blackberry

Blackberry 9500 – Touchscreen Thunder

2010-08-13T00:58:00.000-07:00

Well, it looks like the Blackberry revolution will be here soon to compete against the iPhone. Of course, Verizon and Sprint networks are so much faster, that’s the only reason I’d use it over the iPhone.

The Boy Genius has a bunch of new details on the upcoming touchscreen Blackberry, including the interesting tidbit that it’ll be a lifetime exclusive on Verizon in the US and Vodafone in Europe. It’ll have a mere four physical keys and will run on 3G EV-DO Rev. C as well as GSM HSPA for international use. No word on when this thing is going to drop, or whether or not anyone who uses a Blackberry will allow a physical QWERTY keyboard to be pried from their grip, but we’ll keep you updated.

blackberry bold 9700

2010-08-09T20:26:00.000-07:00

Early adopters have to be incredibly patient and forgiving, so it’s no surprise that most people prefer to wait. Whether it’s a brand new operating system, a cutting-edge design or a whole new technology - there are always problems when you buy something fresh out of the factory.

BlackBerry Enterprise Server

2010-05-18T03:25:00.000-07:00

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. Google has made a Connector for BES which makes BES available for Google Apps as well. 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.
Alt text

A close-up of a BlackBerry's distinguished layout

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 "pushBlackBerry e-mail," because all new e-mails, contacts and calendar entries are "pushed" out to the 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 off-line 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 - Connection Service" (MDS-CS). This allows for custom application development using data streams on BlackBerry devices based on the Sun Microsystems Java ME platform.

In addition, BES provides network 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.
[edit] BlackBerry Internet Service

The primary alternative to using BlackBerry Enterprise Server is to use the BlackBerry Internet Service. It was developed primarily for the average consumer rather than for the business consumer. This service allows POP3 and IMAP email integration for the personal user. It allows up to 10 email accounts to be accessed, including many popular email accounts such as Gmail, Hotmail, Yahoo and AOL. There are also special bundles for just Myspace, Facebook, & MSN as well.

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.

blackberry curve 8900

2010-04-25T00:39:00.000-07:00

BlackBerry Storm 2 Review

2010-04-02T18:52:00.000-07:00

The Calm Before the Second Storm...

The BlackBerry Storm2. To say it has been highly anticipated would be an understatement. Before the original BlackBerry Storm was available to customers, the first rumors of the Storm 2 began to surface. Research in Motion even acknowledged the existence of the new device much earlier than they historically would, when RIM's co-CEO Jim Balsillie said in a presentation to analysts and investors (reported by Reuters) in May 2009 that they were working on a next generation of its BlackBerry Storm as part of a continuing push into the retail market. From that point, it was less than two weeks later when the first photos of the new BlackBerry Storm were posted to the internet right here at CrackBerry.com which was followed up soon after when we brought you the first video of the BlackBerry Storm 2 in action. In the weeks following and leading up to the Storm2's "official" announcement, youtube has been full of "unofficial" BlackBerry Storm2 9550 and 9520 previews (Verizon's Storm2 is the 9550; Vodafone's is the 9520) showing off early-stage hardware and firmware. Due to this unofficial nature, most early Storm2 videos/photos disappeared from the web as quickly as they appeared, but now that we have an official review unit you can rest assured knowing Storm2 content is now here to stay.

So how does the BlackBerry Storm2 compared to the Storm? When all is said and done, the most accurate explanation I can think of is to draw an analogy to the automotive industry and how car manufacturers release a new car and follow up with a new model each year. It is often said that you should not buy the "first year" of a new car, as there is bound to be issues, and nobody will argue in the case of the BlackBerry Storm that the device as it went to market experienced some issues (lag, more lag, and a bit more still lag still). RIM's strength over the years lay in making non-touchscreen devices featuring a physical keyboard, so adapting the BlackBerry operating system to touchscreen hardware was a new game for them. A few recalls (aka firmware upgrades) later, however, and the BlackBerry Storm is now a much more usable device. In fact, if you haven't touched a BlackBerry Storm in a while you might be surprised at just how well it performs. And that brings us to the next part of this analogy. If you think of the Storm as the 2009 model year, the BlackBerry Storm2 really is the 2010 model year. Yes it's new, it's improved and it features some additional bells and whistles not found in the 2009 model and overall is a better performing and easier to use smartphone, but it doesn't immediately make the old model year obsolete.

