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 (http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/01/17/lotus_iphone/) 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 (http://www.blackberry.com/news/press/2008/pr-23_01_2008-01.shtml). ®

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