Today's announcement of a partnership between RIM and TiVo is noteworthy because it strongly indicates that TiVo is moving beyond timeshifting television content - allowing folks to watch shows anytime they like - and into the direction of Sling Media and Orb placeshifting territory - extending the viewing flexibility to location as well time.

So while the RIM and TiVo agreement will initially result (later this year) in BlackBerry users being able to discover what shows are on and schedule TiVo recordings remotely, the future promises to hold a lot more. You see, the companies plan to focus on software applications that further simplify mobile access to video content.

RIM co-CEO Jim Balsillie puts the collaboration this way:

"As the BlackBerry smartphone continues its evolution as a modern lifestyle device, the importance of home entertainment integration will continue to grow and TiVo will be the key in providing consumers with greater flexibility in accessing television content."

Streaming video, anyone?

This commitment to the further advancement and innovation is also held by TiVo CEO and president Tom Rogers, who added that "RIM and TiVo share a commitment to great user experiences, which cause our products to become seamlessly integrated into the consumer's lifestyle. We also share a vision for the future of mobile entertainment services and we look forward to a variety of future innovations as a result of this relationship."

Sling Media with the Slingbox is well known for its placeshifting capabilities, even to mobile devices - including most of the major smartphone platforms except the iPhone and BlackBerry - although support for the latter platform is in the works. It and others in the space, like Orb, do not enjoy nearly the level of brand recognition with the general public as TiVo, however.

In fact, TiVo's more than a brand, really: How often do you hear someone say "I've tivoed" this or that show when having recorded a program using a DVR (digital video recorder), even if the DVR in question isn't an actual TiVo machine?

Should TiVo make good on its commitment to mobile video, starting with its partnership with RIM, there's a good chance it could quickly establish itself as an important player in that market. This wouldn't necessarily hurt existing players like Sling Media, as it could draw needed attention to the ability to watch home-TV content, a capability much of the public at large doesn't even know is possible right now.

In the past, TiVo's offered methods for transferring TV video to PCs and Windows Mobile smartphones. They ability to stream video (live or recorded) from your living room to your hand, something Sling Media does very well, is a step beyond that capability.