Finally, Research In Motion is in the news for a positive reason. The BlackBerry Bold 9900 and Curve 9360 are currently the only SIM-based smartphones to have received MasterCard PayPass Certification. What does this mean? Soon, those who own either of these BlackBerry devices will be able to pay for items with one wave of their smartphone.

RIM has told press that the company is currently working with banks and other financial institutions in order to provide BlackBerry users with ways to pay for items using a BlackBerry device. The fact that MasterCard has chosen to work with RIM might say a lot about the credit card giant’s faith in RIM. Then again, RIM could just be grasping at straws.

The PayPass Certification

MasterCard bills its PayPass system as “like having the exact change wherever you go.” It is, in fact, comparable to this. The difference is instead of lugging around change, all you have to do is carry around your smartphone, which you probably already do. If you have a BlackBerry 9900 or Curve 9360, you can now use either of these phones wherever you see a MasterCard PayPass system.

The problem is that there aren’t a lot of stores currently using this system. While retailers should embrace this new technology, it’s just another thing that a shop owner has to sign up for, pay money for, and put next to the register. Still, this reviewer believes that a lot of retail shops in the near future will have some kind of PayPass system. For now, you can check out MasterCard’s website to find out which retailers near you carry PayPass.

A Good Move for RIM

Research In Motion has seen its share of troubles lately. From rumors circulating that various companies want to purchase the Canadian-based tech outfit to complaints that the newest BlackBerry phones aren’t all that new, RIM’s days appear to be numbered. It is possible that new ventures, such as the MasterCard PayPass venture, will help RIM dig itself out of a tech hole, but it’s not likely.

Consumers want to see new BlackBerry devices that are more like iPhones and less like archaic phones. Then again, I’m consistently amazed to see how many people around me are using BlackBerry devices regularly. It seems that BlackBerry phones are still the number on business smartphones on the market, and it may not matter that the average bubble gum chewing consumer prefers the iPhone.

For many, BlackBerry is the only serious business phone. Sure, Android and iPhone phones are fun, but will they ever have the solid reputation that BlackBerry has? I’m not entirely sure.

Availability

Currently, both the BlackBerry 9900 and the BlackBerry 9360 are available for consumer purchase. These phones hit the market last year, and they are slowly, but surely, picking up speed. As far as the MasterCard PayPass goes, you should be able to use your BlackBerry to pay for items right now. All you have to do is find a PayPass service provider near you.