Microsoft and Research in Motion (RIM), which makes BlackBerry mobile phones, announced the partnership at the BlackBerry World conference, where Microsoft Chief Executive Steve Ballmer made an appearance on stage.
Both companies are competing with smartphone market leaders Apple, which makes the iPhone and the iPad, and Google, which makes the Android operating system for smartphones and tablets. Microsoft's Windows Phone 7 also competes with Research in Motion's BlackBerry.
Bing will become the preferred search engine in the browser on BlackBerry devices, and Bing will become the default app for search and maps in new devices in the U.S. and internationally, Microsoft said in a company blog post.
The partnership also covers RIM's new tablet, the Playbook. Bing will become the default app for search and maps on the Playbook.
"These new experiences highlight how the mobile landscape is changing," Matt Dahlin, Bing director, wrote in the post. "Devices are becoming sensors that can provide real-time access to information to help people quickly complete tasks on the go."
The two companies will also market the service with the slogan "Making better decisions with Bing on BlackBerry."
The company did not include financial terms of the deal; I will follow up with Microsoft to see if they are disclosing them.
Here is Microsoft's blog post on the announcement.
Update 9:33 a.m.:
Microsoft said it is not disclosing financial details about the deal.
(Photo of the BlackBerry Bold: Research in Motion)
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