BlackBerry maker Research in Motion (RIM) confirmed yesterday that it plans to offer a free download of IBM's Lotus Connections biz social networking software later this year.

The deal comes hot on the heels of our report last week that the firm's handset rival Apple has been developing a Lotus Notes client for the iPhone to plump up its presence in the corporate market.

IBM's Lotus Connections will allow corporate users to work together on projects and share ideas through the BlackBerry handset.

RIM president and co-CEO Mike Lazaridis said the IBM deal offered "a natural fit with the BlackBerry platform. We are very pleased to introduce the first mobile software application to leverage this exciting new social software for business."

BlackBerry's press release is here. ®

Related stories

• System upgrade to blame for BlackBerry outage (13 February 2008)
• iPhone turns blue as IBM creates Lotus client (17 January 2008)
• Unwired Video Review Blackberry Pearl 8120 smartphone (9 January 2008)
• Testers give iPhone virtual keyboard the thumbs down (14 November 2007)
• Letters Readers reflect on iPhone launch (12 November 2007)
• Only the iPhone can save mankind (9 November 2007)
• RIM sues LG over Chocolate, Shine brand (9 November 2007)
• BlackBerry boss blows raspberries at iPhone (8 November 2007)
• RIM focuses on really small business (6 November 2007)
• Google's gives the world (another) Linux phone OS (5 November 2007)
• Analysis Panic in smartphoneland (5 November 2007)