U2 ditches iPod for BlackBerry

The band that once had a "special relationship" with Apple has picked a new partner BlackBerry maker Research In Motion.

U2's upcoming 360 tour will be sponsored by BlackBerry, announced Waterloo-based Research in Motion, the maker of the smart phone brand, Monday.

The European tour will start June 30 in Barcelona to promote U2's 12th studio album, No Line on the Horizon, and will be followed by a North American tour starting Sept. 12. The band will play the Rogers Centre in Toronto on Sept. 16.

"This tour announcement marks the first stage of a relationship and shared vision between RIM and U2 that we expect will lead to new and innovative ways to enhance the mobile music experience on the BlackBerry platform for U2 fans," saidband manager Paul McGuinness in a statement.

U2 lent name to iPod in 2004

This isn't U2's first tryst with a fruit-themed mobile music platform.

In 2004, Apple announced that it was launching a "U2 Special Edition" iPod music player.

Jimmy Iovine, chairman ofInterscope Geffen A&M Records, U2's label, said at the time:"U2 and Apple have a special relationship where they can start to redefine the music business."

U2's lead singer Bono went on to add, "We want our audience to have a more intimate online relationship with the band, and Apple can help us do that."

However, since then, Bono has had a relationship with at least one other Apple competitor. Elevation Partners, the private equity firm at whichBono is a managing director and co-founder, is a major shareholder for smart phone maker Palm Inc.