MyBlackBerry Set To Launch

Are you one of those who thought that we were in need of another website that allows BlackBerry users to talk about their handsets, well you will be pleased to learn that there is now a new RIM-operated community forum called MyBlackBerry.

This new forum allows BlackBerry users to talk about their beloved RIM handsets; the website was officially launched at midnight. New and future BlackBerry users can discuss tips, review apps, stories, or just have a chat.

BGR have spent a few weeks with the MyBlackBerry and explains that in time and with enough user content, this will be able to become a decent forum for BlackBerry users. The new forum has now been up and running for a few hours now, let us know your first thoughts.

article source: http://www.product-reviews.net/2009/07/15/myblackberry-launch/

New BlackBerry Tour minimal turnout - many prefer it over touchscreen devices

One users said the excitement of a new RIM device is diminished by growing monthly fees

Fifteen people waited outside a suburban Boston Verizon Wireless for up to two hours early Sunday morning to buy a new BlackBerry Tour smartphone.
Several of those waiting for the 10 a.m. opening said the Tour model is attractive because it has a physical QWERTY keyboard, and is made by a well-known company -- Research in Motion Ltd.

The Tour, considered by many to be a slight upgrade from the RIM's BlackBerry Curve or the Bold models, went on sale for $200 with a two-year agreement from Verizon or Sprint Nextel Inc. and a rebate.

At the Verizon Wireless store, Al Ferrer proudly showed his new Tour side-by-side with an older BlackBerry Bold, which he uses with AT&T's network. "The Tour is a little smaller, see? It's little. Cute, eh?"

Ferrer, a nuclear and mechanical engineer, qualifies as a power user of smartphones, and demonstrated that he is familiar with many of them. A Wellesley, Mass., resident, he travels often all over the globe for work, and considers his smartphone use "critical" to his day-to-day chores of making calls and monitoring e-mail.

The heavy number crunching and PowerPoint and Excel tasks he must do are almost all handled on a Dell laptop, which Ferrer said he still needs on longer trips. But he is looking to reduce the number of handheld devices he has to carry.

Ferrer's Tour will replace an older Motorola Razr. He will keep his Bold smartphone, which uses the AT&T network, to make sure he doesn't miss out on a call or a data connection. "With both, I'm pretty sure not to miss anything," he said.

Ferrer and his son, Andrew Ferrer, who also purchased a new Tours yesterday, smirked at the idea of buying a BlackBerry Storm or Apple Inc. iPhone, which have touchscreens. "A touchscreen phone is a nice idea, but they haven't perfected it," Al Ferrer said. "I have small hands and big fingers, and it's hard to use it for typing."

Andrew Ferrer, an attorney, added, "Getting a physical keyboard was critical for me."
Both men also own the Apple iPod Touch, but don't like how it responds to their touch, they said.
Several other customers agreed with the Ferrers' sentiment about the touch sreen.

Lacey Cumming, a student at Bentley College in Waltham, Mass., who was one of the first to arrive at the store to make sure she could get a new Tour to replace her Curve. She said she had tried a Storm for two weeks and returned it.

"I didn't like the Storm," Cumming said. "It was too slow and didn't react to my touch well." Cumming has had eight different phones in her 19 years, she said, but still relies on an HP laptop required by her school for most of her intense browsing and school chores, she said. The Tour will be a convenient way to text friends and do casual browsing, she added.

She showed off her accessories, including a screen protector and a bright pink protective skin that was the only color that would do compared to the only other choices -- blue and clear.
If anything, the Sunday customers at the Verizon store showed how intensely personal a smartphone can be, right up there with precious jewelry.

David Peters, also of Wellesley, said he bought the Tour to support his marketing and sales job as he travels globally. He was a former Curve customer on the T-Mobile USA network, and first got on T-Mobile because its network reach had been so good in other countries. "But I am transferring to Verizon because T-Mobile service sucks here," he said. T-Mobile USA's parent is Deutsche Telekom AG, which explains its reliability abroad, he reasoned.

Peters also avoided the Storm "because my colleagues said it was hard to use the touchscreen and difficult to use the buttons."

Sharon Decker, manager of the Verizon store in Natick, Mass., said while the early turnout of 15 people for the Tour was robust, it was about one-fourth the number that showed up in November for the BlackBerry Storm debut at a nearby Verizon store where she managed at the time. And hundreds of people at lined up outside the downtown Boston Apple store for the debuts of each of the last two iPhone models, showing there are obviously still many touchscreen enthusiasts.

For the Ferrers, the purchase of two Tours was a chance to reflect on the future cost of monthly cellular services. Today, Al Ferrer said he puts himself and three other family members on the same Verizon account for about $350 a month for the phones and AT&T's service. He is reimbursed his business costs of about $150 a month, he said.

But down the road, he hopes to contain his costs and said he is in the process of eliminating the land line phone at his home to help out. He is a realist, though, and recognizes that subscription fees will keep going up.

"I could handle some increases in monthly charges, but $500 would be too much," he said. Maybe the carriers could find a way to offer free tethering of his smartphone to his laptop so he could eliminate the cost of a broadband laptop card, which can be more than $60 a month. "Something has to give," he said.

BlackBerry Tour Now Available from Sprint and Verizon

As promised, both Verizon and Sprint launched the BlackBerry Tour today. The newest smartphone from RIM offers support for both CDMA and GSM networks -- including EV-DO and HSDPA -- allowing it to be used around the world.

An Overview of the BlackBerry TourRIM is positioning this as a crossover device, good for both business and personal communication.

Its personal capabilities include access to social networking sites like Facebook, Flickr, and MySpace. It also allows users to share pictures and videos via MMS, and instant message on popular services or BlackBerry Messenger.

For business users, the Tour provides access to RIM's push email service, which offers messages with attachments, calendar, contacts, business applications, and location-based services.
The HardwareThe BlackBerry Tour has a tablet shape, with an HVGA (480 x 360) display, trackball, and full-QWERTY keyboard.

It includes a 3.2 MPx camera (with variable zoom, auto focus, flash and image stabilization), GPS receiver, and Bluetooth, while users are able to store up to 16 GB of data with a microSD/SDHC card (sold separately).

This BlackBerry operates on Verizon's or Sprint’s mobile broadband (EV-DO Rev. A) network, and can also roam on other high-speed 3G wireless networks around the globe for voice and email service. When roaming, it offers 850/900/1800/1900 MHz GSM/GPRS/EDGE as well as support for 2100 MHz UMTS/HSPA networks.

The outer casing is 4.4 in. by 2.4 in. by 0.6 in. (112 mm x 62 mm x 14.2 mm), and its weight is 4.6 oz. (130 g).

Pricing & AvailabilityThe BlackBerry Tour 9630 is available from Verizon for $200 with a two-year service agreement. It can be ordered now at verizonwireless.com
Sprint is charging that same price after a $100 mail-in rebate, and with a two-year service contract. The Tour can be found on this carrier's site: Sprint.com.

For more information on this smartphone, visit www.blackberry.com/tour

Source: Verizon, Sprint

Google's CEO Is Using a BLACKBERRY?!

Here's a photo of Google CEO Eric Schmidt snapping a pic—with a BLACKBERRY.

I know drug dealers are advised not to get high on their supply, but for the rest of the world, I believe it's strongly encouraged.

BusinessInsider posted the incriminating AP pic of the Silicon Valley exec on a busisness retreat out in Idaho. I mean, he didn't even try to hide the Blackberry logo.

I know Android isn't designed around enterprise, and that Schmidt is a big shot businessman and needs a Blackberry for RIM's push email, and scheduling, and collaborations, and synergizing with other execs. But this is FRIKKIN GOOGLE we're talking about. I'd sooner expect him carrying an iPhone—he is, after all, on the board.

You're telling me that the CEO can't get his code monkeys to create some custom Android software that connects to a special server and does everything a BlackBerry can? And it doesn't seem like a one night stand either—the ratty Google sticker on the back of the phone (presumably a Curve 8900) seems to indicate the thing gets some serious usage.

Could you imagine El Jobso (or Phil Schiller, for that matter), toting around an HTC Touch Pro 2? And I'll give you one guess what Roger McNamee and Jon Rubinstein are using (three letters...starts with P, ends with E). Tsk, tsk. Do better, Mr. Schmidt.

article source: http://gizmodo.com/5311469/googles-ceo-is-using-a-blackberry

BlackBerry Has Apple Envy Issues

So, we've known for a while that U2's latest world tour was going to be sponsored by RIM, makers of the BlackBerry. And we've known that this was slightly odd because U2 lead singer Bono is a founder of Elevation Partners (which, yes, was named after a U2 song). The same Elevation Partners that owns a huge stake in Palm, makers of the Pre. But good for Bono, apparently not mixing work and, well, other work. But perhaps even odder is the BlackBerry commercial now in circulation.

