Research in Motion (RIM) has licensed third-party utility PocketMac for Blackberry and will provide the $30 software to Mac-based Blackberry owners free of charge.

Neither RIM nor Information Appliance Associates (IAA), the developer of PocketMac, disclosed the terms and conditions underpinning the agreement. However, while RIM will distribute the full version of the application via its website, IAA will continue to develop the software, suggesting the deal will take in future versions of PocketMac for Blackberry too.

RIM said the deal had been struck on the back of "significant interest in BlackBerry from Mac users". In the US, one of RIM's chief hardware rival is Palm, which has long bundled Mac software with its Treo family of smart phones.

PocketMac for Blackberry synchronises the RIM machine's databases with Mac OS X's own PIM utilities; Microsoft Office's PIM tool, Entourage; Now Contact and Now Up-to-Date; and other applications. RIM said the free software will be made available next month. ®