RIM is catching up with other smartphone brands with the help of a new program bringing mobile VoIP connectivity to BlackBerry devices.

Up until now, there hasn’t been a single native VoIP client for the BlackBerry platform, as there have been for smartphones running Android or iPhone OS. Truphone, Skype and Fring are just a few of the apps supported by these operating systems right now.

Enter TringMe, the first third-party, native program for BlackBerry that permits phone calls over a Wi-Fi network without eating up voice minutes. The business savvy should also take note that worldwide conference calling is also permitted with this service.

It’s a good start for BlackBerry, but if 100 million smartphone users are “expected to be using mobile VoIP by 2012,” BlackBerry and third-party app developers should really get cracking with this.

Interested BlackBerry owners can visit the TringMe mobile app site to download it.

BDST: 1945 HRS, 24 August 2010