RIM buys Torch Mobile

RESEARCH IN MOTION (RIM), which makes the best selling Blackberry line of smartphones, has opened its chequebook and bought WebKit browser developer Torch Mobile.

Torch Mobile is known for its Iris mobile browser. WebKit code is fairly common and powers most of the new generation smartphone browsers that are not being run by Windows or Symbian. Apple's Iphone, Palm's Pre and Google's Android phones all run browsers that are WebKit based.

According to Torch's website, RIM bought Torch Mobile on August 24 for an undisclosed sum.

Torch is based in Toronto, Canada. Its developers will join RIM and will now be focused on using WebKit-based mobile browser expertise on the BlackBerry.

According to Torch Mobile, its developers will continue to be active participants in the WebKit development community even after its acquisition by RIM.

RIM is trying to answer all those critics who say that its browser is simply pants when compared to other smartphones. Iris might go a long way to bringing Blackberry up to speed with other developments in the technology.

RIM recently announced that it wanted to integrate Flash and Microsoft Silverlight support into its BlackBerry web browser. µ