RIM buys mobile app store specialist Cellmania

Research In Motion (RIM) has acquired mobile app store specialist Cellmania.

The deal could allow RIM to overhaul the online store for its BlackBerry handset platform.

"Cellmania is excited to announce that our company is now part of Research In Motion," Cellmania said in a posting to its web site.

"Our team has joined RIM's global organisation and will continue to bring our expertise in application storefront development to the BlackBerry platform."

The move comes amid rumblings that RIM was looking to add to its BlackBerry operations by way of a merger. Rumours suggested that the company was in the market for a mobile advertising specialist.

RIM has seen its most recent release fall short of expectations, as the Torch handset has reported slow sales thus far.

Lopez Research principal analyst Maribel Lopez told V3.co.uk that the move should allow RIM to shore up an area of weakness and adjust to a market that has increasingly focused on application stores recently.

"If you don't nail that piece, you are not going to get to the next level of distribution," Lopez said of the vital role application stores play.

"This makes sense, it allows RIM to get something up and running quickly."

Financial details of the deal were not disclosed.