BlackBerry addicts hanging with their MySpace homies

Davey Winder
Friday, 12 September 2008 16:20

Your IT - Mobility

What is missing from the life of your average CrackBerry user do you reckon? How about an integrated MySpace application so the suits can hang with their homies...

The whole iPhone thing must really be worrying Research In Motion. After all it is proving to be quite a popular crossover device, hitting both consumer and corporate buy-me targets. RIM is fighting back, of course, by trying to tempt the typical iPhone consumer to buy into new BlackBerry designs such as the Pearl Flip.

Now the fight for consumer custom is getting serious, as RIM announces that MySpace is coming to the BlackBerry.

Yes, MySpace and Research In Motion are joining forces to develop what the press office calls "an integrated MySpace Mobile experience customized for BlackBerry smartphones." Think of it as instant push MySpace messaging in a BlackBerry styleeeee. Innit.

"MySpace and RIM are at the forefront of the mobile social networking evolution," said Chris DeWolfe, chief executive officer of MySpace. "Our partnership enables millions of BlackBerry smartphone users to leverage MySpace on the go and access content, friend networks, and status and mood updates anywhere at any time."

OK, that's cool. Or it would be if MySpace and BlackBerry had the same user demographic. My gut tells me that they have not.

How many cool young teens do you see hanging around on street corners with their BlackBerry in action?

How many hard-nosed business types do you know who can't wait to tell you about the latest 'emo' band to break big-time on MySpace before that important meeting with the finance guys?

"BlackBerry smartphone users have unsurprisingly been quick to understand and lead mobile trends and we are seeing many of our customers strongly embrace mobile social networking as an integral part of their communications and day-to-day lives," said Jim Balsillie, Co-CEO at Research In Motion.

Good counter-argument, sort of. The trouble is that MySpace is hardly what you would call the cutting edge of social networking these days. A hook-up with Facebook maybe, or a deal with LinkedIn perhaps, I could understand.

What exactly are RIM and MySpace offering to BlackBerry users, and when will it all happen? Find out on page 2...

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