RIM chalks up another scalp

CRACKBERRY MAKER Research in Motion has agreed to acquire the mobile-media software house Chalk Media for $18.8 million.

In addition, RIM said it will give the outfit $1.8 million to keep it afloat until the deal is done. Chalk is known for its Mobile Chalkboard that enables content delivery to RIM's BlackBerry smartphones.

Research in Motion has been opening its cheque book a lot these days. It has also bid $52.6 million for Certicom, which develops encryption technology for wireless communications. But Certicom has not exactly jumped into RIM's arms, and is snuffling around for competing bids. µ