I applied online. The process took 2 months. I interviewed at BlackBerry in Jul 2010
Interview
For interns you submit a resume, transcript online. If you are selected then Phone-Interview of 1 hour. During the interview they asked a question from each of my completed 3rd software engineering courses.
I applied through an employee referral. The process took 1 day. I interviewed at BlackBerry (Sunrise, FL) in Dec 2011
Interview
I was interviewed for an internship position. The post I was offered was of a Radio Software Enginner.
My friend had forwarded my resume.
It took just 2 hours for RIM to schedule an interview with me. I was lucky!