BEA to put web services on a Blackberry

Research In Motion has done a deal with BEA Systems to develop a web services toolset for programmers to build software and services into the Blackberry handheld email device.

The pair will work on developing a framework based on web services standards to enable RIM's Blackberry device to become part of future mobile enterprise ventures.

The framework for developing web services applications for the Blackberry will sit on the BEA WebLogic Enterprise Platform.

Pre-written software will be teamed with BEA's WebLogic Workshop tool for web services - due to be released this summer - to automate code-writing tasks and make software development easier.

Ben Wood, analyst at Gartner, said: "RIM needs this deal to look at different ways of accelerating Blackberry's business because it hasn't taken off outside the US."

He added: "Working with BEA may mean systems integration is easier and the company may try to leverage companies that BEA works with."

The toolset may be used to help give sales forces access to customer details and stock plus the company intranet through Blackberry handhelds.