Existing Storm owners who have invested the time and energy to get comfortable on their device and have upgraded to the latest firmware (OS 5.0 just around the corner!) may find after picking up and playing with the Storm2 in a store that they're able to stick it out with their Storm until they are eligible for an upgrade. Others of course, may find the addition of WiFi alone to be enough of a reason to pay the penalties and upgrade to the Storm2 immediately. Just like cars, you're always going to want the new model year, even if you got a great lease/finance rate on picking up last year's model. But enough with the analogy, let's get to what's new in the Storm2!

BlackBerry Storm2 Overview and Key Specifications

Picking up the BlackBerry Storm2, it's clear that Research in Motion's thought process here was simply to build a better BlackBerry Storm. They weren't thinking about building an iPhone killer or worrying about what Palm is up to with their Web OS or what the next wave of Android phones might look like. RIM looked at the original BlackBerry Storm, assessed where it was great, where it was good, where it was bad and where it was ugly and they fixed it. I'm sure many of the BlackBerry Storm2 reviews that emerge will state the BlackBerry Storm2 is what the original BlackBerry Storm should have been, and well, they'll all be right. We don't want to dwell too much on the Storm's shaky start; after all, it was a pretty big success for RIM from a sales standpoint, but it's impossible to review the Storm2 without looking back at the original BlackBerry Storm.

themes are compatible with the Blackberry 8800 and Blackberry 8830

2010-03-25T23:08:00.000-07:00

Ferrari Theme	Halflife Theme
godfather theme	Terminator theme
Blackberry 300 theme	Metallica theme

Other blackberry 8800 themes
Grass Theme	Black Theme
Titanium theme	Blue Silk
Jessica Alba Blackberry Theme	Betty Boob blackberry theme
Harry Potter Theme	Windows Vista Theme
South Park Theme

Nextel 8350i Blackberry Unlocked For Boost Mobile - $249 (UTC area)

2010-02-25T00:19:00.000-08:00

Nextel 8350i Blackberry Unlocked For Boost Mobile - $249 (UTC area)

Like new, in the box, a great phone with lots of features, ready for an inexpensive but yet very competitive Boost Mobile $50. Unlimited Plan.
This phone is all set up and ready to start using on the Boost Mobile service network. Just insert your Boost sims card and you're ready to place outgoing calls and receive Incoming calls.... Receive and send text and picture messaging,..... Native browser and wi-fi accessibility, and yes even chirping capable.

The Blackberry Curve 8350i has to be the best phone on the Boost network

Location: UTC area
it's NOT ok to contact this poster with services or other commercial interests

Highlights of BlackBerry Curve 8350i Red PDA Phone

2010-02-25T00:10:00.000-08:00

Integrated Media Player Provides An Outstanding Music and Video-on-the-go ExperienceBuilt-in GPS Receiver With Location-based Applications Like BlackBerry MapsA Stylish Full QWERTY Keyboard BlackBerry For Nextel Direct Connect Users!Powerful On-the-go Email and Nextel Direct Connect DeviceVoice-activated Dialing Lets You Dial The Phone With Just Your VoiceLarge Color Display and Slim DesignAdvanced Bluetooth Wireless Technology Supports Streaming Stereo Music2.0 Megapixel Camera Shoots Print-quality Photos With Expandable Memory Up To 16 GB

Nextel BlackBerry 8350i set to drop in Q4

2010-02-25T00:05:00.000-08:00

The kind fellers at Boy Genius Report have scored again. This time, it’s a roadmap of Sprint’s device releases through the rest of the year and into 2009. Of interest to us: the BlackBerry 8350i. It’s in the Curve family, given the model number, and it’s set to drop in the fourth quarter of this year. I wonder how this will play out if Sprint ends up selling the iDEN network, as has been rumored. Anyway, the Nextel 8350i will features WiFi (woo hoo!), GPS, and an optional 2 megapixel camera. Spec sheet, courtesy of BGR, after the jump.

Fido launches BlackBerry Curve 8520

2010-02-24T02:22:00.000-08:00

Fido has launched the BlackBerry Curve 8520. If you're in Canada you can pick yours up for a mere $50 if you sign a 3-year agreement. Yes, a 3-year agreement. Those of us in the US cringe at a 2-year agreement and Canadians have to deal with 3-year agreements.

If you'd rather go the pre-paid route you can shell out $400 for the BlackBerry Curve 8520 and it's yours.

BlackBerry Storm being discontinued?

2010-02-24T02:02:00.000-08:00

There is a rumor floating around that Verizon will be discontinuing the BlackBerry Storm. The rumor stems from the fact that The Street is reporting RIM's stock slipped 2% because investors and analysts got a report indicating orders for the BlackBerry Storm were cut or canceled. There is no word on who put the report out, but it sure made investors nervous.

