AT&T to support PlayBook Bridge app

NEW YORK, USA:  After a delay of more than two months, AT&T Inc has agreed to support BlackBerry maker Research In Motion Ltd's Bridge application, which lets BlackBerry users see email and other services on RIM's PlayBook tablet without incurring additional charges.

When the PlayBook launched on April 19, AT&T said it was still testing the Bridge feature to make sure it was something that it wanted to offer, leading some analysts to question whether RIM was losing support from important carrier partners.

But AT&T said on Friday that it started support for Bridge that day. AT&T customers who want to get access to their BlackBerry email, contacts calendar and BlackBerry instant messages on their PlayBook's bigger screen can do so without paying extra fees to AT&T.

Customers who want to use the Bridge app for browsing the Web on the Playbook will have to pay $20 a month.

RIM said before the PlayBook launch that AT&T would support the service along with other operators such as its bigger rival Verizon Wireless, a venture of Verizon Communications and Vodafone Group Plc.