Google has delivered RIM a smack on the rump with a rolled up newspaper by killing off its popular Gmail app for BlackBerry.

This will make life difficult for RIM which is trying to stop a mass migration of punters to Android and iOS. According to a Google Blog, from 22 November, BlackBerry owners will not be able to avail Gmail facility on their devices, only those users who already have Gmail installed can continue to access and use the Google app.

RIM claims that since 2009, RIM has incorporated native support for Gmail in BlackBerry 5.0 and above, which means that a separate Gmail app is not required. However Google seems to be implying that this will not work either.