Until the very end when the word "BlackBerry" appears, I was sure this was an Apple ad. As a commenter noted on YouTube, this looks almost exactly like a cross between this U2 iPod ad from back in the day, plus a more recent Coldplay iTunes ad. Watch them below.

This
Plus This
Equals This

Much was made of Apple's relationship with U2 when it signed the BlackBerry deal. After all, the BlackBerry is now a chief rival of Apple since the iPhone launched. And, of course, U2 used to have close dealings with Apple, even getting its own special version of the iPod. Ads like this won't silence that talk. But it's not like BlackBerry hasn't had Apple envy before.

article source: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/07/09/AR2009070900582.html

RIM attempts to get its mojo back with the BlackBerry Tour

The summer of the smartphone is heating up as Research In Motion is set to introduce on Sunday its latest BlackBerry device, called the Tour. But will it be enough to keep RIM king of the smartphone market?

The BlackBerry Tour is hitting store shelves at an important time for RIM, which has been reportedly taking a sales hit as carriers promote exclusive phones, such as the Palm Pre on Sprint Nextel's network and the Apple iPhone 3GS on AT&T's network, according to Michael Walkley of Piper Jaffray.

Walkley said in a research note published this week that BlackBerry sales declined in June at AT&T and Sprint as these carriers focused marketing dollars and sales attention on iPhone and Pre over older BlackBerry handsets. Sales of BlackBerry devices remained solid at T-Mobile USA, but they were slightly down at Verizon Wireless, after the carrier ended its "buy one, get one" promotion, Walkley also reported.

But now it looks like RIM has a new device to excite its base of business users and consumers, especially those looking for a smartphone they can take overseas.

Unlike its smartphone competitors, the BlackBerry Tour is not offered exclusively on a single carrier network. Instead it will be available on two carrier networks: Sprint Nextel and Verizon Wireless. Each carrier is set to launch the device on Sunday. Making its phone available on multiple carrier networks is not unusual for RIM, which sells its products on all four major carrier networks. But typically carriers don't make the devices available on the same day. In some ways, the non-exclusive arrangement could help RIM sell more devices because it greatly increases the potential sales base. But it might also hurt, if carriers focus more marketing attention and budget on promoting their exclusive phones.

It's yet to be seen how popular the new BlackBerry Tour will be. But at this point any new device from BlackBerry is likely better than none.

"Sales of the Tour are key in our opinion, as our checks indicated RIM may need strong July and August sales to meet its guidance," Walkley said in his research note.

The new phone, which sports Bluetooth, GPS, a 3.2-megapixel camera, a full QWERTY keypad, and a high-resolution screen offers everything that BlackBerry lovers have come to expect. And it also comes equipped with a Quad-band radio that allows the phone to be used internationally on both CDMA and GSM networks. The addition of the 800MHz and 1900MHz radio for CDMA is particularly important for users traveling to Latin America and parts of Asia where CDMA is available on these frequencies.

The device is likely to appeal mostly to business customers, particularly those who travel, and existing BlackBerry users. While Sprint Nextel also plans to market the phone to consumers, the carrier plans to target these customers first.

"Clearly there is already a strong base of BlackBerry customers, and many of them are business users," said Tim Donahue, vice president of business marketing for Sprint. "And we want to make sure they have access to the latest and greatest BlackBerry device out there."

Targeting BlackBerry base
Going after the business or enterprise customer is a smart move for Sprint. Business customers account for about half the subscribers on the Sprint network. But Sprint has also been pushing the Palm Pre as a business-friendly device. Donahue explained that there is room for multiple products to address the same market.

"There is no silver bullet when it comes to devices in this industry," he said. "It's more of a cadence and it's about building a portfolio."

For Verizon Wireless, the Tour is its major smartphone launch of the summer. The company hasn't made much noise about the Windows Mobile smartphones it has recently launched. And its last big smarpthone campaign was the exclusive deal for the BlackBerry Storm, RIM's only touch-screen phone.

The BlackBerry Curve and the BlackBerry 8830 World Edition phones have been big sellers for Verizon. But the BlackBerry Bold, which is only available on AT&T's network in the U.S., is considered by many BlackBerry aficionados to be RIM's most desirable BlackBerry. The Bold, which gets its name from its screen, has a high-resolution screen that has been described as eye-popping by CNET reviewer Bonnie Cha.

The BlackBerry Storm uses similar screen technology. But now with the BlackBerry Tour, Verizon is able to offer a device with a high resolution screen and a QWERTY keypad.

"If you take the keyboard and international reach of the BlackBerry 8830 and the screen quality of the Storm and combine them, you have the Tour," said Dan Mock, director of marketing for Verizon Wireless.

Walkley believes that the pent up demand for a BlackBerry Bold-like experience on Verizon's network will help make this a popular device for existing Verizon customers.

"We expect the Tour will sell very well to Verizon's installed BlackBerry subscriber base, as this is Verizon's first product that is competitive with the Bold at AT&T," he said in his note.

While the device will certainly be an important cornerstone of Verizon's smartphone line up, it's not an exclusive deal. So it's unlikely that the device will attract many new customers to Verizon. But Mock said that doesn't matter.

"It's never been our stance to go out and base our business on one iconic device," he said. "It's always been about the network for us. Still, I'd say we also have a strong portfolio of smartphones and mobile devices on our network."

For RIM the real question is whether the Tour can get enough momentum in the market to boost sales in July and August to reach its sales targets. The launch of so many other hot smartphones at one time presents a challenge for the company as it tries to push the Tour to the forefront of customers' minds.

And the pressure could continue to intensify as T-Mobile USA still launches its next Google Android phone, the MyTouch, in early August. T-Mobile has made the MyTouch its flagship smartphone, and the company is throwing a lot of money and marketing muscle behind the device. And even though carriers, such as AT&T, Sprint Nextel, and T-Mobile all claim that their sales reps are just as happy to sell a BlackBerry as they are any of these exclusive devices, it's hard to argue that these big marketing campaigns do not have an effect on sales of other devices, such as RIM's BlackBerrys.

article source: http://news.cnet.com/8301-1035_3-10283398-94.html

RIM's App World Has 2,000 BlackBerry Apps

In just over 4 months, Research in Motion managed to get double their applications on their App World store for the BlackBerry in hopes to get more Apple users on their side. This will be pretty hard to achieve, seeing that the iPhone App Store now has about 50,000 applications up and running.

Although they're not even close, RIM is pretty happy with the number of apps, saying that "it doesn't matter whether it's 40,000 or 2,000, you've still got a broad range of choice".

This month, RIM's 2,000 BlackBerry apps will be available to users in France, Italy, Germany and Spain, with Brazil and India to follow in the coming months

article source: http://www.mobileguerilla.com/articles/2009/07/08/rim-app-world-2000-blackberry-apps.php

Tumblr App Make Blackberry Blogging Easy

This is great news. Although it may not be new to some of you out there as the application is a little on the older side. I have personally never seen this application before and I have to say, I really wish I had of known about it before.

A lot of you may have personal blogs that you maintain. A lot of you may run those blogs on Tumblr and while Tumblr does make it rather easy to post items from mobile devices with their blog integration anything that makes that type of stuff easier is always awesome. Hippocamp has made a Tumblr application available for BlackBerry devices where in which you can create, edit and post direct to your Tumblr blog all from your BlackBerry Smartphone.

Now over that past day I have tested the application and I have to say it's genius how well it works. It's free, it's been regularly updated and the developer has much more in store for the application such as video and audio upload capability in forthcoming versions. If you have a Tumblr account check it out. Now, Wordpress - can we get that application you have been promising us? Because in the meantime I have been using ScreamingToasters-Wicked Wordpress App For BlackBerry ;)

article source: http://crackberry.com/excellent-tumblr-blogging-application-blackberry-devices

Blackberry Used As Agricutural Aid

As he rolls across the wheat fields of his Nebraska farm, Steve Tucker often has his hands not on the wheel of his tractor, but on a smartphone.

