BlackBerry opens up for developers

The BlackBerry Widget SDK is available in beta

Research In Motion has released tools which will allow developers to create software for BlackBerry handsets more easily.

The company said that the BlackBerry Widget SDK, currently available in beta, will let developers write applications for the BlackBerry using HTML, CSS and JavaScript. Previously, Java had been the only supported language for BlackBerry applications.

The applications will be distributed through the BlackBerry App World service, and large companies will be able to use the BlackBerry Enterprise Server platform to distribute applications internally.

By opening up the SDK to new languages and formats, RIM hopes that developers will be better able to add content from outside sources such as web-based services.

Additionally, the company said that it hopes developers will better integrate web-based services into the built-in features on the BlackBerry, such as the email and calendar applications.

"BlackBerry Widgets open up a world of opportunities for developers to build and bring to market web applications for BlackBerry smartphones that offer advanced, integrated functionality and an always-on user experience," said RIM senior vice president of BlackBerry platforms Alan Brenner.

"We are very excited by the prospects of this new widget platform which combines the ease of development of standard web languages with the rich functionality of Java development."