Research In Motion premieres BlackBerry Podcasts app

Research In Motion (NASDAQ:RIMM) introduced BlackBerry Podcasts, a free application enabling smartphone users to more efficiently discover and download podcasts from content providers including National Public Radio, Bloomberg, Reuters, Discovery Network and The Onion. RIM's BlackBerry Podcast Catalog gives users access to free audio and video content available for download via both cellular networks and WiFi--consumers can search according to keyword, category, channel or top downloads, and preview podcasts prior to subscribing.

The BlackBerry platform's signature push technology notifies users when new content from a subscribed channel is available--downloaded episodes may be stored on a microSD card for future consumption. RIM will also offer its own BlackBerry Channel, including how-to videos and related product-themed podcasts. The free BlackBerry Podcasts application is available from BlackBerry App World for devices running BlackBerry OS v4.6 or higher.

Last week, RIM unveiled its long-awaited BlackBerry 6 operating system revamp, promising a redesigned user interface optimized for both touchscreens and trackpads, a new WebKit-based browser, expanded messaging features to simplify social media and RSS management, an upgraded multimedia experience and a new Universal Search tool. RIM will launch BlackBerry 6 in conjunction with the new Torch smartphone, slated to hit retail via AT&T on Aug. 12; the new OS will roll out across existing BlackBerry smartphones including the BlackBerry Bold 9700, BlackBerry Bold 9650 and BlackBerry Pearl 3G in the months ahead.

RIM is betting the new OS will boost its fortunes in the increasingly competitive battle for smartphone supremacy. According to recent Nielsen Company data, BlackBerry remains the U.S. market leader, representing 35 percent of smartphone subscribers nationwide, followed by Apple's iPhone (28 percent), Microsoft's Windows Mobile (15 percent, down from 27 percent a year ago) and Google's Android (13 percent).

For more on BlackBerry Podcasts:
- read this release

Related articles:
BlackBerry 6 touts integrated social media access
RIM rolls out revamped BlackBerry App World
New BlackBerry devices to rival Apple's mobile media dominance
RIM touts new multimedia experiences with BlackBerry 6.0