This should be taken with a huge grain of salt. For all we know there is just some delay in Storm production, or Verizon is making room for a new BlackBerry device.

How a BlackBerry Works

2010-02-24T01:53:00.000-08:00

When the BlackBerry debuted in 1999, carrying one was a hallmark of powerful executives and savvy technophiles. People who purchased one either needed or wanted constant access to e-mail, a calendar and a phone. The BlackBerry's manufacturer, Research in Motion (RIM), reported only 25,000 subscribers in that first year. But since then, its popularity has skyrocketed.

In September 2005, RIM reported 3.65 million subscribers, and users describe being addicted to the devices. The BlackBerry has even brought new slang to the English language. There are words for flirting via BlackBerry (blirting), repetitive motion injuries from too much BlackBerry use (BlackBerry thumb) and unwisely using one's BlackBerry while intoxicated (drunk-Berrying). While some people credit the BlackBerry with letting them get out of the office and spend time with friends and family, others accuse them of allowing work to infiltrate every moment of free time.

In this article, we'll examine the "push" technology at the center of the device's popularity, RIM's former dispute with patent holder NTP Incorporated and its current dispute with Visto Corporation. We'll also explore BlackBerry hardware and software.

"Push" Technology

A PDA does a lot of the same things a BlackBerry does, and the PDA made its
debut several years before the BlackBerry. But until recently, the only way to make the information on most PDAs match the
information on a person's computer was to automatically or manually sync the PDA. This could be time-consuming and inconvenient. It could also lead to exactly the conflicts that having a PDA is supposed to prevent. For example, a manager might schedule a meeting on the PDA, not knowing that an assistant had just scheduled a meeting for the same time on a networked calendar.

A BlackBerry, on the other hand, does everything a PDA can do, and it syncs itself continually through push technology. BlackBerry Enterprise Server or Desktop Redirector software "pushes," or redirects, new e-mail, calendar updates, documents and other data straight to the user over the Internet and the cell phone network.

Image courtesy RIM
A person can send and receive messages and phone calls on a BlackBerry from virtually any location.

First, the software senses that a new message has arrived or the data has changed. Then, it compresses, packages and redirects the information to the handheld unit. The server uses hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP) and transmission control protocol (TCP) to communicate with the handhelds. It also encrypts the data with triple data encryption standard (DES) or advanced encryption standard (AES).

The software determines the capabilities of the BlackBerry and lets people establish criteria for the information they want to have delivered. The criteria can include message type and size, specific senders and updates to specific programs or databases.

Once all of the parameters have been set, the software waits for updated content. When a new message or other data arrives, the software formats the information for transmission to and display on the BlackBerry. It packages e-mail messages into a kind of electronic envelope so the user can decide whether to open or retrieve the rest of the message.

The BlackBerry listens for new information and notifies the user when it arrives by vibrating, changing an icon on the screen or turning on a light. The BlackBerry does not poll the server to look for updates. It simply waits for the update to arrive and notifies the user when it does. With e-mail, a copy of each message also goes to the user's inbox on the computer, but the e-mail client can mark the message as read once the user reads it on the BlackBerry.

Hands On: BlackBerry 8800!

2010-02-23T01:38:00.000-08:00

Coming in svelte black and chrome here is the new BlackBerry 8800! I am happy to show everyone this fantastic device from every-which-angle possible. The OS seems to loads way faster than the Pearl, and the speaker sounds a lot better. The feel of the device is great and the keyboard is just as good and functional as the 8700 so no worries out there power 8700 users! The screen? Oh man, the screen! The Cingular release will not have WiFi, but this unit does. Look for a WiFi 8800-style berry coming shortly after the launch of the 8800 on Cingular which is later this month, on the 20th. Click on for the full picture set here first, only on Boy Genius Report!

Updated with screenshots!

Why T-Mobile’s BlackBerry Curve 8900 is Worth Buying

2010-02-23T01:31:00.000-08:00

It’s been almost a month since I broke up with my iPhone and switched to the new T-Mobile BlackBerry Curve 8900 for what I like to call “unified communications.” And while I sometimes yearn for my iPhone’s awesome sleekness and its admirable browser, the new BlackBerry Curve is proving to be a worthy and admirable replacement.

Sure, it isn’t an iPhone, but the Curve 8900 is sleek, light and looks like a very polished business-oriented email device. It has an astonishingly bright, high quality screen, making reading a delight. Compared to the BlackBerry Bold, it is almost svelte. Instead of boring you with details about its OS or the innards of the device, let me stay focused on the stuff that matters most to typical BlackBerry owners: usability.

