BlackBerry has announced the beta release of the Facebook for BlackBerry smartphones app v2.0 through BlackBerry Beta Zone starting today. This initial release of v2.0 has a redesigned user interface and also offers Facebook Chat.
Improvements include:
You can now check to see which of your Facebook friends are online and start a Chat conversation from within the Facebook application or within the unified mailbox on your BlackBerry smartphone.
On Facebook for BlackBerry smartphones, as long as your status is set to online, you still receive notifications even if you are not using the Facebook app. | 
|
Research In Motion today announced the BBM (BlackBerry Messenger) Social Platform, giving developers the tools to build applications that take advantage of the social aspects of the popular BBM service.
“The BlackBerry developer community has been eagerly awaiting the opportunity to integrate BlackBerry Messenger with their apps. BBM is a very popular service with over 28 million users and opening its real-time social connectivity to third party applications presents incredible opportunities,” said Alan Brenner, Senior Vice President, BlackBerry Platform at Research In Motion. “Access to BBM services from within apps will revolutionize gaming, enhance multimedia experiences, and add a new dimension to location based applications.” | |
Research In Motion today announced plans for an innovative mobile gifting platform for carriers that will allow one authorized BlackBerry subscriber to use their post-paid or pre-paid account to conveniently, securely and instantly approve and pay for airtime, apps or other carrier services requested by another BlackBerry subscriber.
The innovative BBM mobile gifting platform will integrate with BlackBerry App World™ and carrier billing systems and allow the gifting requests and approvals to be handled directly between the BlackBerry subscribers using BBM™ (BlackBerry® Messenger) with transactions that are secure, authenticated and non-repudiable. The platform will also allow carriers to more easily sell airtime to BlackBerry prepaid subscribers (for the subscriber’s own use).
| |
BlackBerry announced today that a select BlackBerry Beta Zone users in the United States will get the opportunity to test out an upcoming radio discovery app, BlackBerry Radio, and provide feedback to help us perfect it. This app will put multiple mobile radio services at your fingertips with no set-up and no cost for the beta user beyond their standard data plan costs.
BlackBerry Radio is not a traditional radio app, but instead works with multiple radio apps to make the process of finding and listening to radio on a BlackBerry smartphone quicker, easier and more integrated by presenting a sampling of services from some of our most popular partners.
Here are four things you should know about BlackBerry Radio:
1. Simple discovery
With BlackBerry Radio, you can access popular digital radio services from one place.
|  |
Bing today is releasing updates to the Bing for Mobile app to be compatible with devices running BlackBerry OS6. Bing has also made performance improvements to BlackBerry OS5 devices and added several new features including image search, Bing homepage hotspots, flight Instant Answers, Safe Search and “What’s Nearby.” Building on our existing feature set, these updates are based on feedback from the RIM community.
Homepage Hotspots:
If you have a little time to spend and want to explore the day’s image, point around it until you find a hotspot. Hidden in the image, hotspots are intended intrigue and inform you. If you look, you’ll find four of them every day. Each gives you a chance to find out more about the subject of the image.
Flight Status Instant Answer:
Never miss a flight again. Simply enter your flight number and Bing for mobile will provide you with the status at a glance.
|  |
Rebtel recently announced Rebtel for Blackberry. Download it and get super cheap Rebtel calls, international SMS and easier-than-ever Free Calls at your fingertips instantly. Just like the Android application, the BlackBerry app runs in the background and connects all your international calls with Rebtel; just call as usual from your regular BlackBerry dial pad or address book. You also get access to seamless Free Calls and cheap international SMS, just using your local minutes with your operator, no WiFi required! Read more about the features available in this release.
The Rebtel for Blackberry application is compatible with BlackBerry OS 5.0 or later. It has been tested on: Curve 8520, 8530, 8900, Bold 9000, 9650, 9700, Storm 9550 and Tour 9630. You can download the app now by going to RIM’s App World or GetJar and searching for Rebtel.
| |
Research In Motion today launched the beta version of the BlackBerry WebWorks SDK for Tablet OS and new services and developer tools for BlackBerry smartphones at BlackBerry DEVCON Asia.
