RIM adds three enterprise apps, fights off Apple

Research In Motion Ltd. has known since January 2007 that Apple Inc.’s iPhone could threaten its bread-and-butter business in the mobile enterprise space. Indeed, last week, Apple entered the enterprise fray with several announcements.
Today, three of the Canadian firm’s partners unveiled applications that could help RIM keep Apple at bay.
LogoVision Wireless/Movidity, which specializes in interactive mobile media, said it will expand its applications for RIM’s BlackBerry devices. Oracle will provide a collaborative customer relationship management (CRM) tool for the BlackBerry. And iEnterprises, which also provides CRM products for desktop and mobile platforms, has launched a CRM tool for small and medium-sized businesses.
The announcements are roughly in line with remarks that co-CEO Jim Balsillie made at the Mobile World Congress last month, in which he envisioned a business-to-business, social-networking future for RIM and its signature BlackBerry devices.
Last week, the Web site Mobileburn.com reported that RIM is applying for touchscreen-related patents to support a reference design for a device with a touchscreen and slideout keyboard — again indicating RIM’s interest in heading off the Apple challenge.