The Keyboard

Lets start with the keyboard. Just when you thought RIM really couldn’t improve upon the keyboard of the previous Curve model, it came up with the BlackBerry Bold’s keyboard. And now, it’s come up with the flatter keys that are comfortable enough for even the most awkward thumbs. The new keyboard buttons remind me of the now-forgotten black-and-white BlackBerry 6750 that was popular in the early 2000s.

RIM BlackBerry Curve 8900 (T-Mobile)

2010-02-20T18:46:00.000-08:00

The RIM BlackBerry Curve 8900 holds the distinction (though who knows for how long) as being the thinnest full QWERTY BlackBerry to date. The smartphone measures 4.2 inches tall by 2.3 inches wide by 0.5 inch thick and weighs 3.8 ounces compared with the BlackBerry Curve 8320, which comes it at 4.2 inches high by 2.4 inches wide by 0.6 inch thick and 3.9 ounces. It feels comfortable to use a both a phone and messaging device and fit into a pants pocket. We do appreciate the Curve 8900's sleek profile but even more than that, we're fans of the phone's more solid construction. Though the phone's body is still made of plastic, RIM used different finishes and paint applications to make the handset more durable and you can notice the difference as soon as you pick it up. Our only complaint would be that the battery cover can sometimes shift a little.

The BlackBerry Curve 8900 offers a sleeker and more solid design compared with the Curve 8300 series.

Also, while style is subjective, we have to say we dig the look of the Curve 8900 over the previous Curve 8300 series. It has tapered edges like the BlackBerry Storm and the metallic paint gives the 8900 a fresh, modern. It's a lot less corporate and masculine looking than the BlackBerry Bold, so it should appeal to a wide variety of users.

The Curve 8900 features a 2.4-inch TFT LCD that supports 65,536 colors at a 480x360-pixel resolution. It's a better screen than the BlackBerry Bold, which isn't too shabby itself with a 480x320-pixel resolution, but there is an extra level of sharpness and brightness to the Curve's screen that's quite impressive. The Curve 8900 also runs the latest version of the BlackBerry operating system so you get an updated user interface. There's no doubt the UI is more aesthetically pleasing, but we do have one minor complaint: a lot of icons look the same, so it's a bit hard to distinguish different folders and applications onscreen just at a glance.

Below the display, you have your standard navigation array that includes Talk and End keys, a menu shortcut, a back button, and the trackball navigator. The layout is simple and spacious, so there were no problems using the controls or navigating the phone. The side controls, which are outlined below, also allows for easy one-handed operation.

The Curve 8900's keyboard is similar to the BlackBerry Bold's. Though it's smaller, we still found it easy to use.

The BlackBerry Curve 8900's keyboard is similar to the one found on the BlackBerry Bold. Since the phone is smaller, the keys aren't as big or roomy but we still found it easy to compose e-mails and text with minimal errors. The buttons provide a nice tactile feedback and the keyboard is adequately backlit, with the number keys highlighted in red instead of white.

Review BlackBerry Curve 8900

2010-02-20T18:44:00.000-08:00

Review BlackBerry Curve 8900 Short review of the newest device from RIM

BlackBerry Curve 8900

2010-02-20T18:42:00.000-08:00

Eine kleine Videovorstellung des neuen RIM BlackBerry Curve 8900 von T-Mobile mit Vergleich zum alten Curve 8310

BlackBerry Curve 8330

2010-02-19T02:34:00.000-08:00

BlackBerry Curve 8330

BlackBerry Curve 8330is a smartphone with email

2010-02-19T02:29:00.000-08:00

BlackBerry® Curve™ 8330 is a smartphone with email, phone, organizer, camera, video recorder, Internet access, supported mobile streaming and GPS capabilities. The incredible multimedia player also lets you enjoy your music, videos and pictures – so you can have some fun along the way. Power up the BlackBerry Curve smartphone and empower your life.

