We have been hearing about enhancements coming for BlackBerry developers, specifically in the push API department, for a while now. The most recent news, before now that is, was at the Breaking New Ground With BlackBerry technical seminar with Mike Kirkup where it was revealed push services would be fully extended to BIS users devices and that developers would have many new options in the way of API’s to assist them with making this happen.

The press release went out today and has quite a few details in it that end users will love and BlackBerry developers are already making great use of when it comes to creating new applications, some of which we will be seeing come to life at WES. Read on for the full press release and get a good overview of how the new services are being used.

PRESS RELEASE

RIM Further Extends Push Technology to BlackBerry Developers

Real-time content delivery builds value into mobile applications for consumers

WATERLOO, ONTARIO — (Marketwire) — 05/04/09 — Research In Motion (RIM) (NASDAQ: RIMM)(TSX: RIM) today announced the availability of a new BlackBerry push API (application programming interface) that will enable developers to push real-time content to BlackBerry® smartphones.

RIM is extending its existing, well-proven push technology from the enterprise into the consumer space, allowing developers to leverage push technology for BlackBerry® applications targeted at consumers. Push technology provides a proactive mechanism for developers to deliver data to BlackBerry smartphones as it becomes available. It brings immediacy to mobile communications with real-time content, preserves battery life, and minimizes data usage by eliminating the need for “poking” and “polling” servers. RIM’s unique push technology significantly enhances the user experience and provides a proactive mechanism for developers to deliver data to BlackBerry smartphones as the data becomes available.

“Push technology has previously been available to corporate developers with the BlackBerry® Enterprise Solution, and is built into a range of smartphone applications for business,” said Alan Brenner, Senior Vice President, BlackBerry Platforms at Research In Motion. “With the availability of this push API, BlackBerry developers can build true push technology into their Java-based consumer applications and enhance the user experience by delivering valuable content to users in real time.”

The new BlackBerry push API allows developers to push content, as well as alerts, to BlackBerry smartphone users. Users will not have to wait for lengthy content downloads once alerts are received.

Push APIs for browser content are the foundation of the BlackBerry® Web Signals service launched by RIM in October 2008. (http://press.rim.com/release.jsp?id=1870.) BlackBerry Web Signals technology enables online content providers to push alerts to BlackBerry smartphone users when relevant content has been published or updated and supports one-click access from an icon to the online information.

The BlackBerry push API is ideal for mobile applications that deliver value by providing real-time content and updates, including news, weather, banking, medical, IT services applications and games. Several organizations are already developing applications with the BlackBerry push API, including:

• DevelopIQ – The 7digital Music Store allows users to browse,
  search, discover and purchase high quality, DRM-free MP3 music from
  their BlackBerry smartphones. Purchases made on the move are
  automatically replaced with high quality versions when the user returns
  home via Wi-Fi Auto-Sync. The 7digital Music Store will use the
  BlackBerry push API to ensure that purchases the user makes on
  7digitial.com are automatically delivered to their BlackBerry
  smartphone.
• Handmark® – With the new BlackBerry push API technology, the
  Pocket Express® news and information service from Handmark can alert
  customers of breaking news, sports stats, weather alerts, flight status
  updates and other information immediately as it happens. This offers a
  more timely, relevant and engaging experience for customers.
• Salesplace – SalesNOW will leverage the BlackBerry push API to
  give customers the ability to send immediate notifications, such as
  sales leads, service requests, client calls and appointments, to sales
  and service reps in the field.
• The Hockey News – Powered by Polar Mobile, The Hockey News
  application gives fans real-time score updates, late-breaking news
  headlines, player statistics, team standings and expert analysis from
  across the NHL. The Hockey News will leverage the BlackBerry push API
  to keep fans up to date with the latest scores sent directly to their
  BlackBerry smartphones.

The BlackBerry push API is available exclusively to BlackBerry® Alliance Program members. For more information about the BlackBerry Alliance Program, visit www.blackberry.com/go/alliances.

For more information about BlackBerry push APIs, visit www.blackberry.com/developers/pushapi.

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