Recently in BlackBerry Category

Verizon announced it start selling the BlackBerry Curve 8530 smartphone on November 20. The slim BlackBerry Curve 8530 smartphone gives customers access to Verizon Wireless' 3G network, built-in GPS and Wi-Fi capabilities, as well as easy access to music, games and other mobile apps for entertainment on the go. The BlackBerry Curve 8530  comes in Black and Smoky Violet.

It has an easy-to-use, highly tactile, full QWERTY keyboard and touch-sensitive trackpad, along with 256 MB flash memory and 528 MHz next generation processor for enhanced performance.

It has Bluetooth (version 2.1), 2.0 megapixel digital, camera with zoom and video recording and advanced media player for music, pictures and videos, dedicated media keys and a 3.5 mm stereo headset jack, plus BlackBerry Media Sync.

Egnyte introduced Blackberry and Android device interfaces that allow small business users secure access to all their business files via their Blackberry or Android-powered smartphones.

Egnyte's on-demand file server enables both Mac and PC business users to have online file storage, file sharing and automatic backup in one solution. The new interfaces, which require no additional software installation on the device, leverages a mobile drive -- "m Drive" -- that lets mobile users access all of their data stored via the Egnyte file server.

For existing Egnyte users who use a Blackberry or Android-powered smartphone, the new user interfaces allow businesses and professionals to easily navigate folder hierarchies and open and share files using their Blackberry or Android device keypad or touch screen. Last year, Egnyte introduced an iPhone interface following the launch of the Apple iPhone 3G. Following its introduction, users quickly adopted the interface, illustrating the need for mobile data support, as more and more business professionals seek to complete work functions outside of the traditional office.

IDC isn’t the only research company that is reporting a positive outlook for wireless in the fourth Quarter. ABI Research is reporting a slowing of the contraction in the market and calls Android the “dark horse” that could capture 10% of the market in 2010.

“The outlook for mobile handset markets continues to improve”, says Jake Saunders, ABI Research’s VP for Forecasting. “While 3Q-2009 showed a YoY 6.5% contraction in shipments to 291.1 million, 2009 should close out with only a 4%-5% contraction (to 1,138 million for the year).”

Handset vendors are starting to mutter confidently of 4Q-2009 cash tills jingling to the tune of robust handset sales. In 3Q-2009, North America and Asia-Pacific helped to spearhead a recovery. In North America, the avid enthusiasm for smartphones was the driver. In Asia-Pacific, recovery in the local economies has been stoking interest in upgrades.

Market shares are starting to thaw. Nokia saw its market share slip from 38.3% to 37.3% in 3Q-2009. Samsung continues to steam ahead, raising its market share to 20.7%. Despite some very novel handset model introductions in 2Q-2009, LG’s market-share softened in 3Q-2009 (10.9%). All the other vendors either held their ground or lost a small amount of market share.

The prime exception is Apple: its iPhone range of smartphones increased its market share from 1.9% to 2.5%. There have been arguments that Apple’s limited handset line-up will constrain growth, but for the mid-term, ABI Research does not expect any slowdown in Apple’s market-share growth.

“Despite the successes of the iPhone operating system, the leading player in the smartphone OS market is still very much Symbian (48%), followed by Blackberry (18%),” notes practice director Kevin Burden.

“The ‘dark horse’ in all this is Android.” This week Motorola announced the launch of its navigation-friendly “Droid” handset. As the list of vendors committed to releasing Android handsets expands, product momentum should translate into increased Android sales. ABI Research estimates Android could capture 10% of the smartphone market by 2014.

We were wondering if the new touchscreen BlackBerry Storm2 would be included in the  Buy One Get One Free BlackBerry Deal at Verizon and the good news is that if you buy one BlackBerry Storm2, you can get another BlackBerry or mobile broadband device for FREE. The added advantage of buying online is that when you buy the BlackBerry Storm2 you immediately get the rebate included and only have to payout $179.99.

Therefore, you can get another BlackBerry device or mobile broadband device such as the MiFi or a Gateway netbook for free after rebates. If you were thinking of getting a netbook, anyway, this is the best, top, cheapest deal for you.

