RIM buys open source mobile browser start-up

Canadian smartphone vendor Research In Motion has acquired software developer Torch Mobile.

The deal could potentially provide RIM a new browser for its BlackBerry handsets.

Amongst Torch's projects is the Iris browser, a mobile web browser based on the OpenKit software platform.

In addition to web browsing, Iris also supports RSS feeds and a web widget platform.

In a posting to its official site, Torch announced the deal and said that it would continue to work on the ongoing development of WebKit. The Open Source software is also at the heart of Apple's Safari mobile browser and Google's Android web browser.

"Our team of developers will join RIM’s global organisation and will now be focused on utilising our WebKit-based mobile browser expertise to contribute to the ongoing enhancement of the BlackBerry platform," the company said.

Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.