Yes, it’s true and you’ve read correctly that Research In Motion (RIM) confirmed that it plans to offer a free download of IBM’s Lotus Connections biz social networking software later this year.

Apparently RIM got on the me too bandwagon, after hearing that Apple has been developing a Lotus Notes client for the iPhone to weasel itself into the enterprise market. There’s little details of the Lotus Notes on the iPhone project, but as far as Lotus Connection on BlackBerry goes, it will allow corporate users to collaborate on projects and share ideas through BlackBerry devices.

Click over to read the press release if that’s your thing.

RIM Previews BlackBerry Client for IBM Lotus Connections at Lotusphere 2008

Brings the mobile power of the BlackBerry platform to social software for business

Orlando, FL (Lotusphere 2008, Booth 516) – Research In Motion (RIM) (Nasdaq: RIMM; TSX: RIM) will today preview BlackBerry® Client for IBM® Lotus® Connections — a new software application that runs natively on BlackBerry smartphones to provide mobile users with access to Lotus Connections social software for business. The BlackBerry client application leverages the push-based architecture, security and administration features of BlackBerry Enterprise Server, which provides IT groups with the necessary controls for enabling mobile access to Lotus Connections in the enterprise.

Users can enjoy many of the same benefits and functionality found on the desktop version of Lotus Connections directly from their BlackBerry smartphone, including the ability to collaborate on projects with teammates, locate internal subject matter experts by name or topic, as well as effortlessly share information and research to improve decision making.

“Organizations are embracing social networking tools to improve productivity and enable workers to find the experts and information within their organizations that can help them get their jobs done more effectively,” said Mike Lazaridis, President and Co-CEO at RIM. “Lotus Connections, which facilitates the gathering and exchange of information through professional networks, is a natural fit with the BlackBerry platform. We are very pleased to introduce the first mobile software application to leverage this exciting new social software for business.”

“The challenges of globalization are forcing companies to become more nimble, using an increasingly geographically-dispersed and virtual workforce to remain competitive,” said Jeff Schick, vice president of social software, IBM Lotus. “Together with RIM we are excited to be delivering the industry’s business-ready social software on the BlackBerry platform.”

The new BlackBerry Client for Lotus Connections features:

* Mobile access to Profiles: Users can find internal subject matter experts with an intuitive and flexible search. Users can consider details about current role, background, and areas of interest to identify internal subject matter experts, and contact them instantly.
* Mobile access to Dogear: Users can save precious time on research by accessing their colleagues’ “pre-vetted” bookmarks, searching them by tags and adding new bookmarks directly from a BlackBerry smartphone.
* Easy set up: With its intuitive user interface customers can be up and running quickly and using Lotus Connections from their BlackBerry smartphones.
* Proven wireless architecture: The BlackBerry Client for Lotus Connections leverages the proven architecture and security model of BlackBerry Enterprise Server, allowing IT groups to centrally manage and control mobile access to IBM Lotus Connections.

The BlackBerry Client for Lotus Connections will be previewed this week at Lotusphere 2008 (BlackBerry booth #516) and is expected to be available as a free download later this year. For more information please visit: www.blackberry.com/go/lotusconnections.