Microsoft's Bing will now be the default search engine for all new BlackBerry devices, as part of a new deal between RIM and Redmond. BlackBerry-maker Research In Motion (RIM) and software giant Microsoft on Tuesday announced a new pact under which the two companies will partner to offer a variety of Bing related services to BlackBerry smartphone and PlayBook tablet users. Bing is Microsoft’s Web search offering, and it’s one of the top three search engines along with Google and Yahoo Search, according to Hitwise. “Bing will be integrated in the BlackBerry experience, starting this holiday season,” said Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer, while on stage in Orlando at BlackBerry World, RIM’s annual BlackBerry user conference. More specifically, Bing will now be the default browser search engine on all future BlackBerry devices, including the recently announced BlackBerry Bold 9900 smartphone. And Bing will eventually also integrate with the BlackBerry universal search function in RIM’s new mobile OS, BlackBerry 7, so Bing content will show up when users search their devices and not just when they use Web search. SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER From our editors straight to your inbox Get started by entering your email address below. Please enter a valid email address Subscribe In the past, some wireless carriers have decided which search engines would be the default in their BlackBerry device browsers, and it’s unclear whether or not those carriers will still have a say or if they’ll be forced to leave Bing as the BlackBerry default search. Either way, it’s not difficult for individual RIM smartphones users to manually change the BlackBerry default search to the engine of their choice. RIM’s new BlackBerry PlayBook tablet also uses Bing as its default search engine, and a Bing mapping app comes pre-loaded on the device. Bing will also receive regular, featured placement and promotion in RIM’s BlackBerry App World mobile software shop, according to Ballmer. And RIM and Microsoft will work together to market and promote each other’s respective offerings, though Microsoft will still strongly focus on its Windows Phone 7 platform, a BlackBerry rival. This new deal is not the first significant partnership between the two technology giants; RIM and Microsoft have worked together for years to ensure BlackBerry Enterprise Server (BES) compatibility with Microsoft Exchange. And recently the companies announced a new, hosted version of RIM’s BES for Microsoft Office 365 users. Read more about the BlackBerry/Bing deal on Microsoft’s Bing blog. AS Related content feature The dark arts of digital transformation — and how to master them Sometimes IT leaders need a little magic to push digital initiatives forward. Here are five ways to make transformation obstacles disappear. By Dan Tynan Oct 02, 2023 11 mins Business IT Alignment Business IT Alignment Business IT Alignment feature What is a project management office (PMO)? The key to standardizing project success The ever-increasing pace of change has upped the pressure on companies to deliver new products, services, and capabilities. And they’re relying on PMOs to ensure that work gets done consistently, efficiently, and in line with business objective By Mary K. Pratt Oct 02, 2023 8 mins Digital Transformation Digital Transformation Digital Transformation opinion The changing face of cybersecurity threats in 2023 Cybersecurity has always been a cat-and-mouse game, but the mice keep getting bigger and are becoming increasingly harder to hunt. By Dipti Parmar Sep 29, 2023 8 mins Cybercrime Security brandpost Should finance organizations bank on Generative AI? Finance and banking organizations are looking at generative AI to support employees and customers across a range of text and numerically-based use cases. By Jay Limbasiya, Global AI, Analytics, & Data Management Business Development, Unstructured Data Solutions, Dell Technologies Sep 29, 2023 5 mins Artificial Intelligence Podcasts Videos Resources Events SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER From our editors straight to your inbox Get started by entering your email address below. Please enter a valid email address Subscribe