He sometimes posts a dozen messages per day on Twitter, commenting on everything from the weather to the state of his crops to his son's first tractor ride and even last night's cheeseburger.
"Got rained out trying to finish up planting corn. Only 90 acres left. Maybe it will dry up today and I can finish Lord willin'," he wrote in one recent post.
"Just sold some more wheat, now, I wait for God to provide the harvest so I can fill the contracts," the 39-year-old said in another. "Eat more bread!"
Tucker is proof that smartphones are starting to put down roots in rural America.
He lives in a 150-person town near Brandon, Nebraska -- a place even he calls "the middle of nowhere." The nearest neighbor to his 4,000-acre farm is about 2 miles away.
Yet, farmers like Tucker are using Internet-enabled phones to gain a foothold on online social networks -- both for business and personal reasons.
_____________________________________________________________

Tucker's tractor tweets
Man, it's so HOT outside, had a zit on my nose that just shriveled up and died.


I'm beginning to think I root up the desert plants I planted and plant bananas and pineapple since we are having Hawaii type weather.


This is not good, the fan on my tractor AC just stopped. It gets hot in a hurry.


This is the day the Lord has made. And he made hail which has struck about every field tonight. But I'm not bitter...not very happy either.


Another night of rain, I think we are beginning to become a tropical area. Crops in the west are way behind.


Just sold some more wheat, now, I wait for God to provide the harvest so I can fill the contracts. Eat more bread!


Trying to fertilize and it is trying to sprinkle while I am doing it. Just give me two hours and then it can rain all it wants.


Got rained out trying to finish up planting corn. Only 90 acres left. Maybe it will dry up today and I can finish Lord willin'.
_____________________________________________________

"I can be in the most remote place and just with the power of having a BlackBerry ... I can communicate with anybody at anytime about anything," he said. "It is just amazing."
The growth of smartphones on farms is important because many people don't think about where their food comes from, much less associate a specific farmer with that process, said Andy Kleinschmidt, a farmer and agricultural extension educator at Ohio State University.
"When you can put a name or personality with someone who's actually raising corn and soybeans or actually milking cows, that's the most important thing that's come about in my opinion," he said.
A host of blogs and Twitter feeds have popped up around the subjects of technology and life on the farm. On Tuesdays from 8 to 10 p.m. ET, farmers meet on Twitter for a live chat about all things agricultural. You can watch that conversation by searching for agchat on the site.
Kleinschmidt said he uses a smartphone to check live weather reports, which can make or break a year's crop. Other farmers send him pictures of ailing plants, hoping to identify crop diseases early.
Some farmers use their phones as notepads, tracking their applications of pesticides, he said.
Developers of phone applications apparently have taken notice of the farm-tech trend, too. An iPhone application called PureSense helps techie farmers in drought-stricken places monitor how much water is in their soil at various locations and in real time.
Historically, farms have lagged behind the rest of country in Internet and computer usage. But a 2007 census by the U.S. Department of Agriculture says Web use on farms is increasing.
High-speed Internet access doubled on U.S. farms between 2005 and 2007, for instance, jumping from 13 percent to 27 percent.
That's still less than the general population, however. Fifty-five percent of farms had Internet access in 2007 compared with 62 percent of homes in the United States overall, according to government statistics. The census does not measure smartphone penetration.
Internet-enabled phones are making their way into rural America slowly because it's difficult to send Internet data over cellular networks in some sparsely populated areas where wireless service is spotty, some advocates have claimed.
Still, some farmers are adopting the technology despite the odds.
The biggest draw of smartphones and online social networks is that they provide human connections to people for whom farm life can be lonely, said Chuck Zimmerman, publisher of an agriculture news blog called agwired.com.

"Most farmers are going to be in their [tractor] cab," he said. "You're going all day long, night and day -- it can get a little bit boring, you know? So, a lot of them have satellite radio, smartphones, iPhones, BlackBerries. I can't tell you how many farmers are following me who are tweeting form the cab."
It's a misconception that farmers are behind the curve technologically, Zimmerman said.
"In large part, farmers tend to be very early adopters of technology. We have the stereotypical image of a hayseed farmer that still persists -- out on a tractor with a straw hat on," he said. "The reality is that most of them are very highly trained from a technological standpoint."
Tucker said his job on the farm in Nebraska includes more than harvesting wheat, corn, sunflowers and millet.
He wants to bring urban Internet users along for the ride. And in doing so, he's become a sort of text-happy evangelist for rural America.
"People out in the cities aren't familiar with agriculture like it used to be 100 years ago. They may not have an appreciation or an understanding of what goes on out in the rural side of things," he said. "I just try to be an information source for whoever may be listening."
So that's what he does from his tractor -- one tweet at a time.
article source: http://www.cnn.com/2009/TECH/07/02/twitter.farmer/index.html#cnnSTCText

President Obama gets his daily prayers via his Blackberry

President Barack Obama says he gets a prayer every morning on his BlackBerry.

Obama told reporters from religious news organizations on Thursday that White House faith director Joshua DuBois sends him a morning devotional every day to his e-mail device. He says it's a "wonderful practice" that started during the campaign.

Tech-savvy Obama is the first president to use e-mail while in office and is seldom seen without his BlackBerry. Only a handful of aides and personal friends have the e-mail address for the handheld device.

Aides tried to take away Obama's BlackBerry after he won the White House, noting that the e-mails are someday going to be made public. Obama resisted and instead got a security upgrade.
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jF1Y_E9AwQQNRUIqcszFS-fmcwJwD996INR00

U2 To Cross Promote With BlackBerry

There was some controversy when U2 announced it was ending its long-standing partnership with Apple and the iPhone to do a cross-promotion with Research in Motion's BlackBerry handsets. At the time, U2 members allegedly said they made the switch because RIM would let them be involved in design — whatever that means.

Now the product of the agreement is clear: an app exclusive to BlackBerry phones called the U2 Mobile Album. With it, you can listen to the new album, read news from U2.com, watch music videos, check dates for the now-in-session U2 360 tour, and locate other people using the app at concerts. Much of this has been done before in band apps for the iPhone or other devices, of course, but it's the first time such features have been available to U2 fans.

One of the features touted is a location-aware map of each concert stadium the band plays in, with dots showing you where you and other BlackBerry users are sitting or standing.

There hasn't been any word yet on when this app will go public, how you'll be able to get it, or how much it will cost.
article source: http://www.obsessable.com/software/u2-mobile-album-for-blackberry/

Blackberry App - Speech-to-Speech Voice Translator Available In The Near Future

Sakhr is a translation company with big clients like the U.S. Department of Defense and Homeland Security. They specialize in English/Arabic translation, and this demo of their Blackberry app (not publicly available) looks like the Holy Grail of translation software.
You hold a button, say a phrase and the software captures the information through speech recognition. The text is then translated into either Arabic or English (in the cloud, we believe) and then read aloud so mispronunciation is not an issue.
Of course, voice recognition is one of those fabled computer advancements that's parked in a perpetual spot "right around the corner," but if this app works even with 85% accuracy, that's close enough for most tourists—even if soldiers could find the mistakes a bit more costly.
It's just too bad that Sakhr probably makes too much money off the US government to ever license the tech for those of us who'd just want to trek through Europe without a pocket dictionary. So let's go to war with France so I can visit the Eiffel Tower!

article source: http://gizmodo.com/5305414/remarkable-speech+to+speech-voice-translator-coming-to-iphone-and-blackberry

Verizon BlackBerry Tour Site Gets Updated: July 12th Release Official; Tour Pre-Ordering Available

Some late night activity just sprung up in the CrackBerry forums on word that Verizon's BlackBerry Tour site has been updated, which confirms the previously rumored July 12th in-store availability date and also allows for pre-ordering of the device. At the time of this post the new site seems to still be propagating through (the site isn't showing up properly for everyone just yet and the preordering isn't quite working - it should be good to go soon), but you will want to jump over and take a look.
The updated site also features a short Bloggers on the Tour video which features a couple of CrackBerry.com quotes about the BlackBerry Tour..... SWEET! The BlackBerry Tour definitely is the smartphone sooo many CDMA users have been waiting for. The release of the BlackBerry Tour is so close now. I guess it's about time we get ready for a CrackBerry contest huh? Stay tuned!!! If you're excited for the Tour, say CrackBerry!

article source: http://crackberry.com/verizon-blackberry-tour-site-gets-updated-july-12th-release-official-pre-order-available

BlackBerry Tour available for Pre-order

Verizon Wireless started to take pre-orders for the new BlackBerry Tour. The BlackBerry Tour will be released on July 12th and sells for $199.99 with a new 2 year activation. The BlackBerry Tour has a 480x360 display, a QWERTY keyboard, 16GB of expandable memory, and a 3.2 megapixel camera (with variable zoom, flash, auto-focus, and image stabilization). It's also got a built in GPS, and it comes pre-loaded with a bunch of Sprint programs, like Sprint TV and Sprint NFL mobile. Articl source: http://www.i4u.com/article25624.html

