergone quite a few transitions during the past couple of years. Most notably, the Canadian company made a major shift from its former role as a strictly enterprise-centric firm to an equally business- and consumer-focused high-tech vendor.

That push to embrace the consumer masses led to a number of valuable BlackBerry hardware and software modifications, including the addition of multimedia features, such as media players, 3.5mm headphone jacks and, of course, the inclusion of digital cameras. The problem: Some of RIM’s longtime business customers either don’t want or prohibit digital cameras on their premises.

Read more @ CIO.com