RIM brings BB push notifications to developers

Any new applications for BlackBerry handsets can now benefit from BlackBerry Push notifications, as RIM today opened this functionality to software developers. The extension gives users notifications from any app without interrupting a user's current actions; unlike the iPhone implementation, they can jump to that app without shutting down their current task. Convenience is another plus, as users don't have to open each app to download any new content.

Up to 8KB of content can be delivered in each push, which also differs from other operating systems in that it brings the data to the user, and not just letting a user know that content is ready to be downloaded. Each successive push notification won't get rid of an older one, with all saved until a user reads them. This new feature is also good for battery life, as it doesn't constantly request information from the server, but only when new content is sent.

Developers can choose to push content using the free BlackBerry Push Essentials or BlackBerry Push Plus, which has both a free and paid tier. The paid tier lets content providers know that target devices received the push.

By Electronista Staff