Mobile Tag's solution now downloadable for GPhones and BlackBerry

Innovative French company and European 2D mobile barcode leader, Mobile Tag, announces today that its Datamatrix embedded software application mobiletag, that allows mobile phones to read 2D barcodes simply by using the phone's camera to provide quick access to external content such as movie trailers or promotional information, is now downloadable on the Android Market for GPhones, and on the BlackBerry App Store.
The solution that was launched for all other mobile phones back in 2006 is now ready to be deployed on these smart phones and can now be downloaded for free via Android Market or BlackBerry App Store."Mobile Tag is a company that constantly tries to stay one step ahead of the trends, closely following new hardware launches, which explains why we have adapted our mobiletag solution to ensure that a version compatible with smart phones such as the GPhones or BlackBerry is available for our customers as of today," comments Christian François Viala, Marketing and Communication Director at Mobile Tag. GPhones"Using the mobiletag software on the new GPhones from Google will give our users faster direct access to the Internet when they shoot a tag to obtain external content," continues Mr. Viala. "The main difference when using mobiletag on the GPhones will be that rather than using the phone's camera to take a snap shot of the 2D barcode, users will need to use their phones in video mode instead".BlackBerry As for the GPhones, mobiletag for the BlackBerry Bold will also need to be used in video mode - saving time (as no snap shot needs to be captured) and offering an easier and more user-friendly interface. For all other BlackBerry models, the solution operates in its traditional snap shot mode. About Mobile Tag, mobiletag & MEEPASSInnovative French company, Mobile Tag is a leading software developer specialising in mobile handset software solutions. Mobile Tag has two main products: mobiletag and MEEPASS. It also added an NFC tag management server to its portfolio. In 2006, the company launched mobiletag, an embedded software application that allows mobile phones to read 2D barcodes, otherwise known as tags, simply by using the phone's camera. Mobile Tag developed the software to create quick access to external content. Mobile Tag received a venture capital investment of 4 million euros in October 2008, funded by new lead investor Alven Capital and by existing shareholders (XangeCapital and IDF Capital). This capital increase will allow mobiletag to pursue its international growth strategy in the market of 2D barcodes. mobiletag has already established business partnerships with the major French and European mobile network Operators and is in negotiation today with international brands. Mobile Tag SAS has established a Delaware Corporation, Mobile Tag, Inc. which is headquartered in Atlanta, GA. Mobile Tag, Inc. is focused on North American Mobile Operators and Brands with the same proven MEEPASS and mobiletag technology and services.In addition to mobiletag, Mobile Tag is pleased to announce the launch of MEEPASS, a revolutionary new mobile identification product that the company showcased at this year's Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. For more information, please visit: www.mobiletag.com or www.meepass.com. For mobiles, please use mobiletag.com
article source:
http://www.lbszone.com/content/view/5165/2/

BlackBerry Saves British Skier

The phone prevented him from falling to his death!

Yes, we all know that the BlackBerry of yours has been a life-saver on many occasions. Providing you instant access to your e-mails, no matter where you are and keeping you in touch with colleagues and friends are all things that a BlackBerry takes in its stride. But saving you from certain death is not amongst those for sure!
That is until you hear about David Fitzherbert, a British skier who owes his life to his trusted BlackBerry, quite literally. The skier while on a usual skiing trip somehow managed to slip in to a crevice, fell 70 feet down and lived to tell the tale. What saved him from almost certain death was his BlackBerry phone he had kept in his breast pocket.
The phone caused him to get struck in an ice crack and prevented the chap from falling further. Thanks to the half-inch wide phone, he apparently was a tad "wider" than the diameter of the crack and well, he remained stuck there for a couple of hours before the rescuers reached him.
If you are worried about the fate of the phone, don't worry. It's still working. Trusty old Blackberries!

article source:
http://www.techtree.com/India/News/BlackBerry_Saves_British_Skier/551-103750-893.html

BlackBerry has Fitness Apps

There are quite a few health and fitness apps for your BlackBerry in the BlackBerry App World. This isn't a comprehensive list, but is a place to start if you're looking to make fitness tracking more mobile. Most of these apps are found under the Personal Health and Wellness section in the App World, but depending on what kinds of activities you like to do you may also want to check the Maps and Navigation section for GPS apps, and Sports and Recreation for specific sports related apps.

Ascendo Fitness ($29.99 / 7 day free trial)This is a standalone app for your BlackBerry. Make sure to set your weight, height, gender, and age in the User Settings. This will ensure the caloric values of the exercises you do are accurate for you. You have to search for all food items because there aren't any pre-filled lists to choose from. I did have some trouble finding some of my common foods on here so the food database might not be as large as fatsecret's or the Daily Plate's, but you can add foods. You can also add exercises and it has a journal feature. It doesn't sync with any websites, but you can export your journal entries, food logs and exercise logs via email. You can set goals but you have to decide on the numbers yourself. There isn't any guidance and it doesn't fill these fields in (like how many calories you should eat in a day to lose the weight you want to lose) with recommended numbers based your personal height/weight.

All Sport GPS by Trimble Navigation ($39.99 / 7 day free trial)The UI is pretty stripped down and you can't add a name or description to the routes you create, but you can do that all on their website. It's easy to use and has gotten some strong reviews and I think the Trimble Outdoors site works well so even if the BlackBerry app isn't perfect, the website might make up for it. Trimble Navigation also has a Geocaching mobile app and an outdoor planning & navigation app called Trimble Outdoors available for the BlackBerry.

Calorie Counter by fatsecret (free)It requires you to have a user account on fatsecret and keeps track of your daily food log as well as exercise and your weight. It seems to have a decent foods database -- I didn't have any trouble finding some of the common foods I eat. It syncs with the website so you can use both, and fatsecret also has an iGoogle app and a Facebook app. Use with caution though: be careful with the sync and verify that it's working before you add large quantities of data. I opted to delete from the device and it not only deleted from the device, but also didn't sync with my fatsecret user account, and there was no way to return to those options to change them for testing.

Calorie Tracker by LIVESTRONG ($2.99)This is another tool that tracks your daily food log and exercise. The Daily Plate at LIVESTRONG claims it has a database of over 525,000 foods and restaurant items. If you're already a LIVESTRONG or Daily Plate member, this would be a good tool to add to your mobile device.

FitDeck MobileFitDeck Mobile ($14.99 / 3 day free trial)This app is unlike any of the others listed here. It's like a card deck of exercises (they also sell them as card decks too) that you flip through for a workout you can do anywhere. Unlike the illustrated exercises in Total Fitness (see below), these exercises require no equipment (except for an occasional chair) so you can do them at home, in the office, on vacation. The UI is clean and easy. They are color coded to correspond to different body parts: blue for upper body, red for core, orange for lower body, red for full body exercises. The cards also include 30 second water breaks, and repeats and skips. The illustrations are helpful, and descriptions are detailed and easy to read. The reps and/or allotted times for exercises cover beginner, intermediate, and advanced users.

Good Food Near You (free) You can use this app to look up nutrition information for foods located in restaurants near you. You can let it locate you automatically or set a location manually. It's really easy to use and the UI is nice. However, it only seems to have really popular restaurants/eateries. I live in a city with a lot of local, independent restaurants and none of those were listed, but the app is free and will be useful when you have to stop into a Jamba Juice or a McDonald's and make food choices.

Map My Tracks (free)The BlackBerry app is free, but you have to have an account on their website. The free account only allows you 1 hour of tracking per month (say one medium length run a month) and the paid account is £5.99/month (about $10US). It has a nice UI, but the font is a little small, and it doesn't allow you to use the keyboard when tagging tracks (runs/hikes/walks/etc) -- you have to use the trackball instead. This app is located under the Sports and Recreation section on App World.

Total Fitness ($4.99 / 4 day free trial)This is another standalone app that doesn't sync to a website that allows you to track your food and exercise log on a daily basis. It has predefined exercises that include 40 illustrated exercises with descriptions. Most of these exercises, unlike FitDeck, require some equipment like dumbbells, barbell, ball or bench, or other gym equipment. You can add foods and exercises. You can also track your body measurements like weight, blood pressure, etc. It has a few different types of calculators like BMI, BMR, body fat, target heart rate, but doesn't pre-populate the fields with the personal data you've stored in the app like height, weight, gender. It doesn't sync with any websites, but you can email yourself reports. Note: the web link above seems to be out of date. BlackBerry App World prices the app at $4.99 and the webpage lists it at $29.99.

