Facebook meets RIM, Microsoft

Some companies might be satisfied with having multiple new dual-network devices to announce, but not RIM. The Blackberry parent company has just announced the latest development for the Blackberry-addicted customer: Facebook on the Blackberry. The new application uses push technology to let Facebook users see wall posts, pokes, and notifications without using a web browser. They can then read and write posts and comments while off-line or on-line, with Facebook pages updating whenever a network connection is found. It's another way to stay connected, and another reason for some users to become even more addicted to their Blackberry.

In other Facebook news, Microsoft has announced that it has acquired a 1.6 percent stake in the social networking service for $240 million--a deal that values Facebook at $15 billion. Microsoft will now sell Internet ads across the Facebook platform outside the U.S., expanding a marketing alliance first launched last year.

For more on the Facebook news:
- see DailyTechRag's report, live from the CTIA IT show floor