Research In Motion and Adobe announced a collaboration to integrate Flash technology into the BlackBerry development platform. This new level of integration will grand developers access to Adobe Flash and Adobe Creative Suite tools to create content and applications for RIM’s BlackBerry devices.

In addition to working with Adobe, Research In Motion has announced a whole host of new tools for developers to take advantage of when creating apps/ services for BlackBerry handsets. Among these is OpenGL ES, which aims to improve the development of 3D gaming and graphical capabilities. Java GUI builder aims to increase development of BlackBerry user interface speed. BlackBerry Theme Studio targets simple and effective development of themes while RIM’s new advertising services program will offer wider developer access to advertising, payment, content push and location services.

RIM’s latest developments in user-friendly developer tools comes at a time of anticipated competition in the smartphone segment with entries such as Palm’s Pre and Apple’s iPhone, which thanks to a new agreement, will be available through Radio Shack nationwide this year.