Research In Motion (RIM), the BlackBerry maker, is buying The Astonishing Tribe (TAT), a software developer which allows smartphone users to personalize their devices. The software is found on 15% of smartphones around the world. By downloading the software, al smartphones, including Google’s Androids, can make the icons on their screens 3D.
David Yach, the chief technology officer at RIM confirmed the transaction in a blog post. “Today we are pleased to confirm plans for the TAT team to join RIM. We’re excited that they will be joining and bringing their talent to the BlackBerry PlayBook and smartphone platforms,” he said. “For those who don’t know,” he added, “TAT is renowned for their innovative mobile user interface (UI) designs and has a long history of working with mobile and embedded technology. TAT focuses on delivering greater user experiences, from a design, technology, and usability perspective. Their design technology is used today in a variety of industries, including the consumer electronics and automotive sectors.”