The BlackBerry Storm2 comes with the latest BlackBerry operating system OS 5.0. The BlackBerry Storm2 features new SurePress "clickable" display technology and built-in Wi-Fi, 480 x 360 display at 184 ppi.

The BlackBerry Storm2 has received good reviews and is an improvement over the first version.  Where it really excells in the email department.  The BlackBerry Browser is improved with faster JavaScript and CSS processing as well as support for Gears and BlackBerry Widgets.

The Gateway LT2016u Netbook comes with Windows XP Home Operating System, is global capable, features a 10.1" display, 1GB of RAM and 160GB of Hard Drive. It features a built-in Web-cam/microphone, Windows Media Player, and  Wi-Fi.

The time is now for original BlackBerry Storm owners to download the latest update to the BlackBerry operating system OS 5.0.  This update improves on the entire BlackBerry Storm experience.

This is an impressive upgrade with typing enhancements, new buttons and it launches camera faster. The image capture is faster. Applications launch quicker. The BlackBerry Storm rotates faster between portrait and landscape views. Also the web browsing speeds are improved.

The typing experience is faster, more accurate and more natural text input experience.
This includes word completion (enabled right out of the box),a virtual QWERTY keyboard in portrait view, and enhanced sensitivity when editing, copying, and pasting. There is now the
 ability to enable Auto Correction as opposed to Word Completion in landscape view. Your mistakes will be corrected for you.

Form more details of the update continue reading.  If you need instructions on how to do the update yourself and what glitches this update fixes check the BlackBerry Storm Update article we published yesterday. Read about the Top Best BlackBerry Storm Free Apps.

As we previously suspected, Verizon announced that the BlackBerry Storm2 will go on sale October 28. The BlackBerry Storm2 comes with the latest BlackBerry operating system OS 5.0. The BlackBerry Storm2 features new SurePress "clickable" display technology and built-in Wi-Fi, 480 x 360 display at 184 ppi.

The BlackBerry Storm2 has received good reviews and is an improvement over the first version.  Where it really excells in the email department.  The BlackBerry Browser is improved with faster JavaScript and CSS processing as well as support for Gears and BlackBerry Widgets.

Customers running BlackBerry Enterprise Server 5.0 will gain the ability to set follow-up flags, manage e-mail folders, access remote files (Windows Shares), forward appointments, view calendar attachments, and more. First gen BlackBerry Storm owners note OS 5.0 is now also available for BlackBerry Storm first gen users.

We checked the Verizon website today, to see if the Buy One Get One Free BlackBerry Deal is still in effect.  Select BlackBerry smartphones are showing "get a select BlackBerry" for free with a two year contract  It would be great if the new BlackBerry Storm 2 would be included in the deal.

The BlackBerry Storm2 smartphone is available beginning Oct. 28 for $179.99 after a $100 mail-in rebate with a new two-year customer agreement on a voice plan with an Email and web feature or an Email and Web for BlackBerry plan. Customers will receive the mail-in rebate in the form of a debit card; upon receipt, customers may use the card as cash anywhere debit cards are accepted. If you use the Wireless and Mobile News' online purchase coupon-link for Instant Phone Rebate Only Available with Online Purchase then you don't have to wait for the rebate.

Data plans for the BlackBerry Storm2 smartphone begin at $29.99 when added to any Nationwide voice plan. There a lot of great apps available for the BlackBerry Storm.

There are several sources that showing internal Verizon websites leaked that reveal an update to the first gen BlackBerry Storm today at 7:00 pm PDT. to OS 5.0.0.328. The average udpate time will take less than an hour, usually around 20-45 minutes. 

The new BlackBerry Storm2 (which has gotten better reviews than the first BlackBerry Storm) will come already preloaded with the OS 5.0. There are some major improvements in this version of the BlackBerry Storm operating system udpate to 5.0.0.328. The browser is greatly improved and has better rendering of CSS and JavaScript. The 5.0 update offers better screen rotation and a pop-up menu to call a person when an SMS text message is received.

In the BlackBerrry Storm update 5.0, users can increase the number of SMS alerts up to 10 and there improved video/media playing. There's better auto-correction while typing and enhanced sensing of copy/paste. It also adds the quick buttons to access the web, add dates to calendar and send email.

