IBM and RIM have unveiled new Lotus collaboration software and developer tools on the BlackBerry platform that will bring collective intelligence to BlackBerry smartphones. The new features aim to help customers find expertise, form teams, share information, and stay in touch in real-time.

The new capabilities include:

• Mobile access to open document format-based IBM Lotus Symphony documents and, later, presentations and spreadsheets
• IBM Lotus Quickr Web 2.0-based team software to help individuals find, access, share and work with business content such as documents, photos, and videos on their BlackBerry smartphones
• Enhanced IBM Lotus Connections functionality for access to activities, blogs, and communities in order to augment the access already available to profiles and tags.

IBM and RIM have also announced something new for developers - BlackBerry platform support for IBM Lotus Domino Designer and XPages. The BlackBerry JDE for Eclipse plugs into IBM Lotus Domino Designer, making it easier to develop new software applications for BlackBerry smartphones. BlackBerry platform support for XPages enables developers to write a rich application once for both Web and secure use on BlackBerry smartphones.

IBM and RIM are rolling out these features and tools for BlackBerry smartphones in the coming months. Lotus Symphony document viewing and the new capabilities for Lotus Connections will be available in the second quarter, and the Lotus Quickr team room and Designer offerings are planned for availability in the second half of 2009.