RIM Is Buying Sweden’s The Astonishing Tribe (TAT)

RIM, makers of BlackBerry smartphones is set to buy Sweden’s The Astonishing Tribe (TAT), which specializes in developing software that lets smart phone users personalize their device the way they like.

15% of smart phones globally use TAT software. Even Android smart phone users can make three dimensional icons on their screens by downloading this software.

It is not known yet how much RIM will pay for the Swedish software development company TAT.

Confirming the deal, David Yach, chief technology officer at RIM, said in a blog post, “Today we are pleased to confirm plans for The Astonishing Tribe (TAT) team to join Research In Motion (RIM). We’re excited that the TAT team will be joining RIM and bringing their talent to the BlackBerry PlayBook and smartphone platforms.”

He further added, “For those who don’t know, TAT is renowned for their innovative mobile user interface (UI) designs and has a long history of working with mobile and embedded technology.”

Let’s see if this latest acquisition by RIM can help BlackBerry put themselves at par with iPhone and Android phones.

Global cloud computing mkt to be worth $30bn in 4yrs: Gartner

The global market for the 'transformational' cloud computing technology is expected to be worth over $ 30 billion (around Rs 1.35 lakh crore) in the next four years, according to a senior official at research group Gartner.


Cloud computing refers to the technology, whereby entities can share resources and software on-demand through the internet.


"It (cloud computing) is an extremely attractive technology for entities. The worldwide market for this technology is expected to be over $ 30 billion by 2014," Gartner Vice-President (Research) Milind Govekar told.


Noting that developing markets such as India have an edge in adapting to cloud computing, he said that service delivery (using this technology) would be crucial.


"Companies need to embrace many changes with cloud computing and services would go through huge transformations with this technology," he added.


Govekar noted that cloud computing would be more environment friendly and efficient than many traditional technologies.


In a recent research report, he cautioned that while using cloud computing, enterprises must curb their old habits of over provisioning infrastructure.


"(This) would result in diminished resource efficiency and environmental benefits, particularly for private cloud environments," he said.