“RIM continues to invest in a global and diverse developer community and we are offering them a broad range of tools in support of the BlackBerry Application Platform,” said David Yach, CTO for Software at Research In Motion. “With BlackBerry WebWorks, developers will be able to use standard web technologies to build powerful, integrated applications quickly and easily for both BlackBerry smartphones and the BlackBerry PlayBook tablet, and the GitHub open source project around BlackBerry WebWorks means more support for developers, enabling them to fully participate in defining the future of this platform and tooling. We are also excited to launch the new Payment service for BlackBerry smartphones, along with enhancements to the Push Service and an update of the Java Plug-in for Eclipse.”
| |
Research In Motion (RIM) and Sprint announce plans to launch a new BlackBerry PlayBook tablet model featuring connectivity to the blazingly fast Sprint 4G network. The BlackBerry 4G PlayBook will be the first BlackBerry PlayBook model to include wide area wireless connectivity, featuring Sprint 4G to give customers download speeds up to 10 times faster than 3G(1). This new 4G model is expected to be available from Sprint in the summer.
The BlackBerry 4G PlayBook is a professional-grade tablet that's set to redefine the possibilities of mobile computing, giving users an ultra-portable design with industry leading performance, uncompromised web browsing, true multitasking and HD multimedia, as well as advanced security features and out-of-the-box enterprise support.
|  |
Very funny video about Blackberry not working. Enjoy! | |
Research In Motion announced today BlackBerry Enterprise Server Express for IBM Lotus Domino – free server software that wirelessly synchronizes email, calendar, contacts, notes and tasks between BlackBerry smartphones and IBM Lotus Domino without compromising security. The software is available today at www.blackberry.com/besexpress.
BlackBerry Enterprise Server Express uses the same robust security architecture of the market-leading, premium BlackBerry Enterprise Server, and includes more than 75 of the over 500 smartphone controls and IT security policies available with the premium version of BlackBerry Enterprise Server software. It supports BlackBerry smartphones on business data plans as well as most personal data plans*.
“BlackBerry Enterprise Server Express is a free download that is designed for businesses of all sizes. It provides an easy way for businesses to get started using BlackBerry smartphones with IBM Lotus Domino and it’s also an ideal no-cost software solution for businesses that want to allow their employees to connect their personal BlackBerry smartphones to their work email,” said Jeff McDowell, Senior Vice President, Enterprise and Platform Marketing at Research In Motion. | 
|
Soteria Systems, LLC announces the FORSSE (pronounced FORCE) app is now available to BlackBerry smartphone users at the BlackBerry App World. FORSSE transforms a BlackBerry into a personal safety system, with the ability to instantaneously notify a professionally-trained monitoring team of a crisis by simply pushing a button. |
|
Research In Motion today launched the new BlackBerry Tablet OS SDK for Adobe AIR at the Adobe MAX conference in Los Angeles. The new Software Developer Kit (SDK) enables developers to quickly and easily create AIR applications for the BlackBerry PlayBook tablet using Adobe's powerful, familiar and industry-leading development tools. With the BlackBerry Tablet OS SDK for Adobe AIR, developers can leverage the uniquely powerful capabilities of the BlackBerry Tablet OS, as well as access all of the richness of Adobe AIR, to deliver incredibly engaging and high-performing AIR applications for the BlackBerry PlayBook.
“The BlackBerry PlayBook, with its dual-core processor and multi-processing OS, is a multi-tasking powerhouse that is also the world’s first tablet to be built from the metal up to run Flash Player 10.1 and Adobe AIR applications in a fully integrated, fully optimized fashion,” said David Yach, Chief Technology Officer, Software, Research In Motion. |  |
RadioTime, Inc., a developer of technology for finding and listening to radio online, announces the release of the BlackBerry version of its TuneIn Radio mobile application. TuneIn Radio, the most popular Internet radio app on iTunes, the Android Market and The Palm App Catalog, features RadioTime's new Song Search technology, which allows users to search for radio stations airing a specific song or artist in real time.
TuneIn Radio enables users to search for programs airing on over 50,000 radio stations, music streams and podcasts from around the world, making it the largest selection out of all BlackBerry Internet radio apps. The app uses a BlackBerry device's built-in GPS or WiFi to automatically detect and display what programs are airing on local AM/FM stations. | |
Sprint and Research In Motion today announced the much-anticipated BlackBerry Style 9670 smartphone. BlackBerry Style is an elegant, new flip smartphone featuring a full QWERTY BlackBerry keyboard, the new BlackBerry 6 operating system and a wide range of advanced communications and multimedia capabilities. It will be available in the United States only from Sprint beginning on Oct. 31.
The BlackBerry Style features a full QWERTY BlackBerry keyboard that makes email, messaging and real-time chats with BBM (BlackBerry Messenger) incredibly easy. It also comes with many advanced features, including a 5MP camera with flash and support for video recording, built-in GPS for location-based apps and geo-tagging, Wi-Fi for faster connectivity and extended data coverage, and an expandable memory slot for up to 32GB of additional storage.