Features

Stay in Touch

Wireless email: Send, receive, forward and reply to messages, and view attachments in popular file formats
Advanced phone features: Speakerphone and Voice Activated Dialing, user-definable convenience keys and dedicated Send, End and Mute keys
Instant Messaging1: Connect with your IM contacts using popular applications like Yahoo!® Messenger and Google Talk™
SMS and MMS*: Send text messages and images in an instant

Enjoy Life

Media player: Listen to your favorite songs and watch video clips2
Camera: Capture the moment in perfect clarity with 2.0MP, built-in zoom and flash
Video recording3: Record video clips and share them right away via email or MMS
3.5mm stereo headset capable

Find the Info You Need

Browser: Navigate and browse websites with a roll and click of the trackball. And with streamed mobile media, view videos, music, news clips and more from mobile sites4
Organizer: Synch and store your calendar data, address book and more
Corporate data access*: Access your vital corporate databases and applications from anywhere
Global Positioning System (GPS) capable: Use with BlackBerry Maps or other mapping applications1 to view your geographic location on a map or determine how close you are to shops and services
BlackBerry® Maps: Get directions and view maps while on the road

Maximize Convenience

Wireless modem capability: Use your smartphone as a wireless modem for your laptop or PC*
64 MB of built-in memory and an expandable microSD memory slot1,2
Bluetooth® capability for hands-free dialogue
Full QWERTY keyboard layout for fast text and email composition
High-resolution, light-sensing screen
Rated for hearing aids: M4, T4

Enterprise friendlyThe BlackBerry Curve 8330 smartphone works with your organization's BlackBerry® Enterprise Solution to provide corporate-strength functionality, including enhanced security features and easier access to company information.

Unlike traditional mobile phones, the BlackBerry Curve smartphone can be centrally managed and supported by IT departments. Remote address book look-up, single mailbox integration and push delivery of data from corporate applications are just a few of the features available.

[edit] Specifications

Size and Weight

4.2"/107mm (Length)
2.4"/60mm (Width)
0.6"/16.1mm (Depth)
4.2 oz/114g (Weight)

Data Input/Navigation

Trackball
QWERTY (Keyboard)
Keyboard backlighting

Voice Input/Output

3.5mm stereo headset capable
Headset jack
Integrated earpiece/ microphone
Built-in speakerphone
Mono/stereo headset, hands-free and serial port profiles supported (Bluetooth® technology)
M4, T4 (Rating for hearing aids)

Display

Font size (user selectable)
Color display
Backlighting
Light sensing screen

Notification

Polyphonic/MIDI ringtones
MP3 ringtones
Vibrate mode
LED indicator

Approximate Battery Life

Up to 11 days (Standby time)
Up to 260 minutes (Talk time)

Memory

Expandable memory – support for microSD card
96 MB (Flash memory)

Modem

RIM® wireless modem
Tethered modem capability

Email Integrations

Works with BlackBerry® Enterprise Server for Microsoft® Exchange
Works with BlackBerry® Enterprise Server for IBM® Lotus® Domino®
Works with BlackBerry® Enterprise Server for Novell® GroupWise®
Integrates with an existing enterprise email account
Integrates with existing personal email account
Integrates with optional new device account

Accessories Included

USB cable
Wall charger

Device Security

Password protection and keyboard lock
Support for AES or Triple DES encryption when integrated with BlackBerry® Enterprise Server
FIPS 140-2 Validated (FIPS validation)
Optional support for S/MIME

Wireless Network

Dual-band 800/1900 Mhz CDMA2000 1X Ev-DO networks

BlackBerry Curve 8300

2010-02-19T02:25:00.000-08:00

The BlackBerry Curve 8300 is a series of BlackBerry smartphones developed by Research In Motion. Introduced in 2007, the Curve continued the "consumer-oriented" philosophy of the BlackBerry Pearl and 8800 series, including robust multimedia features and a high-resolution built-in camera.

As is customary for BlackBerry devices, the 8300 series consists of several models offered by different wireless providers, supporting that provider's network along with specific services. The base 8300 model is a GSM/GPRS/EDGE handset, to which the 8310 adds GPS capability, while the 8320 excludes GPS but includes WiFi connectivity. The 8330 instead operates on CDMA2000/EV-DO networks and includes GPS; the 8350i operates on the iDEN network and includes GPS, WiFi, and push-to-talk functionality.

CNET's Bonnie Cha gave the Curve an "Excellent" rating. However, she found the Curve 8300's lack of 3G and Wi-Fi disappointing. Also disappointing was the phone's lack of video-recording capabilities. Call quality was determined to be subpar and calls sounded hollow on the Curve 8300.^[1] While the 8300 as originally released lacked Video Recording and Voice Note Recording, these functions have been provided with the Blackberry OS 4.5 release. Upgrading the OS on the affected handsets will enable these features.

Twitter for BlackBerry Smartphones

2010-02-16T02:53:00.000-08:00

Twitter for BlackBerry Smartphones

Importing pictures from your BlackBerry smartphone to your PC - BlackBerry Media Sync 3.0

2010-02-16T02:47:00.000-08:00

Find out how to import photos from your BlackBerry® to your PC using BlackBerry Media Sync 3.0.