Recommendations
If you already use the Daily Plate (or LIVESTRONG), fatsecret, Trimble Outdoors, or Map My Tracks, then you probably want to use the tools that sync to those sites. If you're looking for a site to join, of the sites listed here I would recommend LIVESTRONG and Trimble Outdoors.
If you want a standalone app on your BlackBerry, go with Total Fitness. It's less expensive than Ascendo, and offers pretty much the same product, and the illustrated exercises are useful for beginners and anyone working on their form.
For fitness on the go and anywhere choose FitDeck. It's easy to use and reasonably priced. And take Good Food Near You while you're at it. It's free and will help you make food choices at popular eateries and restaurants.

article source: http://www.examiner.com/x-12025-Fitness-Tech-Examiner~y2009m6d26-Fitness-apps-for-your-BlackBerry

BlackBerry Tour vs Nokia E72: The Battle For Business

Two new business-oriented smart phones are about to the hit store shelves: The latest in Nokia's line of business phones, the E72, and the long-rumoured BlackBerry Tour 9630.
Both phones will be on the market later on this year, with the BlackBerry 9630 available this summer on Sprint and Verizon, while the Nokia E72 will be available in the third quarter. Here's a head-to head comparison of these brand new business phones.
Both business smart phones feature a 2.4-inch display, but the BlackBerry Tour is the hands-down winner in this category, with a brighter and crisper display, packing more pixels per inch than the E72.
The Tour 9630 features the now famous BlackBerry QWERTY keyboard, but Nokia is also catching up in this department; the E72 has a roomy keyboard inherited from the previous model, the E71.
When it comes to navigating the devie, the BlackBerry uses the trackball found on previous models. But the E72 brings something new to the table: an optical trackpad, which, judging by this demonstration video, looks easy to use. For a new user, either navigation solution will take some getting used to, so this comes down to personal preference.
As for connectivity, the Nokia E72 looks like a good all-rounder, with Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and an Infrared port. The BlackBerry Tour features Bluetooth as well, (with A2DP) but is somehow lacking Wi-Fi (just like the much-derided BlackBerry Storm). The E72 also features an FM radio, which the Tour doesn't.
The camera is yet another major differentiation point between the E71 and the Tour. The Nokia device features a 5-megapixel camera and a secondary camera for video calls, while the BlackBerry Tour has a 3.2-megapixel camera. Both cameras have autofocus, flash, and video recording capabilities.
Both the E72 and the Tour 9630 feature built-in GPS, which is used for navigation and for geotagging pictures taken with the phones. However, Nokia added to the E72 an electronic compass, for an improved navigation experience.
Lastly, both devices come with an application store: Nokia has its brand-new Ovi Store while Research in Motion launched the BlackBerry App World a few months ago. Both app stores are relatively young, but are offering more new and useful apps regularly, so I would call a tie in this department.
Of course, this is just a rundown through the devices based on the specifications released by the manufacturers so far. When both devices become available, we will put them through some extensive tests and report back to you as usual.

Daniel Ionescu

http://www.pcworld.com/article/166737/blackberry_tour_vs_nokia_e72_the_battle_for_business.html

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Research In Motion: Where Are The Cool New Phones?

So, is Research In Motion (RIMM) in danger of suddenly looking behind the times in its phone designs?
GC Research analyst Tero Kuittinen raises that question in a research note this morning. While still bullish on the stock - he as an Overweight rating and $95 price target - Kuittinen writes that the current lineup is looking “a bit shopworn,” and asserts that the company appears to have made a decision to make incremental improvements in mid-range and and low-end models “instead of bringing advanced features aggressively to cheaper devices.”
The analyst notes that pricing on newer big display models like the Apple iPhone, the Palm Pre, the LG Cookie, the Nokia 5800 and Android-based HTC units has been “surprisingly aggressive,” and asserts that RIMM may have underestimated the rate of migration of the 3-inch touch-screen displays into lower price points.
He thinks results for the fiscal second quarter ending in August will be strong; he is modeling EPS of $1.02 a share, ahead of the Street at 99 cents. But he is cutting estimates for subsequent quarters: for FY Q3, he is down to 98 cents, from $1.22, and for FY Q4, he goes to $1.02, from $1.49.
Kuittinen says he is hearing “tepid” feedback on the 8230 flip phone model at Verizon; and he contends the new BlackBerry Tour is “extremely close to the aging Curve in look and feel,” and lack WiFi support.
“Overall, RIMMS’s expansion to flip phones is ill-timed, and the Tour line lacks kick and the low-end improvements are minor at best,” he writes. “It is the combination of these three simultaneous factors that leads us to believe RIMM may have been lulled into complacency by the stellar success of the BlackBerry devices over the past couple of years. The years 2009 is a tough period to let your product development program spin its wheels.” He does say that Storm 2 should debut at Verizon by October - but he ads that “one major big-display phone launch…may not fully offset the slight malaise afficting the rest of the BlackBerry range in the autumn.”
RIMM today is up $1.34, or 1.9%, to $70.64.

Posted by Eric Savitz
http://blogs.barrons.com/techtraderdaily/2009/06/26/research-in-motion-where-are-the-cool-new-phones/

BlackBerry Tour Release Dates Confirmed

A couple of release dates have now been confirmed regarding one of the most anticipated BlackBerry releases of the summer in the Tour 9630.
First, Verizon will be launching its version of the Tour on July 12th for $199.99 after new 2 year agreement and rebates according to information found on the internal testman server, which has been a good indicator of release timeframes in the past.
Sercond, Inside Sprint Now has confirmed a July 20th release date for the Sprint version, which is corroborated by the availability of training materials and demo units within Sprint Customer Care.

Written by Humberto Saabedra
http://www.phonenews.com/blackberry-tour-release-dates-confirmed-8309/

Blackberry Tour hitting Verizon Wireless on July 12th, Selling for $199

Well, you heard that right peoples. It looks like Verizon Wireless is gearing up to launch the much-awaited BlackBerry Tour on July 12th. The best part? It appears it’s going to go for $199 with a two-year agreement according to Verizon’s testman site. That’s sweet spot pricing and hey, let’s be upfront — they’re going to move truckloads of these things.
article source: http://www.boygeniusreport.com/2009/06/26/blackberry-tour-hitting-verizon-wireless-on-july-12th-selling-for-199/

Palm Is Down, Not Out of Smartphone Race

Palm continues to placate Wall Street with promises of future growth, as shares jumped in after-hours trading even as the smartphone maker reported a loss totaling $105 million for its fiscal fourth quarter.
While the loss didn't surprise industry watchers -- it actually topped analyst estimates -- the company's executives did touch on Palm's direction during its critical transformation.
During the company's earnings call, newly appointed Palm CEO Jon Rubenstein ran down a list of Palm's strengths, including interest from the enterprise for the company's new flagship product, the Palm Pre, and expressed confidence in his belief that company's new mobile platform webOS will take off with developers, despite a slow roll-out.
For the quarter ending May 29, Palm's (NASDAQ: PALM) net loss of $105 million is more than double the loss of $43.4 million in the same quarter last year.
Palm lost $0.40 per share in the latest quarter, compared with a loss of $0.22 per share a year earlier. Revenue dipped from the past year by 71 percent, to $86.8 million from $296.2 million. Analysts polled by Thomson Reuters were looking for Palm to post a loss of $0.62 per share on sales of $80.6 million.
Palm also shipped 351,000 smartphones during the quarter, down 62 percent from a year earlier.
For the entire fiscal year, Palm realized a loss of $753 million, or $6.51 a share, compared with a loss of $110.9 million, or $1.05 a share, a year earlier. Revenue fell 44 percent to $735.9 million from $1.32 billion.
Still, Palm share price rose $1.68 to $15.70 in trading before exchanges opened, and shares have more than quadrupled this year in large part on speculation that the Palm Pre will fuel a comeback at the company.
Also, the fourth-quarter and full-year results don't account for the success the Palm Pre has seen since it went on sale June 6 -- and Jon Rubenstein made sure investors and analysts looked to the company's future.
"The launch of Palm webOS and Palm Pre was a major milestone in Palm's transformation," Rubenstein said in a statement. "We have now officially re-entered the race. We have more to accomplish, but the groundwork is laid for a very promising future here at Palm."
The Pre, the first smartphone operating on the company's new webOS mobile operating system, hit store shelves three weeks ago. It faces tough competition from Apple's (NASDAQ: AAPL) new iPhone 3G S, as well as other models expected from Research In Motion (NASDAQ: RIMM) and those running on Android from HTC, Samsung and Motorola.
Still, Rubenstein said the lucrative smartphone market is healthy enough to sustain more than one top dog.
"Only a handful of companies have the software and product design capabilities," he said during the earnings call. "There's room for three to five players in this space. We don't have to beat each other to prosper."
Among the competition, the RIM BlackBerry dominates in the enterprise but its maker is trying to push into the consumer market, where Apple reigns supreme. But Palm's chief said there's initial interest in the Pre from the enterprise, as well.
"One thing we're seeing is a lot of interest out of the enterprise, and we don't have a lot of data yet, but the general feel is there is a lot of enterprise interest out there," he said.
He also declined to comment on any when the webOS family of products would be released on other carriers. Sprint now has an exclusive deal to sell the Palm Pre.
Rubenstein called Sprint a "great partner," saying the carrier is doing a "phenomenal job," based on personal visits he made to stores at launch, and added that its data plans are generally cheaper than that of competitors. However, he declined to go into further detail on Palm's relationships with Sprint or other carriers.
"It's not something we talk about," he said.
Despite the positive take on the company's next steps outlined during the earnings call, at least one analyst is wary of how the bottom line will be impacted moving forward.
"While Palm delivered a good quarter on very low expectations, we remain cautious on the stock due to the lack of visibility heading into F2010," Peter Misek, an analyst with Canaccord Adams, wrote in a report issued today.
"The company offered no financial guidance and would not disclose Pre volumes in the quarter. Management would also offer no updates on other carrier discussions or new product launch plans. In addition, we believe that Pre sales are below our projections at roughly 150,000 sold to date according to our channel checks."
internetnews.com/mobility/article.php/3827246
By Michelle Megna

