RIM acquires The Astonishing Tribe
While Research in Motion goes tit for tat with Kik over an alleged patent violation, today they’ve just gone TAT. As in, The Astonishing Tribe, the multinational company that’s become one of the biggest designers for mobile user interfaces.
TAT has been acquired by RIM to help design the Playbook and upcoming smartphones’ UIs. In the past, TAT has been a designer for Android phones among others, and their UIs are found on more than 470 million devices and 200 models.
Predictably, both sides are pretty stoked for the partnership. Here’s what RIM had to say about it:
For those who don’t know, 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 great 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.
Today we’re very excited as we are announcing that we’re taking a huge leap towards our vision to help create a full user experience for a great line of devices and products.
Today TAT has agreed to become a part of Research in Motion (RIM).
Of course we will honor our current agreements and service our existing customers and have taken all the necessary steps to keep the two commitments separated.
When TAT says “current agreements,” they really mean current agreements. As Blog This Phone reports, TAT is completely through with Android:
I reached out to TAT early this morning, hoping to learn more about their Android plans. It doesn’t sounds as promising as I had hoped.
ME: “Will you continue to support Android and/or the Open Handset Alliance now you’ve been acquired?”
TAT: “Nope, we will focus on RIM.”
Looks like RIM’s got a winner with this one; and they need it, too, for the Playbook to have a prayer of unseating the iPad for tablet dominance.