Live and work the BlackBerry way

2010-02-13T20:24:00.000-08:00

Live and work the BlackBerry® way

Brilliantly simple email is just the start. The latest BlackBerry smartphones handle maps, music, movies and a whole lot more. Whether you want to stay connected or simply take it easy, put your life in your BlackBerry.

Hook up your BlackBerry with us and we'll keep you in touch from the Scottish Highlands to the Isles of Scilly. Vodafone and BlackBerry - the perfect partnership when you absolutely have to stay connected.

Thai market crazy for BlackBerry

2010-02-13T20:04:00.000-08:00

Research in Motion has launched its new BlackBerry Bold 9700 smart phone to a market that is currently going BlackBerry crazy with Thai users flocking to emulate their A-list celebrities.

The 9700 is a 3G device with a sleeker design that replaces the familiar trackball with an optical track pad.

Gregory Wade, Managing Director of Research in Motion, South East Asia, reflected on 2009 which was the 10th anniversary of the BlackBerry and the 25th anniversary of Research in Motion. 36 million users with 530 carriers across 170 countries now enjoy the BlackBerry services and the company shipped its 75 millionth BlackBerry in Q3.

BusinessWeek gave RIM an award for innovation, leadership and creativity. Fortune ranked RIM as the number one fastest growing company.

Revenue in Q3 topped $3.92 billion up 41 percent compared with the same quarter a year ago.

That quarter also saw RIM gain 4.4 million subscribers in just one quarter.

For 2010, RIM continues to focus on its key strength of data compression, connectivity and security. BlackBerry is more than just a device, but a platform with a keen focus on application development in Southeast Asia through a rich developer program that dates back to 2001.

"Why are the Thai people so attracted to BlackBerry? Why is it so popular? What sets Thailand apart from other markets?," Wade asked the audience.

His answer was threefold. First was social media. Thailand has 13 million people using social media of which 2 million are using Facebook. Sixty percent of mobile Facebook access is done through a mobile device. People are moving, people are mobile, people are multi-tasking.

Second is localisation. The BlackBerry has a localised product set, not just the phone, complete with applications that are Thai enabled.

Third is the aspiration of Thais who love their celebrities and want to emulate them, using the same phones as these social influencers.

"This is an example of a unique element in Thailand that has taken hold, whether they are societal influencers, business influencers or celebrity influencers. Thai people love to adopt the latest technology. They want to adopt the latest and greatest design, setting the trend," he said.

The BlackBerry Bold 9700 will be available in time to be the perfect Valentine's Day present at a list price of 23,000 baht, exclusive of VAT.

Meanwhile, all of RIM's local partners have issued statements announcing availability of their BlackBerry Bold 9700 packages.

TrueMove offers the handset at 21,300 baht interest-free for six months and stresses the ability to use both True's Wi-Fi and "trial" 850MHz 3G network to deliver 11 channels of video. It also offers a special student unlimited chat, email and Internet package for just 300 baht a month.

DTac will take pre-orders for the 9700 for delivery on February 13 with a price of 19,999 baht with service. AIS has the 9700 at 22,900 baht and one month's service included with exclusive content from artist M.L. Chiratorn Chirapravati.

Motorola Droid Vs. BlackBerry Storm

2010-02-12T01:41:00.000-08:00

n this 'Versus' battle we put the Motorola Droid (Android 2.0) against the BlackBerry Storm 2.

BlackBerry Tour 9630 (Verizon) - Unboxing

2010-02-12T01:40:00.000-08:00

At long last the new generation of BlackBerry devices comes to Verizon. Tour 9630, a world phone, out of the box.

iPhone vs BlackBerry Bold

2010-02-12T01:35:00.000-08:00

the iPhone Blog goes head to head with the iPhone and the BlackBerry Bold

Par 72 Golf II for BlackBerry - 50% off today

2010-02-11T02:41:00.000-08:00

Par 72 Golf II for BlackBerry - 50% off today

(view image)

Par 72 Golf II for BlackBerry is on sale today ONLY! You can get this game for 50% off until February 8, 2010. After today it reverts back to its original price.

Par 72 Golf is a realistic 3D golf game with three 18 hole courses. The game features hills, water, sand traps, and sloping greens.

Features:

Three unique courses, set in mountain, desert, and seaside environments.

Each course has 18 holes, rated par 3, 4, and 5.

Three dimensional hills, water, undulating fairways, sand traps, and tiered greens.

