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RIM looks to offer video to Blackberry users
Chalk purchase set to improve content delivery.
By Nancy Gohring, IDG news service
Published: 08:48 GMT, 12 December 08
RIM is set to add a content delivery platform to its offerings thanks to its planned acquisition of Chalk Media.
The company has offered to buy Chalk Media, developer of a platform that delivers content including video to BlackBerry users, for C$23 million (£11.3million). As part of the agreement, RIM has llent Chalk C$2 million, to provide working capital to the company until the deal goes through.
Chalk's Mobile chalkboard allows users, such as an enterprise, to push content out to BlackBerry users, who could be employees or customers. The content, which Chalk calls "pushcasts," can include text, graphics, video and audio. Chalkboard lets administrators track usage of the content, which can be encrypted and prevented from being forwarded or copied.
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Chalk's board has approved RIM's offer. The companies expect the deal to close in February.
The acquisition follows RIM's announcement on Wednesday that it has made a hostile takeover bid for security vendor Certicom. If RIM is successful, Certicom's technology, Elliptic Curve Cryptography, would help RIM target companies and government agencies with very high security requirements.
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