BlackBerry devices come with a browser designed by RIM that some users have complained is not as easy to use as some other mobile browsers. It is facing some new competition in the browser market.

Rather than use the built-in browser, BlackBerry users can download Opera Mini, a lightweight browser from Opera. The popular Skyfire browser opened a small test of a version of a browser it is developing for the BlackBerry last month.

Browsing from mobile phones has grown more prevalent with the introduction of the iPhone and its easy-to-use browser.

RIM has made other acquisitions this year, including security software developer Certicom and GPS navigation company Dash.