There supposedly will not be an over-the-air update of this BlackBerry update, therefore, you will have take action yourself. You can access the update my visiting the RIM BlackBerry update website to download the file or via your desktop manager where you will see that there is a new update available.

Before you update, be sure to backup your data.

To  Back Up Data:

Open up the Blackberry Desktop Manager Program and click on Backup and Restore .

Blogs that publish leaked documents usually don't reveal their sources. The latest rumor which apparently comes from the Verizon employee internal intranet blog shows the "all channel release date" of the BlackBerry Storm 2 to be October 28.

A PDF file that sort-of-looks like a Verizon document hows the price before the Verizon $100 rebate to be $279.99.  That's a twenty dollar drop from the first gen BlackBerry Storm when it was released later than it's original release date in November, last year. Stores are reportedly receiving their launch kits on October 24.

In forums, members are reporting the Verizon managers have gotten email notification of October 28 as the launch date.

Google has updated Google Maps for mobile for BlackBerry to 3.2. The new maps for BlackBerry includes layers You can view many layers of information on your map at the same time. Layers make it easier and more useful to find and interact with geographic content, like public transit, traffic (with incidents!), local search results, Latitude friend locations, Wikipedia and more.

You can also see your own My Maps content as a layer on Google Maps for mobile. And finally, multiple layers can be combined at the same time to give you a content-rich view of what's around you.

Layers make it easy to view various types of information on your map and are especially helpful in situations when you're traveling somewhere new. For example, you can turn on the Wikipedia layer to read entries about nearby places, then use the transit lines layer to help map out a route. Or you can use the My Maps feature of Google Maps to create a collection of places you're planning to visit on your trip and then use Google Maps for mobile to access it from the road. You can also turn on the Google Latitude layer to see your friends' locations.

Is life getting you down and you need a quick lift? Get this free BlackBerry app from Aproprose, Feel-Goodies. Launch the Feel-Goodies app and you will be reminded how wonderful you really are. One of our readers pointed out, “it’s a simple app for complicated people.”

A satisfied user is quoted on the Feel-Goodies website as saying, “The Feel-Goodies app demonstrates why the word “app” is in h-app-y.” 

There’s something endearing about this cellular caffeine for self esteem. Click through to get compliments that negate the negatives and position yourself in the positive. This app is not only a game shifter for mobile apps but an attitude shifter too.

Currently, there is only the free version of Feel-Goodies, while a paid version with a year’s supply of Feel-Goodies is in works. You can send a link or SMS, your BFF for her to get a free Feel-Goodies app right from within the application. Wireless and Mobile News was fortunate to get a first look at an app that can’t go wrong.

RIM has announced the specs for the new BlackBerry Bold 9700 that is thinner the first gen BlackBerry Bold smartphone which will ship with the new BlackBerry OS 5.0. It is geared towards enterprise customers.

The BlackBerry Bold 9700 features support for 3G HSDPA networks around the world, a next-generation (624 MHz) processor, 256 MB Flash memory, built-in GPS and Wi-Fi, a 3.2MP camera and a 480 x 360 display. You can expand storage by replacing the 2 Gigabyte MicroSD with up to a 16 GB card.

The trackball has been replaced by atouch-sensitive trackpad and a highly tactile, distinctive, fretted keyboard. The BlackBerry Bold 9700  has a dark chrome frame and leatherette back add for easy holding.

"The BlackBerry Bold 9700 builds on the success of the original BlackBerry Bold with new, state-of-the-art features and a smaller, lighter and highly optimized design that looks, feels and performs great," said Mike Lazaridis, President and Co-CEO, Research In Motion.

The BlackBerry Bold 9700 smartphone is expected to be available from carriers around the world beginning in November. AT&T will sell the Bold 9700 for $199.99 with a two-year contract and after a $100 mail-in rebate. T-Mobile will sell the phone for $199.99 with a two-year contract. If you are a new AT&T customer, don't forget to use the he Wireless and Mobile News' $50 off online only coupon-link with the purchase of a new phone with a plan. Free shipping is included with online activation.

We know the BlackBerry Storm2 storm must be coming soon because the BlackBerry Storm2  debuted on the Verizon website.

When we went to find it today, it was gone. 

According to new rumors the launch date for the BlackBerry Storm2 will be announced tomorrow.  The date is supposed to be pushed later due to technical problems. Remember we thought it would 10/21?

