BlackBerry fans are in for the ultimate mobile e-mailing experience, Research Motion Ltd. announced on Tuesday. The latest features will incorporate a wireless e-mail system able to offer an enhanced handling of messages, with HTML and rich text capabilities, including hyperlinks, colors, fonts and images. At the same time, users will be able to edit Microsoft Word, Excel or PowerPoint files directly on their BlackBerry after a new software, called Documents to Go, will be incorporated in the mobile platform. RIM is expected to come up with the updates and software in the first half of the year.

The BlackBerry Enterprise Solution will enable wireless access to information and communication tools, such as e-mail, instant messaging or address books, as well as productivity tools. The BlackBerry Enterprise Server will enhance the e-mailing experience through wireless technology, which is a key element to RIM’s new plans of outrunning competitors like Nokia or Microsoft. The announcement was made during the International Business Machines Corp.’s Lotusphere conference held in Orlando.

At the same time, RIM announced the availability of another application, Java Micro Edition APIs, which will include application programming interfaces for mobile Web services clients, for MMS (Multimedia Messaging Service) software or one single application for multiple languages and regions. In addition to that, the BlackBerry Web Desktop Manager free software will allow software to be installed from any Web browser directly on the BlackBerry.

Companies such as Apple and RIM constantly try to update and release new features for their devices, as users’ demands increase each month. It is a very dynamic market, and developers stay in line to bring the latest gadgets and updates. RIM was on top of the list in the third quarter of 2007 in terms of U.S. smartphone and cellular PDA shipments, with 39 %, while Apple had to settle for second-best, with almost half of RIM’s shipments.