“The beautiful and compact flip form factor on the BlackBerry Style smartphone makes it quite unique within the BlackBerry lineup,” said Fared Adib, vice president – Product Development, Sprint.
|  |
MyFax, the world’s fastest growing Internet fax service, today announced the availability of its new BlackBerry application. Available now, the free application gives small businesses the ability to access critical faxes from BlackBerry smartphones without the need to open a browser or launch an email application. MyFax is the first leading Internet fax service to provide a free BlackBerry application.
“Small business owners rarely leave the office without their smartphone. The ability to access the same quality services they receive in their office is more than a convenience – it’s critical to their success,” said Steve Adams, vice president of marketing for Protus, the provider of MyFax. “The availability of MyFax apps for both the BlackBerry and iPhone are part of our strategy to further expand our offerings across mobile platforms, and provide our customers with the same positive MyFax experience whether they’re in their office or on the road.”
| |
Boost Mobile continues to enhance its handset lineup on the Nationwide Sprint Network with the launch of the BlackBerry Curve 8530 smartphone from Research In Motion (RIM) for $249.99 (excluding taxes). The BlackBerry Curve 8530 is rolling out now at Boost Mobile exclusive retail stores and select independent wireless dealer locations and will be available on Oct. 14 at www.boostmobile.com with free shipping.
Boost Mobile’s $60 BlackBerry Monthly Unlimited plan is the ideal option for unlimited domestic voice, text and Web service without a long term contract. The BlackBerry Curve 8530 comes equipped with an optical trackpad for easy navigation, camera with video recording, built-in Wi-Fi and GPS. Consumers can stay in touch with e-mail, instant messaging, and their favorite social networking sites like Facebook, Myspace and Flickr. All wrapped up in a sturdy and sleek design, the BlackBerry Curve 8530 smartphone delivers rich mobile entertainment with its integrated media player, expandable MicroSD/SDHC slot for up to 32GB of media storage (2GB card included) and broad catalog of applications on BlackBerry App World.
|  |
FedEx has released a new BlackBerry app and enhanced mobile website to help customers ship, track and find FedEx locations on the go.
The new app and website allow customers to immediately access information about FedEx shipments. In addition to the BlackBerry app, anyone with a Web-enabled phone or handheld device can use the FedEx Mobile website to:
- Track the status of a package and use My FedEx Tracking for additional shipment details
- Get a rate quote
- Create a shipping label and access your FedEx Ship Manager Address Book
- Schedule a U.S. or international pickup
- Find a nearby FedEx location using your smart phone’s GPS (available on iPhone or Android only) or by entering your location
“It is our vision to give all FedEx customers immediate access to FedEx products and services regardless of their physical location, preferred language or device,” said Charlie Ciaramitaro, Director of Marketing for FedEx Services.
|  |
Kobo, a global eReading service, today announced plans for its application to be preloaded on the BlackBerry PlayBook tablet, giving users easy access to the Kobo experience including Kobo’s store of more than 2.2 million books.
Earlier this week, Kobo also announced plans for an industry-first social eReading application that will leverage the new BBM (BlackBerry Messenger) Social Platform.“We are thrilled to be extending our extensive relationship with RIM into the tablet space,” said Michael Serbinis, CEO of Kobo. “Readers will love the elegant design, crisp display and portable size and weight of the BlackBerry PlayBook, which is perfectly suited for long reading sessions. | |
AT&T, exclusive U.S. provider of BlackBerry Torch, announced today it will introduce two new smartphones, the BlackBerry Pearl 3G (model 9100) and the BlackBerry Curve 3G (model 9300), from Research In Motion (RIM).
BlackBerry Curve 3G will be available in AT&T stores, online and in business channels in time for the holidays. It will be available in stores and online for $99.99 (no rebate required).
BlackBerry Pearl 3G will be available for $149.99 (no rebate required) beginning October 17 in AT&T stores, online and in business channels.
New smartphone customers may choose from two AT&T monthly data plan options, $15 for 200 MB of wireless data or $25 for 2 GB.
No matter how you stay in touch – whether through voice calls or social networking – the new BlackBerry smartphones connect you in style. |  |
At BlackBerry DEVCON 2010, Kobo announced the development of an industry-first social eReading experience and released a video (see above) of the social reading app in action. Kobo, a global eReading service, demonstrated during the keynote presentation how application developers will be able to leverage the new BBM (BlackBerry Messenger) Social Platform. |
|
|
Phone Finder
