RIM will begin selling its BlackBerry device for the first time directly in Russia with OAO Mobile TeleSystems, Russia’s biggest telecom. Reportedly, the BlackBerry Curve will be offered for 20,000 rubles (about US $500) and will be available in two weeks from now. OAO Mobile TeleSystems says the BlackBerry service it will provide will be the same as any other country. The device will be locked to the carrier. According to the Kommersant, a Russian news agency, mobile phone sales were down to $819 million in Q1 this year, the lowest level in five years in the same period.

It appears RIM is readying the launch of its new unlimited TV download service. Blackberry users will be able to actually download full TV show episodes from RIM’s extensive catalog of partners. RIM will restrict downloads only from WiFi because of pressure from network carriers over bandwidth concerns. It is unclear how Verizon customers will use the service because Verizon BlackBerry devices do not support WiFi since the company wants subscribers to add mobile Internet to their plans. We can also expect iTunes to enable video downloads to the iPhone as iTunes currently only lets you download music and podcasts over-the-air.

BlackBerry maker RIM has just completed upgrading its BlackBerry Internet Service (BIS) to version 2.6 for North American customers. To get the new features for your Gmail account, you must delete your email account and re-add it. The changes in 2.6 are not very significant at all, the new features include:

* Display of password characters
o BlackBerry smartphone users have the option to display password characters when configuring email addresses with the BlackBerry Internet Service. This feature makes it easier for BlackBerry smartphone users to integrate third-party email addresses, especially when using a BlackBerry smartphone with the SureType® input method. Read the full story

Certicom Board of Directors has now approved RIM’s takeover bid, agreeing to a CND $131 million cash takeover. RIM initially offered Ceritcom $1.50 per share (a 76.5% premium over Certicom’s December 3, 2008 stock price) or about $66 million cash, but the company declined the offer after winning an Ontairo Court injunction on the basis RIM used confidential information in its bid. California based Verisign later offered $2.10 per share, only to be trumped by RIM’s latest $3 winning bid. Certicom still retains the right to cancel the RIM takeover if another company offers another higher bid.

Three Research In Motion (RIM) executives, including co-founder Jim Balsillie agreed to pay a CND $68 million settlement on a stock options backdating scheme. The exectuvies must also pay an additional $8 million in administrative penalties. Mr Balsillie added he and the company were “very, very happy to put this behind [them],” Mr. Balsillie also agreed to give up his post as a director at RIM part of the deal. In case you are not familiar with what options backdating is Read the full story

Blackberry maker RIM initially bid $66 million cash, or $1.50 per share (76.5% premium over Certicom’s Dec 3 2008 stock price) in a hostile corporate takeover attempt of Ontario-based security software maker Certicom. Since then the two companies have been involved in heated exchanges. The Certicom board thought the bid was too low which undervalued the true company value and it also alleged RIM used classified information in its bid. Certicom subsequently won an Ontario court order blocking the acquisition. It seemed RIM would ended Certicom acquisition attempts.

Now, RIM has just upped its bid to $2.40, sending the Certicom stock price up 35% today on the TSE. The US company Verisign is also interested in the acquisition, who bid $2.10 per share in January, which was approved by the Certicom board. Verisign will have the opportunity to up its bid five days after Certicom chooses RIM, if it does at all.

Verizon has just released Q4 results. The Blackberry Storm contributed to higher profits, with an impressive 1 million Blackberry Storm units sold. Analysts were expecting about 500,000 units sold. Verizon also reported 1.4 million new subscribers added during Q4. Verizon CEO and Chairman Ivan Seidenberg said “Verizon has shown that it is able to compete effectively in this economic environment,” Verizon posted $24.65 billion in total revenue and $1.24 billion in net profit in 2008. The Blackberry definitely Read the full story

Blackberry maker, RIM, has announced it has withdrawn its $66 million hostile takeover bid of Certicom, after an Ontario Court ruled on Monday RIM used confidential information in its bid. Certicom wanted the injunction, as it believed RIM used confidential information and the price simply undervalued the company’s fair value. RIM initially offered $1.50 per share on all outstanding common stock. RIM initially announced it would challenge the court ruling, but that does not seem to be the case today. RIM can still make friendly bids to acquire Certicom should it be for sale in the future.

Microsoft has already confirmed it is developing SkyMarket, which is essentially a direct competitor to the Apple App Store, where people can purchase third party software for their Windows Mobile powered devices. Microsoft is also expected to launch its SkyBox service, which is essentially a direct competitor to Apple’s MobileMe. SkyBox will essentially sync and allow you to access your contacts, e-mail, calendar, SMS, pictures, and your files from a centralized system. Importantly, it is believed Microsoft will not limit SkyBox to only Windows Mobile device, instead allowing almost any newer handset to take advantage of the service, including Symbian and iPhone handsets, which would be a big competitive edge over Apple’s MobileMe. Microsoft is also expected to launch an enterprise version of SkyBox called SkyLine. It is unclear how the two will differentiate. Microsoft should launch these products in February at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. In related news, Blackberry maker, RIM, has just announced it is accepting submissions for its own Application Storefront for developers who want to sell their Blackberry made applications. Note: Windows Mobile 7 Pictured Above

Blackberry maker RIM has extended its offer to acquire encryption software company Certicom to Jan 27 09, from Jan 12. Originally, RIM was offering $1.50 per share, or $66 million in cash for the Ontario based company. RIM has not changed the terms of the offer. The issue here is that Certicom shareholders have moved to block the acquisition as they believe the offer undervalues the true company value, and they also accuse RIM of using confidential information in its bid. Proceedings in the Ontario Superior Court are scheduled Jan 9.