Updated 10/21 - We hate false rumors that we don't know where they came from. Today, the rumors suggest an early November release of the BlackBerry Storm2 because dummy models are appearing in Best Buy.

Verizon has rigorious testing procedures and they don't let anything out until it passes the test.

Engineers are gearing up to make sure it passes muster.

Last year, some thought the BlackBerry Storm classic was released too soon for holiday shopping and the bugs caused a lot problems.
 
The BlackBerry Storm2 is expected to be another great seller for Verizon, especially if it is included in the  Buy One Get One Free BlackBerry deal that is slated to end 10/21.

Reviewers liked the improvements over the first gen BlackBerry Storm and the addition of Wi-Fi.  Everything is faster and the touchscreen keyboard is much more responsive.

Probably the best thing about BlackBerry smarpthones for Verizon is the 3G coverage which they are vamping up for the release of Android 3G phones.

In the free BlackBerry App department in BlackBerry App World the top apps include messaging, social networking, music, utilities, games,

1.BlackBerry Messenger - The new BlackBerry Messenger 5.0 is so popular ,it reportedly crashed RIM's servers. It's been called one of the greatest updates so far. This new version of BlackBerry Messenger includes barcode scanning for PIN exchange, BlackBerry Messenger chat via SMS, the ability to create groups, back-up and restore of your contact list (on our servers - no more desktop backup required!) and the ability to customize your display picture.

2.  Facebook - this ever-so-popular social networking app has been updated with updates New features include status updates on the home page;wall access from within Facebook for BlackBerr, and photo viewing in a simple, easy-to-use slideshow format. .

3. Pandora Internet Radio - we named this our BlackBerrry Storm free app of the day way back and it's still a great way to listen to music on your BlackBerry.  Pandora creates radio stations based on songs and artists that you like based on algorithms from the Music Genome Project. Pandora Radio streams the songs to your BlackBerry.

4. BuzzMe - this app lets your BlackBerry smartphone Buzz and ring you at the same time. It allows you to control the color of the LED lights as well as pick a disco beat/style.

5. Dictionary.com - this newly released dictionary, spells success.  You can look up over 500,000 words with a special Dictionary Thesaurus App form Dictionary.com either from the app or writing or reading emails. Features include the "Word of the Day" and pronunciations.

Epocrates Essentials is now avaialble for BlackBerry smartphone. BlackBerry smartphones are one of Epocrates' fastest growing platforms with more than 20 percent growth among U.S. physicians in the past quarter. For a $159 annual fee, medical professional can get easy access to reference information.

Epocrates' top-ranked software is used at the point of care to support clinical decisions from diagnosis to treatment. Beyond the free drug prescribing and safety information, the enhanced Epocrates Essentials suite introduces new content and features to the platform including:

• Thousands of in-depth, peer-reviewed disease topics developed in conjunction with the BMJ Group, publisher of the British Medical Journal
• Hundreds of diagnostic and laboratory tests for interpretation and diagnostic support
• Hundreds of brand name OTC drug products with drug interactions
• More than 600 alternative (herbal) medicines
• Infectious disease treatment guide with empiric and specific treatment recommendations.
  

BlackBerry Storm2 Rated 4 out of 5 by Wireless and Mobile News' Review of Reviews

The first reviews are showing up for the BlackBerry Storm2 and they are better than first BlackBerry Storm. Reviews range from rave (telling people to get in line) to suggesting that competitors are more full-featured.

The top-notch touchscreen is much more precise and better. The operating system is more responsive and faster than on the first gen BlackBerry Storm.  Most reviewers liked the addition of Wi-Fi and the excellent call quality. The camera was rated from good to dark. The operating system was called snappy. Voice quality was superb.

Most reviewers found the browser faster but some thought it was not as good as iPhone or Webkit browsers.  Note: The BOLT browser is super-fast and loved by BlackBerry Storm users.

Where the BlackBerry Storm excels in in the email department because of BlackBerry's enterprise email heritage.  Multimedia also functions well and you can sync with iTunes. The speakers are solid.

