Google Brings Talk, Local to BlackBerry

Research in Motion said Thursday that it had reached a deal with Google to bring the company's Google Talk and Google Local products to BlackBerry handhelds. The first devices with the capability built-in will appear in the spring.

Those who don't want to wait may download the applications as an upgrade to current BlackBerry models at no charge, the company said.

Google Talk is the company's new instant messaging application. While at the present time it can only talk with other Google users, thanks to a deal with AOL it will gain interoperability with that company's network later this year.

Google Local for mobile will allow users to view maps and satellite imagery from their devices and locate businesses and get driving directions based on those maps. The application would also feature a "click to call" option where users could automatically connect via phone to businesses they find through the application.

Many of the other features of the service work much in the same way the Web application does, such as draggable maps.

"As mobile technology continues to converge, consumers are becoming increasingly more connected and require access to information at home, at work, and on the road," Google director of product management Deep Nishar said.

The BlackBerry is one of the most commonly used mobile devices in the corporate world, with millions of subscribers. Its success has spurred other companies, such as Nokia and Motorola, to create similar devices of their own.