CIO.com confirms rumors that I've been hearing for at least six months: RIM is preparing to release native BlackBerry utilities for Mac users. According to CIO.com's source, who requested anonymity, the software tools are being prepped for the first half of 2009.

This is great news for any BlackBerry user who also happens to be a Mac fanatic. It's hard enough to reconcile using a 'Berry when all your friends and colleagues are on iPhones -- but the desktop software situation can make even the most die-hard CrackBerry fan reconsider his or her mobile device choice.

Right now, there are two ways to connect the BlackBerry with OS X: PocketMac, which is free and just got an update, and The Missing Sync, which is $39.95. Neither option allows you to upgrade your BlackBerry's onboard OS, make backups of your programs or settings, or reliably install software directly onto the device. You can sync your contacts and calendar (but be careful, the wrong step might nuke them), access and transfer photos and music, and charge the BlackBerry, but that's pretty much where the Mac experience ends.

As of right now, the only way a Mac user can actually upgrade the OS on his or her BlackBerry is to use BootCamp or a virtualization program like VMWare Fusion or Parallels. It's the kind of PITA that prevents people like me from hacking around with their phones, unless I have a fully updated VM handy. If you don't have an Intel Mac or you don't have a Windows license -- you've basically got to find someone who does, and borrow their computer.

Thankfully, not only does it look like native Mac tools are FINALLY going to arrive, future OS updates will be done OTA (over the air), putting an end to this sort of nastiness once and for all. Frankly, I can't wait until I can actually manage my BlackBerry without having to run a virtual machine.

Although the iPhone is the mobile platform of choice for many Mac users, some of us actually use something else. Shocking, I know. Whether it is by choice or dictated by work, tons of Mac users are also BlackBerry users. The problem is, native BlackBerry support is non-existent, leading crackberry/Mac addicts to choose between two software solutions: PocketMac and The Missing Sync. PocketMac is free for all BlackBerry users, thanks to a licensing agreement with RIM, and has just been updated to version 4.1.25.

Here are some of the highlights:

• Support for Lotus Notes 7 and Entourage 2008 PIM sync. Entourage users have been waiting for this since Office 2008 was released earlier this year.
• Support for syncing non-protected iTunes playlists (Windows users don't get all the fun).
• Support for syncing iPhoto photos and albums to the BlackBerry, with options to keep albums intact and scale photos for the device. You can also import BlackBerry photos directly to iPhoto.
• Sync Notes from Leopard's Mail.app
• Support for all BlackBerry units released as of May 2008

Sadly, if you are one of the lucky BB users with a BlackBerry Bold (which is rolling out in the US in September), early web reports are saying that the Bold is NOT compatible with PocketMac at this time. I will say, in the past, the drivers for new BlackBerry devices have been released pretty quickly, so as soon as the Bold release become a little more widespread, I fully expect a driver update to surface.

I'm not sure if PocketMac 4.1.25 works with devices running BlackBerry OS 4.5 (my carrier hasn't officially upgraded yet), but if you are running 4.5, let us know in the comments if you can use the latest version of PocketMac. Want to make your BlackBerry look more Mac-like? Try one of the free Leopard themes available here.

PocketMac 4.1.25 requires OS X 10.3.9 or higher and is free for all BlackBerry users.

We told you ages ago that RIM was planning to acquire and then release PocketMac for syncing your Crackberry and your Mac, but somehow we missed the actual release (back in October). Anyway, PocketMac 4.0 is now happily available for download from RIM. Go forth you mobile, email addicted, thumbsore Mac users and rejoice.

All of you email addicted Intel Mac users can now rejoice! PocketMac has updated their Blackberry syncing tool for use on Intel Macs.

In case you aren't familiar with the PocketMac line of products, they allow you to sync a number of devices that do not have OS X syncing built in. I have only heard good things about their products, and I am sure this announcement will make some people very happy.

Thanks, Zack.