Travel web site KAYAK gives the boot to its BlackBerry app

Ouch! Although it might not seem to be too much of a biggie for RIM, but it stings nonetheless to know that popular travel search web site KAYAK has dropped its BlackBerry app. Some of you might not be familiar with the name, but they’re essentially another competitor to other travel sites such as Hotels.com, Travelocity, Priceline, and Expedia. However, instead of offering deals of their own, they essentially provide customers with comparison rates from amongst the aforementioned names.

Giving the boot to its BlackBerry app, KAYAK cites that RIM’s exiting platform is “not working out to be a great channel for consumer mobile applications.” With its blog posting titled “We’re Very Sorry BlackBerry Users,” they specifically mention that the cost surrounding maintenance and support for its BlackBerry app was simply too much for them to handle.

As an alternative, KAYAK says that the mobile website works pretty snazzy on all smartphones running the good ‘ol BlackBerry web browser. Meanwhile, it looks like Android, iPhone, and Windows Phone users won’t have to worry because they’ll continue supporting its line of apps.

Simply, it goes to show the kind of predicament RIM is at right now in the market. Usually, small companies would die for the opportunity to extend their reach with mobile apps, but it certainly doesn’t bode well for RIM to see this happening to them.

source: KAYAK via Mobileburn