Top scores leaderboard.

Realistic wind, aerodynamics, gravity, and friction.

Perspective view.

Zoomable overhead view.

Automatic club selection from 11 clubs.

Wind and distance indicators.

On screen menus.

Resume play.

Sound effects.

Trial version with unlocked first hole. Trial version can be unlocked with a registration key.

Download & Buy It!

BlackBerry Tour 2 coming soon? More evidence leaks out

2010-02-11T02:29:00.000-08:00

BlackBerry Tour 2 coming soon? More evidence leaks out

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RIM has not yet even announced the BlackBerry Tour 2, but everyone seems to know it's on the way. We've seen pictures, and dummy units showing up in carrier's inventory system.

BerryScoop now reports that Verizon has a .jad file for visual voicemail on their server, and file is named vvmail_9650.jad. The existence of this file does not mean the BB Tour 2 is coming soon, but it is further evidence that the Tour 2 is probably on the way at some point. We just hope it's sooner rather than later.

BlackBerry 8820 Smartphone from ATT

2010-02-10T04:06:00.000-08:00

AT&T announced that the new BlackBerry 8820 Wi-Fi mobile phone will be available to its customers starting September 20. The BlackBerry 8820 lets you not only connect to your corporate or home network but also take advantage of 10,000 AT&T-owned or branded Wi-Fi hotspots throughout the U.S. (which requires an additional fee, of course). As the BlackBerry 8820 is EDGE compatible as well, you are also covered in AT&T's network.

The BlackBerry 8820 supports WLAN 802.11 a/b/g and features enterprise-level security. There's also built-in GPS with support for solutions such as TeleNav GPS Navigator and TeleNav Track and AT&T's PTT (push-to-talk) service. The phone is compatible with Bluetooth 2.0, and offers a microSD card slot for expanding memory. Users can also access AT&T Mobile Music, a one-stop-shop for music content from eMusic, XM Satellite Radio and more.

As with any BlackBerry, the 8820 offers a QWERTY keyboard, trackball navigation and a big 320x240 pixels resolution display.

Priced at US $299.99 (after rebates and a 2-year service agreement), the BlackBerry 8820 will be available starting September 20, 2007.

First Look: Hands-On With BlackBerry Bold

2010-02-10T04:03:00.000-08:00

After months of online speculation, rumor and badly photoshopped innuendo, Research in Motion announced its new BlackBerry Bold today.

RIM CEO Mike Lazaridis stopped by the Wired offices last week and gave us some one-on-one time with an early version of the Bold. It’s, well, kind of awesome. I’m by no means a BlackBerry fanboy, but the Bold has some impressive features.

First off the big news:

HSDPA: We tried it out in G-Lab HQ and were able to load several graphic-heavy sites quickly with the BlackBerry Bold’s fast 3G data access. A few hiccups occurred when pulling up Wired.com’s front page, but keep in mind this was also a beta unit. Mike assured us they’re still ironing out all the bugs and final units would not have any issues.
Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/ compatibility: No n spec, but that’s no biggie. Having nearly unrestricted Wi-Fi access will make this BlackBerry even more useful.
Half-VGA, 480 x 320 pixel screen: The screen itself is gorgeous, bright and colorful. We watched the seizure-inducing trailer for Speed Racer and it was gorgeous and glitch-free. Too bad we can’t say the same for Speed Racer itself.
Built-in GPS: Paired with location-based services plus BlackBerry Maps, you’ll also be able to use it while making a phone call. Try that while driving and see if you can avoid crashing your car.

The external speaker is loud, clear and excellent for handsfree use. It’s also passable as an impromptu speaker for playing music or movies. Comparatively, it’s about as powerful as the speakers on an average laptop. Plus there’s now a requisite 3.5mm headset jack so you can plug in standard headphones.

The keys have been reconfigured slightly from previous BlackBerry iterations. Mike pointed out that they now have metal dividers resembling the shape and feel of guitar frets, making touch-typing easier. Interesting, considering most CrackBerry heads I know can already touch-type without a second thought.

The BlackBerry Bold is going to ship preloaded with 1 GB of memory, a 2-MP digicam with a built-in "flash" LED light, and media-management software that can sync with iTunes. For additional storage, you can also plug in a microSD card; the Bold supports cards up to 16GB in capacity. The back panels are removable and will come available in a variety of colors.

While the Bold is not the touchscreen-enabled iPhone killer that has been rumored for the last nine months or so, from what we saw, it’s shaping up to be a solid device with some very cool, forward-thinking features.

