BlackBerry gets Java boost

Research In Motion on Tuesday unveiled a new set of Java development tools for its BlackBerry handheld.

The tools support Java 2 Micro Edition (J2ME) and feature enhancements designed to give developers greater flexibility and support, the company said. The new features include an enhanced Application Programming Interface set, documentation, code samples and applications, new Java Specification Request implementations, synchronization tools, an XML generator and a new simulator.

Separately, the company also released Enterprise Server 4.0 for Microsoft Exchange and IBM Lotus Domino. The server software is designed to offer improved manageability, security and application development features, RIM said. New security features include support for an advanced encryption standard and content protection with local data encryption, as well as an optional encrypted-password keeper.

"The majority of our BlackBerry Enterprise Server customers have already begun supporting wireless data applications beyond e-mail, and version 4.0 provides significant enhancements to support this trend," Mike Lazaridis, co-CEO of RIM, said in a statement.

The company said the Java development kit is available free to developers and enterprise customers at its developer Web site.