RIM and TomTom set a course for new strategic partnership

After finally revealing its vision for the BlackBerry 10 platform, RIM (Research In Motion) reveals yet another part of its plan to win back some lost smartphone sales ground from its Android-powered rivals and Apple.  

The Canadian smartphone and tablet maker and TomTom have announced that RIM will be utilising TomTom’s real-time traffic services for BlackBerry applications. BlackBerry Traffic will be powered by TomTom HD Traffic, providing BlackBerry users with access to live traffic information whilst on route to their destination.

TomTom stated that on average its live traffic information service saves commuters around 50 minutes of travelling time per week or about 40 hours per year, along with the associated fuel costs.

In addition, TomTom’s maps and location content will be employed within BlackBerry Maps as well as for BlackBerry Locate Services. This also means that third party software developers that create apps for BlackBerry mobile devices, will be able to access the mapping and traffic information for these applications.

“Through our strategic relationship with RIM, we are enabling the future of mobile travel with powerful location content and real-time information, including HD Traffic,” said Nuno Campos, VP of sales and marketing for TomTom Licensing. “TomTom’s market-leading real-time traffic information will provide BlackBerry customers with the best mobile travel experience.”

Martyn Mallick, VP for global alliances and business development at RIM added: “We’re thrilled to work with TomTom to leverage their industry-leading traffic and travel content for BlackBerry Traffic and BlackBerry Maps, and to enable access to those capabilities for BlackBerry developers as well.”

In related news, market research firm, Nielsen, recently revealed its latest research analysing the US mobile phone market. Although Android (48.5%) and Apple’s iOS (32%) dominate the smartphone platform landscape Stateside, RIM’s BlackBerry OS platform completed the top three, by snapping up 11.6% mobile OS market share.