The price has not been set yet for the BlackBerry Storm2 which could make a difference in your buying decision. Here's where you may want to take it for a test drive. It has also been rumored that it will part of the Verizon Buy One Get One Free BlackBerry which may or may not end as scheduled October 21.    

If you look at the specs for the BlackBerry Storm first gen and the BlackBerry Storm2, there’s not a great difference. However, reviewers are starting to say that there is a big difference in style, the new BlackBerry Storm2 is sleeker, fixes touch functions flaws and battery life is decent.

Verizon’s Lowell McAdam showed the BlackBerry Storm2 to students who loved it.  Reports suggest that the BlackBerry Storm2 will go on sale some time around October 20.

The chart of of the different models of the BlackBerry Storm First Gen and BlackBerry Storm2 follows the ad below (continue reading,)

According to the New York Times, Lowell McAdam has been carrying around his very own BlackBerry Storm2.  While in a Verizon Store in New York City, he showed his BlackBerry Storm2 to some NYU students.

""I let them play with the second-generation Storm device," he said. "They came back and said 'Oh, my gosh.' They were very excited. This is what they hoped the original Storm should be."

The BlackBerry Storm2 has been rumored to go on sale at Verizon on October 21, October 25 or October 28. 

The BlackBerry Storm2 is full touchscreen phone and expected to have a new "cool" touch interface with feedback.  The BlackBerry Storm 2 wil have 2 GB of on-device storage, and come bundled with a 16 GB removable memory card.

The Weather Channel Mobile is offering a fre new ad-supported version of its popular weather appor BlackBerry smartphones. The Weather Channel for BlackBerry includes features such as GPS-based Location Tracker and interactive radar maps.  The expandable banner advertisements support the free app.

BlackBerry Weather Channel app offers current conditions, hourly, 36-hour and 10-day forecasts to help customers plan their daily and upcoming activities. Customers can share severe weather alerts, current conditions and forecasts with friends and contacts via e-mail or text message directly from the application.  Integration with the BlackBerry calendar and address book allows customers to check weather for daily appointments as well as stored contacts.

Known for its precise weather data, The Weather Channel for BlackBerry application continues to offer consumers accurate, localized weather data through enhanced features such as the proprietary TruPoint technology that provides detailed conditions within two kilometers of a customer's location, a convenient home screen temperature indicator that turns red when severe weather threatens, and the option to save and nickname favorite locations.

BlackBerry Tour, Bold, Pearl, Curve and 8800 BlackBerry users can now look up words

with a special Dictionary Thesaurus App form Dictionary.com either from the app or writing or reading emails. Also included in the announcement is the news that people with extensive vocabulary are  las⋅civ⋅i⋅ous . This article has been titivated by the thesaurus.

They claim that the Dictionary.com application is the only free gratuitous  dictionary and thesaurus app currently available for BlackBerry smartphones. It provides users with more than 500,000 words, definitions and synonyms interchangeableness, audio pronunciations, spelling suggestions and Dictionary.com's popular Word of the Day for both English and Spanish.

The new BlackBerry dictionary app also allows users to instantly access a definition or synonym while reading or drafting email electronic mail, a feature unique to the Dictionary.com experience on BlackBerry smartphones.

Several of the features included in the Dictionary.com app were designed to meet the specific professional needs of BlackBerry smartphone users, helping them get essential information on the go. The relevance of the application is underscored by a recent study that revealed 54 percent of people believe a person's vocabulary is crucial to being successful in business. Not to mention, a mastery of language can have after-hours benefits. More than 12 percent of those surveyed said they find a person with an extensive vocabulary sexy.

BlackBerry Storm users who like to connect the dots can now get a free game to play on BlackBerry Storm touchscreen smartphones. The free app of the day from Tafasa is called "Dots."

The way the Dots game app works is that you start with an empty grid of dots, players take turns, adding a single horizontal or vertical line between two unjoined adjacent dots. The player who completes the fourth side of a box earns one point and takes another turn.

The game ends when no more lines can be placed. The winner of the game is the player with the most points. All you have to do is click on the space between adjacent dots to add a line connecting them. Enjoy the fun graphics and unlimited number of move undos while you improve your skills against the computer or defeat your friend!

Features of the Free Dots App for BlackBerry Storm

Play against Computer or another Person.

Undo moves an unlimited number of times.

Fun graphics.