January 13, 2006

Google continues to make waves in wireless, announcing an agreement to bring its instant messaging, mapping and search services to Research In Motion's BlackBerry devices.

Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Users of RIM's ubiquitous handheld will be able to access Google Local, which offers mapping, satellite imagery, local search information and driving directions.

Google Talk, which allows users with Gmail accounts to send and receive instant text messages with other members, is expected to be available in the spring.

Both services will be free aside from carrier data charges.

"Instant messaging and local content are two increasingly important areas of focus for mobile applications," said RIM's Mark Guibert, "and we are very pleased to work with Google in extending these two popular Google services to BlackBerry users."

The news comes amid a flurry of activity from Google, which, along with fellow Internet giants Yahoo Inc. and American Online Inc., is racing to gain a foothold in wireless.

Google's recent endeavors include an effort to patent a form of mobile marketing that would allow users to call advertisers with the click of a single button, and it recently disclosed the acquisition of Reqwireless Inc., a developer specializing in mobile Web browsers and wireless e-mail.

Source: RCR