ORLANDO, FL: IBM and Research In Motion (RIM), on Monday announced the availability of new social networking applications for BlackBerry smartphones.

By demand of their mutual customers, IBM and RIM are bringing the BlackBerry Client for IBM Lotus Quickr and a new version of the BlackBerry Client for IBM Lotus Connections to market through IBM.

The new social software offerings will be showcased at the 17th annual Lotusphere conference in Orlando, Florida this week.

“The combination of Lotus Software and the BlackBerry Enterprise Solution offers customers an unparalleled enterprise social networking and collaboration solution that can help busy professionals work smarter on the move," said Alistair Rennie, general manager, IBM Lotus Software.

Lotus Connections social software on BlackBerry smartphones enables mobile workers to more easily tap into their colleagues’ expertise and internal knowledge bases, said a press release.

Lotus Quickr software allows them to more easily collaborate on documents and files. Lotus Sametime brings secure enterprise Instant Messaging into the mix. Together these mobile apps allow workers to more easily and effectively participate on team projects while outside the office or away from their desks.

Jeff McDowell, senior vice president, Alliances at Research In Motion said, "We are making Lotus Software easily accessible to customers that are already working through IBM sales channels,"

He added that this agreement expands RIM's channels of distribution and helps them meet the growing market demand for enterprise social networking and collaboration solutions.