RealPlayer Plus SP Comes to BlackBerry

Today RealNetworks announced the launch of a new application for the BlackBerry line of smartphones. RealPlayer Plus SP will allow BlackBerry owners to convert and store web videos on their mobile phones. Now you can upload your favorite Youtube videos to your smartphone and watch them wherever you go, even if there's no Internet there. Finally BlackBerry owners will be able to spread Youtube memes to the far corners of the globe without needing an Internet connection.

Of course, there are uses for an app like this that go beyond just mindless entertainment, but that's pretty much the main reason RealNetworks built this app. Their stated goal with this new app is to help “customers get even more value out of their favorite entertainment”. BlackBerries have had a reputation for being 'business' smartphones for too long. RIM needs to emphasize that their mobiles pack just as much entertainment potential as the iPhone or the Pre. Apps like this are a good place for them to start.

The RealPlayer Plus SP beta is available for free on the BlackBerry Bold, Curve, 8800, and Storm series of smartphones right now. Users who choose to upgrade to the full version for $39.99 will get DVD playback and burning as well as h.264 video conversion.

by Robert Evans
http://www.i4u.com/article25553.html

China Telecom in Talks to Offer BlackBerry

China Telecom is in talks with Research In Motion (RIM) about offering the BlackBerry in China, as the carrier looks to expand the handset selection for its next-generation mobile network.
The companies have "started preliminary contacts" over offering the device, which could potentially use China Telecom's 3G network, a spokesman for the carrier said.
The companies expect to start sales of the device in the fourth quarter, said Zhang Jun, an analyst at research house Wedge MKI.

China's three carriers -- China Mobile, China Telecom and China Unicom -- are all expanding their 3G networks, which currently offer limited coverage and have drawn few subscribers. Each carrier has sought to offer stylish handsets for its network to attract and retain users.
But the BlackBerry may not strongly attract users. Data services are not yet very popular in China, where voice and text messaging remain the most common activities on mobile phones, Zhang said.

China Mobile has offered BlackBerry service for three years, but no BlackBerry handsets for individual consumers, said Mark Natkin, managing director of Marbridge Consulting in Beijing.
China Mobile also undercut the BlackBerry offering by launching its own, cheaper service around the same time to deliver e-mail directly to other handsets, said Natkin.
China Telecom has far fewer mobile subscribers than China Mobile, the country's and the world's largest carrier, but it may be more accommodating toward RIM than its competitor, he said.
China Mobile reported having over 488 million mobile subscribers last month, compared to almost 37 million for China Telecom.

The iPhone is better known than the BlackBerry in China. IPhones smuggled into the country or purchased abroad have proven popular with fashion-conscious urban users. There are already 1 million iPhones in China, consultancy Ovum estimates.
Apple is in talks with China Unicom about offering the iPhone and has said it hopes to start sales in China in the next year.
A RIM spokesman declined to comment.
Owen Fletcher, IDG News Service
http://www.pcworld.com/businesscenter/article/167432/china_telecom_in_talks_to_offer_blackberry.html

BlackBerry 9000 in the wild

Okay, we'll admit, the first thought on our minds when we saw the BlackBerry 9000 in its natural habitat for the first time was, "that's it?" RIM's been taking on increasingly sharp competition as of late -- even in its traditional corporate strongholds -- and we'd expected and hoped to see something less evolutionary and more revolutionary from these cats. On closer inspection, though, we find that the phone is leaving a very positive second impression. The phone's lines seem flow really well (dare we call a BlackBerry "sexy"?) without losing its purpose-suited stance exuded by the 8300s, 8700s, and 8800s of yore. The real kicker, though, might be the beautiful user interface, which has been totally revamped from the ground up; gone is the cartoonish look and feel of the current lineup, replaced with a modern, warm theme with wireframe icons and slick animations. Another big win: as Vodafone's slide deck mentioned, the 9000 features both WiFi and HSDPA, confirmed by this particular example's info display. Too little, too late -- or is this thing a genuine threat in the marketplace this year?

Article by Chris Ziegler http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/03/28/blackberry-9000-in-the-wild/

BlackBerry 9630 walkthrough

Thanks to www.boygeniusreport.com

RIM Patches BlackBerry PDF Flaw

Research in Motion (RIM) has issued a new security patch for BlackBerry Enterprise Server to fix vulnerabilities in its PDF distiller program.
The patch was issued on a BlackBerry forum last week and was billed as a fix for any customers that use BlackBerry Enterprise Server (BES) versions 4.1 through 5.0. RIM said that there were "multiple security vulnerabilities" that existed in some versions of the enterprise servers' PDF distiller that were released as part of the BlackBerry Attachment Service. The vulnerabilities could allow hackers to send users e-mails containing a "specifically crafted PDF file" that could cause memory corruption and "possibly lead to arbitrary code execution" of the computer hosting the attachment service.
While companies take time to test the new patch on their systems, RIM recommends that IT departments prevent the attachment service from processing any PDF files that come through the BES environment. RIM also says that companies could install the attachment service onto a remote computer and place it in its own remote network segment to stop the spread of malicious PDF files throughout the network.
Brad Reed,NetworkWorld www.pcworld.com/article/166094/rim_patches_blackberry_pdf_flaw.html

Verizon to launch the BlackBerry Curve 8530 Aries in February 2010

Although it was initially slated for a September-October 2009 launch through Verizon, BlackBerry Curve 8530 (aka BlackBerry Aries) will not hit the US market this year.
According to The Street, the 8530 Aries was delayed and thus it will be released by Verizon sometime in February 2010.
Coming as the CDMA version of T-Mobile’s BlackBerry 8520 Gemini, BlackBerry Curve 8530 should feature an optical trackball, a QVGA display, Wi-Fi and a 2MP camera.

If you really want a new BlackBerry from Verizon this year, you should know that the carrier will launch the Tour 9630 this summer – at about the same time with Sprint.
Or, if you’re into Windows Mobile, you might want to check out Verizon’s new HTC Ozone, which will be available for as low as $49.99 starting June 29.

http://www.unwiredview.com/2009/06/25/verizon-to-launch-the-blackberry-curve-8530-aries-in-february-2010/ photo courtesy of http://crackberry.com/blackberry-curve-8530

LiveOnTheGo Extends Its Online Food Ordering Service to the Popular BlackBerry Platform

