Microsoft demonstrates Bing on BlackBerry [video]

By Tom Warren, on 5th May 11 8:38 pm with 8 Comments

Bing on BlackBerry

Microsoft and RIM announced a new partnership on Tuesday that will see future BlackBerry devices use Bing.

Bing will be the default search and mapping experience for BlackBerry users and will be deeply integrated into future BlackBerry operating systems. Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer announced the partnership at BlackBerry World 2011 on Tuesday. Microsoft says Bing will be the preferred search provider in the browser and Bing will be the default search and map application for new BlackBerry devices in future. Bing will also ship as the default search experience and map app for the BlackBerry PlayBook.

Microsoft’s Blaise Aguera y Arcas demonstrated the Bing integration on a BlackBerry Torch 9800. The new lockscreen on BlackBerry will include a link to a map of a contextual location based on where you’re located. The Bing interface follows Microsoft’s Metro UI design throughout. Microsoft has used some of this Metro style on the lockscreen for BlackBerry too. Blaise demonstrates the mapping features, local search and deals. The integration appears to be very tightly woven directly into the BlackBerry OS. Both RIM and Microsoft have not revealed exactly when we’ll see the integration on shipping phones, but future BlackBerry devices are expected to be the first to experience the new features.

Thanks to CrackBerry.com for the footage. Please check out their full video at CrackBerry.com

  • Anonymous

    What I want to know is “who is paying who for this service”? Way I see it BB should be able to do this on their own. What do they stand to gain from having a competitor integrated deeply in their OS?

    • http://profiles.google.com/carlosrfonseca Carlos Ribeiro da Fonseca

      I’m going to take a wild guess and say it’s a company whose name begins with M and ends with “soft” :)

    • Anonymous

      What? Microsoft is paying RIM or vice versa?

    • Anonymous

      What? Microsoft is paying RIM or vice versa?

    • http://profiles.google.com/carlosrfonseca Carlos Ribeiro da Fonseca

      My guess is that MS is paying RIM.

      Bing is huge for MS so no expense is too big and RIM is a big player in the mobile market.

      I’d also guess that MS is paying or has payed Apple so that Apple made Bing the default search in the iPhone.

      A lot of money too.

    • Anonymous

      How could RIM do this on their own? RIM does not have a mapping service and frankly they have much bigger issues to worry about than build a maps.rim.com

  • BI1000

    the extentet to which metro is on there makes me laugh, MS is definetly putting that UI pretty much everywere.
    In case anyone is worried i do like the metro ui.

  • http://twitter.com/Admiredluke Matthew Beadle

    Hope these features make it into the Mango update for Windows Phone 7.

    Maybe slide up to unlock (like present) and down for the maps or something.