RIM has purchased US-based startup Cellmania in an effort to grow its Blackberry App World store.
The company acquired Cellmania - which builds and licenses software elements for mobile app stores - for an undisclosed sum.
The merger was announced yesterday and first discovered by TechCrunch.
Cellmania develops the mFinder mobile search engine and directory, as well as white label content management systems. Its telco customers include Telstra, AT&T and Sprint.
Business Insider suggested that RIM may also be eager to retain the services of Cellmania's co-founder and CEO, Ronjon Nag, an expert in mobile interface technology and former VP at Motorola.
The deal is the latest in a number of initiatives by RIM to expand by acquisition to stave off threats from Apple and Android.
RIM was last week revealed to be shopping for a mobile advertising network, including holding talks with US-based Millennial Media, according to sources quoted in the WSJ.
The vendor this month unveiled a new smartphone, the BlackBerry Torch, and the BlackBerry 6 OS which powers it.
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