The focus of LiveOnTheGo.com is to provide people on the go with access to online food ordering, making ordering food a faster and more convenient experience. Now, with the launch of the BlackBerry platform users are more connected than ever. Orders can be placed at over 1,000 restaurants online or using a BlackBerry, iPhone, iPod Touch, and web enabled PDA, eliminating the hassles of placing a phone order and waiting in long lines. LiveOnTheGo.com and the new BlackBerry version of the service are completely free to use. Users can place online orders now at liveonthego.com. BlackBerry users will automatically be redirected to the new BlackBerry site.
Restaurant searches are based on a user’s location and choices range from fast-casual to upscale dining. Users can order from complete menus, pay for their orders with a credit card directly on their BlackBerry and even reorder past orders in just a few clicks. Users have the ability to determine exactly when they want their food and if they want to pick up their order or have it delivered, eliminating the need to wait in long restaurant lines. Many restaurants also offer the option of curbside pickup, allowing customers to relax in their car while the restaurant brings their order out to them. Since no money needs to change hands curbside service is even quicker and more convenient than visiting a drive-thru.
“We designed this site for users like me,” said Darren Testa, CEO, LiveOnTheGo.com. “Between meetings, kids and work I am always struggling to find time for meals throughout the day, but I am always connected to my BlackBerry. Now I can place orders directly from my BlackBerry along side checking my emails and staying on top of my business. Plus, since I can pay directly from my BlackBerry when I get to the restaurant there is no waiting in line, I just grab my food and go.”
LiveOnTheGo.com has more than 1,000 restaurant partners in 33 states — with more restaurants signing on each week. Yard House, Baja Fresh, Ten Asian Bistro, Fuddruckers, Schlotzsky's Deli, Pasta Bravo, Cedar Creek Inn, Ruby’s Diner, First Class Pizza, Subway, Antonello Ristorante, and The Flame Broiler, are just some of the restaurants currently partnered with LiveOnTheGo.com.
About LiveOnTheGo.com
Founded in 2006, LiveOnTheGo.com is a convenient, free service that allows users to order and pay for take out food online. Using a BlackBerry, iPhone or iPod Touch users can order from over 1,000 restaurants in 33 states and have it ready when they want it — with no waiting on the phone, no waiting in line and no waiting to pay. More information can be found on the company’s.

Hands On with the BlackBerry Tour 9630

At two separate events Wednesday I got some hands-on time with the BlackBerry Tour 9630, the new flagship BlackBerry for Sprint and Verizon. There's not much to report - and that's actually a good thing.

The Tour feels like the best of all BlackBerry worlds so far: the smooth form and 3.2-megapixel camera of the 8900 combined with the Bold's keyboard and the 8830's global capabilities. Using the Tour felt lightning fast, and the 2.5" screen was bright and tight. The Tour felt like it just works - it will be totally familiar to BlackBerry users, just faster, better, and higher-resolution. That's what I mean by "not much to report." The Tour is a refinement, not a revolution.
The Verizon version I used had V CAST Music with Rhapsody and Verizon's visual voicemail client on it. The Sprint version was an early model that didn't yet have Sprint TV or the other Sprint software which will come on final units.

Interestingly, the Verizon Tour runs BlackBerry software 4.7.1.38. The much-maligned Storm runs 4.7.0.148. Is 4.7.1 truly an upgrade to 4.7.0? If it is, then the Tour's release could portend a further improvement for the Storm, as well.

I'm hoping to get both Tour models as soon as they come out later this summer.

Originally posted tohttp://www.gearlog.com/ By Sascha Segan - PC Magazine

A Brief History Of The BlackBerry

BlackBerry is a line of wireless handheld devices that was introduced in 1999 as a two-way pager. In 2002, the more commonly known smartphone BlackBerry was released, which supports push e-mail, mobile telephone, text messaging, internet faxing, web browsing and other wireless information services as well as a multi-touch interface. It is an example of a convergent device. Developed by the Canadian company Research In Motion (RIM), it delivers information over the wireless data networks of mobile phone service companies. BlackBerry first made headway in the marketplace by concentrating on e-mail. RIM currently offers BlackBerry e-mail service to non-BlackBerry devices, such as the Palm Treo, through the BlackBerry Connect software. The original BlackBerry device had a monochrome display, but all current models have color displays.
While including PDA applications (address book, calendar, to-do lists, etc.) as well as telephone capabilities on newer models, the BlackBerry is primarily known for its ability to send and receive e-mail wherever it can access a wireless network of certain cellular phone carriers. It has a built-in QWERTY keyboard, optimized for "thumbing", the use of only the thumbs to type. System navigation is primarily accomplished by a scroll ball in the middle of the device (older devices used a track wheel on the side). Some models (currently, those manufactured for use with iDEN networks such as Nextel and Mike) also incorporate a Push-to-Talk (PTT) feature, similar to a two-way radio.
Modern BlackBerry handhelds incorporate an ARM 7 or 9 processor, while older BlackBerry 950 and 957 handhelds used Intel 80386 processors. The latest GSM BlackBerry models (8100, 8300 and 8700 series) have an Intel PXA901 312 MHz processor, 64 MB flash memory and 16 MB SDRAM. CDMA BlackBerry smartphones are based on Qualcomm MSM6x00 chipsets which also include the ARM 9-based processor and GSM 900/1800 roaming (as the case with the 8830 and 9500). The devices are very popular with some businesses, where they are primarily used to provide e-mail access to roaming employees. To fully integrate the BlackBerry into a company's systems, the installation of BlackBerry Enterprise Server (BES) is required.
On 18 Dec 2008, RIM announced the number of BlackBerry subscribers has reached approximately 21 million.

Operating system
RIM provides a proprietary multi-tasking operating system (OS) for the BlackBerry, which makes heavy use of the device's specialized input devices, particularly the scroll wheel (1999–2006) or more recently the trackball (September 12 2006–present). The OS provides support for Java MIDP 1.0 and WAP 1.2. Previous versions allowed wireless synchronization with Microsoft Exchange Server's e-mail and calendar, as well as with Lotus Domino's e-mail. The current OS 4 provides a subset of MIDP 2.0, and allows complete wireless activation and synchronization with Exchange's e-mail, calendar, tasks, notes and contacts, and adds support for Novell GroupWise and Lotus Notes.
Third-party developers can write software using these APIs, proprietary BlackBerry APIs as well, but any application that makes use of certain restricted functionality must be digitally signed so that it can be associated to a developer account at RIM. This signing procedure guarantees the authorship of an application, but does not guarantee the quality or security of the code.

CPU
Early BlackBerry devices used Intel-80386-based processors. The latest BlackBerry 9000 series is equipped with Intel XScale 624MHz CPU,which makes it the fastest BlackBerry to date. Earlier BlackBerry 8000 series smartphones, such as the 8700 and the Pearl, are based on the 312MHz ARM XScale ARMv5TE PXA900. An exception to this is the BlackBerry 8707 which is based on the 80MHz Qualcomm 3250 chipset, this was due to the ARM XScale ARMv5TE PXA900 chipset not supporting 3G networks. The 80MHz Processor in the BlackBerry 8707 actually meant the device was often slower to download and render web pages over 3G than the 8700 was over EDGE networks.

Database
Data extracted from a BlackBerry to a host computer is stored in a single file in a BlackBerry-specific format known as IPD.

Supporting software
BlackBerry Enterprise Server- BlackBerry handhelds are integrated into an organization's e-mail system through a software package called "BlackBerry Enterprise Server" (BES). Versions of BES are available for Microsoft Exchange, Lotus Domino and Novell GroupWise. While individual users may be able to use a wireless provider's e-mail services without having to install BES themselves, organizations with multiple users usually run BES on their own network. Some third-party companies provide hosted BES solutions. Every BlackBerry has an id called BlackBerry PIN, which is used to identify the device to the BES.
BES can act as a sort of e-mail relay for corporate accounts so that users always have access to their e-mail. The software monitors the user's local "inbox", and when a new message comes in, it picks up the message and passes it to RIM's Network Operations Center (NOC). The messages are then relayed to the user's wireless provider, which in turn delivers them to the user's BlackBerry device.
This is called "push e-mail," because all new e-mails, contacts and calendar entries are "pushed" out to the BlackBerry device automatically, as opposed to the user synchronizing the data by hand or on a polling basis. Blackberry also supports polling email, which is how it supports POP. Device storage also enables the mobile user to access all data offline in areas without wireless service. As soon as the user connects again, the BES sends the latest data.
An included feature in the newer models of the BlackBerry is the ability for it to track your current location through trilateration. One can view the online maps on the phone and see current location denoted by a flashing dot. However, accuracy of BlackBerry trilateration is less than that of GPS due to a number of factors, including cell tower blockage by large buildings, mountains, or distance.
BES also provides handhelds with TCP/IP connectivity accessed through a component called "Mobile Data Service" (MDS). This allows for custom application development using data streams on BlackBerry devices based on the Sun Microsystems Java ME platform.
In addition, BES provides security, in the form of Triple DES or, more recently, AES encryption of all data (both e-mail and MDS traffic) that travels between the BlackBerry handheld and a BlackBerry Enterprise Server.
Most providers offer flat monthly pricing for unlimited data between BlackBerry units and BES. In addition to receiving e-mail, organizations can make intranets or custom internal applications with unmetered traffic.
With more recent versions of the BlackBerry platform, the MDS is no longer a requirement for wireless data access. Beginning with OS 3.8 or 4.0, BlackBerry handhelds can access the Internet (i.e. TCP/IP access) without an MDS - previously only e-mail and WAP access was possible without a BES/MDS. The BES/MDS is still required for secure e-mail, data access, and applications that require WAP from carriers that do not allow WAP access.

