RIM Scoping iPhone Development?

by Eric March on April 30, 2008 at 11:54 pm

Apple in Motion? From the “If you can’t beat ‘em…” files, a new internal job posting at BlackBerry manufacturer Research in Motion concerning the formation of a brand new “confidential” development team smells strongly of RIM-developed iPhone software. Quoted from the listing:

“As part of a newly-created team, you’ll influence the development and design of BlackBerry software,” the listing reads. “This is a very confidential brand new team and a senior position within RIM so I can’t provide too many details. I guess you can figure out what it might be about though.”

In and of itself this isn’t particularly revealing. Where it gets interesting is down in the job requirements, which list experience with Mac development (specifying Cocoa and Objective C as key points) and interface design, as well as knowledge of web technologies like Javascript and XML, with preferred candidates also having some experience with Mac Sync functionality, Bluetooth and USB technologies.

Historically, and quite unlike Apple, RIM’s information security has been pretty lax, so the sudden interest in enforcing a loose lips policy is raising all kinds of suspicions. There’s no information on what this new team is going to be working on — RIM has zealously guarded its patented technologies, though it has licensed it in the past, so it makes one wonder if they aren’t planning to offer their push E-Mail technology along with access to their network for a premium for BlackBerry users who want to switch.

Time will tell what’s going on here, but for now, it’s a rather interesting turn of events, especially given the rumors surrounding BlackBerry possibly designing a touchscreen competitor to the iPhone.

(Source: AppleInsider)