Research In Motion (RIM) today confirmed plans to acquire Swedish firm "The Astonishing Tribe (TAT)", which provides an UI framework for mobile devices.

RIM said that the TAT team will be joining RIM and bring their talent to the BlackBerry PlayBook and smartphone platforms.

AT is renowned for their innovative mobile user interface (UI) designs and has a long history of working with mobile and embedded technology. TAT focuses on delivering great user experiences, from a design, technology, and usability perspective. Their design technology is used today in a variety of industries including the consumer electronics and automotive sectors.

RIM's BlackBerry smartphones, traditionally targeted at corporate users, have struggled to impress consumers in comparison to more stylish devices such as Apple's iPhone.

RIM plans to launch its 7-inch PlayBook tablet in the first quarter of 2011.