RIM Licenses exFAT From Microsoft

Microsoft announced in a press release today that they have signed a licensing agreement with RIM allowing the beleaguered BlackBerry maker “broad access” to the exFAT file system for “certain BlackBerry devices”. Hopefully this is for the coming BB10 launch devices, as this would greatly improve their media-handling capability and further dispel rumors that RIM’s commitment to the consumer market has been abandoned. The exFAT file system greatly increases the capacity and transfer speed of large multimedia files. Not that businesses aren’t media-hungry as well, but let’s be honest; we’re talking about full HD movies, pics, and audio here, the kinds of media that consumers generally play with on a daily basis.

Even if this isn’t meant for the BB10 launch devices, it’s still a good move on RIM’s part; an indication that they are looking ahead and taking steps to ensure that their hardware doesn’t fall behind the competition again. Click through for the full press release.

REDMOND, Wash. — Sept. 18, 2012 — Microsoft Corp. announced today that Microsoft and Research In Motion (RIM) have signed a patent licensing agreement that gives RIM broad access to the latest Extended File Allocation Table (exFAT) for certain BlackBerry devices of RIM. exFAT is a modern file system from Microsoft that facilitates large files for audiovisual media and enables seamless data portability and an easy interchange between desktop PCs and other electronic devices.

exFAT improves on its predecessor, the FAT system, and greatly expands the size of files that flash memory devices can handle by five times over previous FAT technology. It also increases the speed with which those files can be accessed. The exFAT file system not only facilitates large files for use of audiovisual media, it enables seamless data portability and an easy interchange between desktop PCs and a variety of electronic devices.

“Today’s smartphones and tablets require the capacity to display richer images and data than traditional cellular phones,” said David Kaefer, general manager of Intellectual Property (IP) Licensing at Microsoft. “This agreement with RIM highlights how a modern file system, such as exFAT can help directly address the specific needs of customers in the mobile industry.”