Video startup Qik Monday released alpha support for the BlackBerry Pearl and BlackBerry Bold, enabling users of the popular
mobile platform to stream live
video from their smartphones to the Internet.
According to Redwood City, Calif.-based Qik, the free service enables streaming video in just two clicks while also allowing video viewers on the Web to engage in a live chat with the person broadcasting the stream.
"We are excited to bring our lifestyle technology to the millions of BlackBerry users worldwide," Ramu Sunkara, Qik co-founder and CEO, said in a statement. "In our quest to bring mobile live video sharing to the masses, we now support the broadest range of platforms including Symbian, Windows Mobile, Blackberry and Java-enabled mass-market phones."
Currently, Qik streaming video is available on nearly 70 different mobile phones. Qik does not yet support the Apple iPhone.
The alpha launch initially will start on handsets running Research In Motion's BlackBerry operating system 4.5 and above, supporting the BlackBerry Pearl 8120 and 8130 and the BlackBerry Bold 9000. The BlackBerry Bold is expected to hit AT&T stores Nov. 4. Qik said support for the BlackBerry Curve and the BlackBerry Pearl Flip 8220 is coming soon.
Device owners can get Qik by registering on the company's Web site. Support for the BlackBerry devices is expected to enter the beta stage in coming weeks with support for more BlackBerries coming soon, Qik said.