BlackBerry Internet Service-The primary alternate to using BlackBerry Enterprise Server is to use the BlackBerry Internet Service.

BlackBerry Desktop Redirector-A less common alternate to using BlackBerry Enterprise Server is to use the BlackBerry Desktop Redirector. This software is installed on a desktop computer that has the enterprise email client installed.

Supported Software
BlackBerry Messenger-Newer BlackBerry devices use the proprietary Blackberry Messenger software for sending and receiving text messages via Blackberry PIN.
Third-party software available for use on BlackBerry devices includes full-featured database management systems which can be used to support customer relationship management clients and other applications that must manage large volumes of potentially complex data.

Future features
On September 11, 2008 Tivo and Research in Motion announced that soon TiVo users would be able to control their system from a BlackBerry phone. The integration was expected by the end of 2008. No price—if any—was disclosed.

Nicknames
The ability to read e-mail that is received in real-time, anywhere, has made the BlackBerry devices infamously addictive, earning them the nickname "CrackBerry," a reference to the street-drug form of cocaine known as crack. Use of the term CrackBerry became so widespread that in November 2006 Webster's New World College Dictionary named "crackberry" the "New Word of the Year".
Many users also refer to BlackBerry smart phones in general simply as "berries", spawning a litany of offshoots. For example, "berry thumb" or "berry blister" is the soreness that occurs from handling the keyboard.

Models
Early Pager Models: 850, 857, 950, 957
Monochrome Java-based Models: 5000-series and 6000-series
First Color Models: 7200-series, 7500-series and 7700-series
First SureType Phone Models: 7100-series
Modern BlackBerry Models (2006 - 2008): 8000-8830-series including: BlackBerry 8800, BlackBerry Pearl, Pearl Flip and BlackBerry Curve
Latest BlackBerry Models (2008 - 2009): 8900+ GPS WiFi Series: BlackBerry Bold (9000), BlackBerry Curve 8900, Blackbery Tour (9630), BlackBerry Storm (9500/9530)

Phones with BlackBerry e-mail client
Several non-BlackBerry mobile phones have been released featuring the BlackBerry e-mail client which connects to BlackBerry servers. Many of these phones have full QWERTY keyboards
AT&T Tilt Operates on 3G/HSDPA/850/900/1800/1900 MHz GSM network, 240 x 320 pixel touch screen, QWERTY keyboard
HTC Advantage X7500
HTC TyTN Operates on 3G/HSDPA/850/900/1800/1900 MHz GSM network, 240 × 320 pixel touch screen, QWERTY keyboard
Motorola MPx220 (selected models only), Operates on 850/900/1800/1900 MHz GSM network, 176 × 220 pixel screen
Nokia 6810 Operates on 900/1800/1900 MHz GSM network, 128 × 128 pixel screen
Nokia 6820 Operates on 900/1800/1900 MHz GSM network, American variant on 850/1800/1900 GSM network, 128 × 128 pixel screen
Nokia 9300 Operates on 900/1800/1900 MHz GSM network, 128 × 128 and 640 × 200 pixel screen
Nokia 9300i Operates on 900/1800/1900 MHz GSM network, 128 × 128 and 640 × 200 pixel screen
Nokia 9500 Operates on 900/1800/1900 MHz GSM network, 128 × 128 and 640 × 200 pixel screen
All Nokia E-Series phones (Excluding the Nokia E71 and Nokia E66 models)
Qtek 9100 Operates on 850/900/1800/1900 MHz GSM network, 240 × 320 pixel touch screen and QWERTY keyboard
Qtek 9000 Operates on 3G-UMTS/850/900/1800/1900 MHz GSM network, 640 × 480 pixel touch screen, QWERTY keyboard
Samsung t719 Operates on 850/900/1800/1900 MHz GSM network, 176 × 220 pixel screen
Siemens SK65, Operates on 900/1800/1900 MHz GSM network, 132 × 176 pixel screen
Sony Ericsson P910 Operates on 900/1800/1900 MHz GSM network, American and Chinese variants on 850/1800/1900, 208 × 320 pixel screen
Sony Ericsson P990
Sony Ericsson M600i
Sony Ericsson P1

BlackBerry PIN
BlackBerry PIN is an eight character hexadecimal identification number assigned to each BlackBerry device. PINs cannot be changed and are locked to each handset device. BlackBerrys can message each other using the PIN directly or by using the Blackberry Messenger application.

Certification
BCESA (BlackBerry Certified Enterprise Sales Associate, BCESA40 in full) is a BlackBerry Certification for professional users of RIM (Research In Motion) BlackBerry wireless e-mail devices.
The Certification requires the user to pass several exams relating to the BlackBerry Device, all its functions including Desktop software and providing technical support to Customers of BlackBerry Devices.
The BCESA, BlackBerry Certified Enterprise Sales Associate qualification, is the first of three levels of professional BlackBerry Certification.
BCTA (BlackBerry Certified Technical Associate)
BlackBerry Certified Support Associate T2
Additional information on certifications can be found on the Blackberry.com website.
The BlackBerry Technical Certifications available are:
BlackBerry Certified Enterprise Server Consultant (BCESC)
BlackBerry Certified Server Support Technician (BCSST)
BlackBerry Certified Support Technician (BCST)

The BlackBerry Store
In December 2007, it was reported that the first ever BlackBerry store was opened. While it is the only BlackBerry store currently in existence, it actually is not the first. There were three prior attempts at opening BlackBerry stores in Toronto, London, and Charlotte, but they eventually folded. The current location is in Farmington Hills, Michigan. The store offers BlackBerry device models from AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon, and Sprint, the major U.S. carriers which offer the Smartphones. Employees are trained not only on the BlackBerry devices themselves, but on the regulations of each service provider.

RIM patent infringement litigation
In 2000, NTP sent notice of their wireless email patents to a number of companies and offered to license the patents to them. NTP brought a patent infringement lawsuit against one of the companies, Research in Motion, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia. This court is well known for its strict adherence to timetables and deadlines, sometimes referred to as the "rocket docket," and is particularly efficient at trying patent cases.
The jury eventually found that the NTP patents were valid, that RIM had infringed them, that the infringement had been "willful", and that the infringement had cost NTP $33 million dollars in damages (the greater of a reasonable royalty or lost profits). The judge, James R. Spencer increased the damages to $53 million as a punitive measure because the infringement had been willful. He also instructed RIM to pay NTP's legal fees of $4.5 million and issued an injunction ordering RIM to cease and desist infringing the patents. This would have shut down the BlackBerry systems in the US.
RIM appealed all of the findings of the court. The injunction and other remedies were stayed pending the outcome of the appeals.
In March 2005 during the appeals process, RIM and NTP tried to negotiate a settlement of their dispute. One of the terms of the settlement was to be for $450 million. But negotiations broke down due to other issues. On June 10, 2005 the matter returned to the courts.
In early November, 2005 the US Department of Justice filed a brief requesting that RIM's service be allowed to continue because of the large number of BlackBerry users in the US Federal Government.
In January 2006, the US Supreme Court refused to hear RIM's appeal of the holding of liability for patent infringement, and the matter was returned to a lower court. The previously granted injunction preventing all RIM sales in the US and use of the BlackBerry device might have been enforced by the presiding district court judge had the two parties not been able to reach a settlement.
On February 9, 2006, the US Department of Defense (DOD) filed a brief stating that an injunction shutting down the BlackBerry service while excluding government users was unworkable. The DOD also stated that the BlackBerry was crucial for national security given the large number of government users.
On February 9, 2006, RIM announced that it had developed software workarounds that would not infringe the NTP patents, and would implement those if the injunction was enforced.
On March 3, 2006, after a stern warning from Judge Spencer, RIM and NTP announced that they had settled their dispute. Under the terms of the settlement, RIM has agreed to pay NTP $612.5 million (USD) in a “full and final settlement of all claims.” In a statement, RIM said that “all terms of the agreement have been finalized and the litigation against RIM has been dismissed by a court order this afternoon. The agreement eliminates the need for any further court proceedings or decisions relating to damages or injunctive relief.” The settlement is believed low by some analysts, because of the absence of any future royalties on the technology in question.
Article Sourcehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BlackBerry