The Gadget Lab will get the first working models as soon as they are ready — just before the projected launch date in late June. We’ll have the review up for y’all around then.

(Photos by Jim Merithew / Wired.com)

Hit the jump for more details from the press release.

RIM Introduces the BlackBerry Bold Smartphone

Top of the line BlackBerry smartphone with premium design and unprecedented performance and functionality; targeted at business professionals and power users.

Read More http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2008/05/first-look-hand/#ixzz2UuBE3Kfr

iPhone VS Blackberry

2010-02-06T21:28:00.000-08:00

“I spent a month with an iPhone 3G and a BlackBerry 9000 Bold (the professional model that RIM recommended as the best to compare to an iPhone) to see how well each would fare in my daily grind. In doing so, I also had the chance to compare the two devices in depth: mail to mail, phone to phone, browser to browser, and thumb stroke to touch-tap. In short, I evaluated them based on everything from classic PDA functionality and usability to location-based services and availability of third-party apps,” Galen Gruman reports for InfoWorld.

“And how do they stack up? Frankly, I’ve concluded it’s time to bury the BlackBerry. A revolution in its time, thanks to its ability to provide instant, secure e-mail anywhere, the BlackBerry has become the Lotus Notes of the mobile world: It’s way past its prime,” Gruman reports.

“I was shocked to discover how bad an e-mail client the BlackBerry is compared to the iPhone. And the BlackBerry is terrible at the rest of what the iPhone excels at: being a phone, a Web browser, an applications platform, and a media presenter,” Gruman reports. “With its Windows 3-like UI, tiny screen, patched-together information structure, and two-handed operation, the BlackBerry is a Pinto in an era of Priuses.”

RIM’s “iPhone-copying attempts so far — the BlackBerry Storm and App World — reveal that RIM fundamentally doesn’t get it and is well on its way to becoming the Lotus Notes of mobile,” Gruman reports. “The BlackBerry is yesterday’s mobile messenger, way past its prime and heading toward retirement. The iPhone is light-years ahead of the BlackBerry on almost every count. RIM should be ashamed.”

Gruman reports, “Let me show you point by point why most people — most companies — should retire their BlackBerrys and adopt iPhones.”

Miranda Kerr is My Vote for the Face of BlackBerry

2010-02-06T21:26:00.000-08:00

RIM need a face for the BlackBerry brand and my vote is for Miranda Kerr. It’s Friday so anything goes when it comes to posts. Enjoy!

T-Mobile Discontinues the BlackBerry Curve 8900

2010-02-06T21:24:00.000-08:00

T-Mobile have discontinued the BlackBerry Curve 8900. According to the carrier, the device has “reached the end of its life-cycle.” With pics of the 8910 surfacing, we could see this device head for T-Mobile and replace the 8900. Personally, I really like the 8900 and if it were up to me, I’d keep the device around and offer it for free.

BlackBerry Curve 8310 Smartphone

2010-01-23T19:47:00.001-08:00

Vodafone, one of the largest mobile telecommunications network company in the world, and Research in Motion (RIM) introduced the new BlackBerry Curve 8310 smartphone in Germany. It has built-in GPS navigation and advanced multimedia functionality.

The new 8310 smartphone features integrated GPS functionality which also works with the Vodafone Navigator software installed into the unit. This allows mobile users to know exactly where they are and where they are going. It displays the user's precise location on a local map. Thanks to this new innovation, customers can avoid traffic problems caused by bad weather, traffic jams or road closures as known problems are automatically taken into account when the route is planned. The Vodafone Navigator is an off-board navigation system, which downloads route planning information from an up-to-date central server.

Aside from this, the 8310 is also an excellent phone for users with its rich features for use in both their work and personal lives. A built-in 2 megapixel camera with 5x digital zoom and LED flash delivers sharp images on the BlackBerry Curve 8310. Photos can be sent immediately via MMS, email or BlackBerry® Messenger. The push-based BlackBerry email system allows incoming emails to be displayed immediately and enables easy remote management of the user's inbox.

It also has an advanced set of multimedia features starting with its state of the art media player. It is definitely perfect for watching videos in full screen layout and listening to MP3 music files. The smartphone's microSD memory card is extendable and can store up to 4 gigabytes worth of videos, images, music and files. As an added benefit, Vodafone Germany will provide the first 5,000 customers with a 1 gigabyte microSD memory card with the current 100 top chart songs pre-installed as MP3s.

The BlackBerry Curve 8310 is available now from Vodafone in Germany for 99,90 Euro in combination with a Vodafone Business Kombipaket Zuhause 240.