BlackBerry, Microsoft partner to challenge Google

At BlackBerry World's keynote address (in 3D no less), RIM and Microsoft announced a partnership that would see Bing become the default search engine for all BlackBerry devices.

The BlackBerry World blog said effective immediately, Microsoft's Bing will also provide the maps application for BlackBerrys, and will receive featured promotion in BlackBerry App World.

Considering the size and growth potential of the mobile search market, this partnership is a big win for Bing, which has been the only search engine to make any serious challenge to Google's de facto monopoly.

However, a Microsoft spokeswoman told Computerworld that Bing would be the default search and maps application on Blackberry devices "presented to mobile operators in ... select international markets".

No word yet on whether that means Kiwi users will miss out on Bing, but it's unlikely.

In other news to come out of the keynote; BlackBerry users can expect a host of new apps to arrive soon on App World, including the much-loved Angry Birds game.