Today, Research In Motion (RIM) announced plans to implement the largest expansion yet of its BlackBerry push e-mail and data access services to PDAs and smartphones other than its own devices. Due later this year, the company plans to release an application suite to enable Windows Mobile 6-based devices act as BlackBerrys.

The idea is to give Windows Mobile-device users a virtual BlackBerry experience with access to the same applications and messaging services offered to regular BlackBerry users.

RIM's solution will act as a third-party application, complementing existing software and allowing users to toggle between Windows Mobile and BlackBerry applications and services. When the application is loaded, users will see the familiar interface of a BlackBerry smartphone, while the device's existing Windows Mobile applications are preserved.

RIM president and Co-CEO Mike Lazaridis said in a statement, “This new software will provide a range of important benefits, including easier support of Windows Mobile-based devices within BlackBerry Enterprise Server environments, a consistent user interface for BlackBerry applications across various devices, and the ability to run third-party applications developed for the BlackBerry platform.”

Click on the BlackBerry icon on your Windows Mobile handset and your device becomes, in essence, a BlackBerry.

Specifically, the suite will place all BlackBerry applications—including phone, e-mail, text messaging, browser, instant messaging, memos, instant messaging, organizer and BlackBerry Maps—on a Windows Mobile smartphone, with support for RIM's hosted BlackBerry Internet Server for individuals and small businesses and the behind-the-firewall BlackBerry Enterprise Service for larger organizations; both of which leverage RIM's push technology for the automatic delivery of messages and information updates.

With support for RIM's BlackBerry Mobile Data System, organizations that develop their own BlackBerry applications or deploy third-party BlackBerry applications will be able to have them run on not just deployed BlackBerrys but also Windows Mobile-based devices.

The virtual BlackBerry software also supports the wide variety of navigation and keyboard methods (i.e. QWERTY keyboards, keypads, 5-way navigation, touch screen and stylus operation) used in Windows Mobile devices, according to RIM.

"RIM's decision to expand its support for Windows Mobile will resonate well with customers, developers and carriers alike," said IDC senior analyst Carrie MacGillivray." Security, manageability, usability, international coverage, network efficiency, mobile application support, back-end integration and device selection are all important considerations for a wireless platform and RIM continues to invest in the BlackBerry platform on all fronts."