Research In Motion (RIM) is set to release its range of updates for its proprietary BlackBerry apps. According to the company, the move will make it easier for BlackBerry users to keep in touch with their families and colleagues across beyond BBM across mainstream social networking platforms.

SlashGear reports that the developments will see popular social media platforms such as FaceBook and Twitter as well as BBM Music and BlackBerry App World share Blackberry Messenger connectivity. The development means that users will be able to update their FaceBook status and Twitter updates across their BBM communities. Alec Saunders , the vice president of developer relations at RIM, indicated that one out of five apps being downloaded on BlackBerry App World is BBM-connected.

RIM has over 70,000 applications in its App World shop for PlayBook tablet or BlackBerry phones. This is a humble lot compared to the whopping 500,000 apps that iPod and iPhone users enjoy. The slew of updates comes as RIM is focusing on its much anticipated BlackBerry 10 operating system. Some analysts claim that the updates by RIM are a notch above expectation looking at what the updates have to offer for what the updated BBM Music app can do. The idea behind BBM Music is to enable Blackberry users to access music that is stored in the friend's playlists. This could be a feasible way of incentivizing the social experience offered by BlackBerry.

The new updates will feature friends' recommendations in the app much to the delight of Blackberry users that have growing music collections. The updates entail the drafting in of apps such as Blackberry Travel and App World in the spectrum of BBM-connected. The facilities will enable users to share and explore each other's travel plans as well as get to see what a buddy in the BBM community downloaded recently. The string of updates also entails the upgrade of the BBM app to version 2. The upgrade empowers animated avatars as well as the ability to transmit voice notes.

In a report released by RIM, Saunders stated that over 800 BBM-connected apps are already out since the company officially opened up the message exchange facility to outside applications last July. The official, however, stated that a good number of apps listed in the spectrum of updates will not readily join the BBM-connected group, yet indicating that while the Twitter app is already available, the other apps and updates will take effect in a few days.

The updates feature a new "Share with BBM" button for the FaceBook for Blackberry smartphones v3.0 app and for the Twitter for Blackberry smartphones v3.0. BlackBerry Travel v2.5 brings in the feasibility of sharing upcoming flights as well as other travel plans through instant messenger. BBM Music hooks in recommended contacts directly into the app widening the range of tracks that can be shared across the BBM community.

(reported by Gugulethu Nyoni, edited by Dave Clark)