RIM has acquired mobile-app-store management-system provider Cellmania, in a deal that could enhance BlackBerry App World. Cellmania, a company that provides a mobile software distribution platform along with various other mobile-app-store services to wireless carriers and others, is now owned by BlackBerry-maker Research In Motion (RIM), according to a statement on the recently-acquired company’s website. Financial details of the deal are not available, but Cellmania seems to have made the news official yesterday when it posted said statement. RIM has not yet issued an official comment on the acquisition. From the Cellmania site: “Our team has joined RIM’s global organization and will continue to bring our expertise in Application Storefront Development to the BlackBerry platform.” The Cellmania deal is likely meant to help boost RIM’s BlackBerry App World mobile software store, which is currently accessible in more than 50 countries worldwide and was recently ungraded to version 2.0, with new features like carrier-billing, where available. But it could also be another way to get certain BlackBerry applications pre-loaded, or at least readily accessible, on various wireless carriers’ devices, since Cellmania handles app distribution/billing/DRM/etc. for a number of global wireless service providers. In fact, Cellmania counts AT&T, T-Mobile, Sprint, Boost Mobile and Virgin Mobile, as customers, according to CrackBerry.com. Cellmania’s “mFinder” product is reportedly a content management and distribution system of sorts for mobile software. The pact could also help RIM offer some of the newest features in BlackBerry App World 2.0, like carrier- and/or credit-card-billing, to additional BlackBerry users, since these features are currently only available to customers of select wireless carriers, including AT&T. Whatever the desired outcome, the news comes at a time when RIM, which recently launched the BlackBerry Torch 9800 smartphone, needs to seriously ramp up its app store and related offerings to compete with other mobile application stores, like Apple’s iTunes App Store and the Google Android Market. Both apps stores are thought by many to be superior to BlackBerry App World in a number of ways. AS via WSJ Al Sacco covers Mobile and Wireless for CIO.com. Follow Al on Twitter @ASacco. Follow everything from CIO.com on Twitter @CIOonline. Email Al at ASacco@CIO.com. Related content brandpost Sponsored by Freshworks When your AI chatbots mess up AI ‘hallucinations’ present significant business risks, but new types of guardrails can keep them from doing serious damage By Paul Gillin Dec 08, 2023 4 mins Generative AI brandpost Sponsored by Dell New research: How IT leaders drive business benefits by accelerating device refresh strategies Security leaders have particular concerns that older devices are more vulnerable to increasingly sophisticated cyber attacks. By Laura McEwan Dec 08, 2023 3 mins Infrastructure Management case study Toyota transforms IT service desk with gen AI To help promote insourcing and quality control, Toyota Motor North America is leveraging generative AI for HR and IT service desk requests. By Thor Olavsrud Dec 08, 2023 7 mins Employee Experience Generative AI ICT Partners feature CSM certification: Costs, requirements, and all you need to know The Certified ScrumMaster (CSM) certification sets the standard for establishing Scrum theory, developing practical applications and rules, and leading teams and stakeholders through the development process. By Moira Alexander Dec 08, 2023 8 mins Certifications IT Skills Project Management 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