Yesterday, RIM and China Mobile launched BlackBerry Internet Service for individual BlackBerry users. Starting this month, users can sign up at a China Mobile service center but will have to provide their own BlackBerry devices. Plans will cost from RMB 98 to 108 per month, offering 30MB and 50MB of data. Overage costs will be RMB 1/MB.
Any Chinese users/readers out there taking advantage of this?
Source: BBCool
Today Kik posted a blog explaining just what’s going on with their Kik Messenger BlackBerry app. If you remember last week, their app was pulled from BlackBerry App World without explaination, and since then has been nowhere to be found. Delays of up to one hour have been occuring for Kik users, and the whole mess has been kind of up in the air.
The blog post today straight from Kik is basically an open letter for users asking RIM not to keep the app off BlackBerry. There is really no good explaination from RIM, but it’s a safe bet the BBM likeness of the app isn’t one of their favorites — kind of goes against Kiks tagline of “play nice” huh? From Kik’s blog:
We have worked day and night to build a super-fast, reliable and free cross-platform instant messaging app. This includes more than a year of development for BlackBerry smartphones. We have worked cooperatively with RIM at every step. We think it’s fair to say that, until very recently, our relationship has been nothing less than friendly.
RIM placed Kik on BlackBerry App World without issue. Kik’s upcoming mobile music service received a special award at BlackBerry DevCon about a year ago, and was named by RIM just six weeks ago as one of the first five featured apps to be included in its upcoming BBM platform.
We’ll see what details we can gather on all of this and where things are heading. For now you unfortunately can’t download Kik for BlackBerry (and without Push who would want to) but other platforms are still up and running. Keep reading for the full Kik post.
Well, this didn’t take that long. We just received an official statement here at NHCBBA from Research In Motion regarding the removal of Kik messenger from BlackBerry App World. While the statement makes no mention of the revocation of Kiks signing keys or anything like that, it does clarify the situation a little further, which is what we were hoping for. Below is the statement from RIM regarding the Kik application:
RIM became aware of a number of issues and customer concerns regarding the Kik app and service. Following discussions with Kik, the app was removed from BlackBerry App World on November 12. Upon further investigation, RIM concluded that Kik had breached contractual obligations. Based on the broad scope and seriousness of the issues and concerns, RIM terminated its agreements with Kik and withdrew RIM’s support for Kik’s service.
Interesting developments, that’s for sure. After reading that, I’m not so sure Kik will be allowed back into BlackBerry App World. Of course, that’s just my personal thoughts on the situation, share yours in the comments. Here on NHCBBA…
Research In Motion is planning to add Near Field Communication (NFC) chips to their upcoming smartphone lineup. No other details are available, but the tip came with the formal announcement from Verizon, AT&T, T-mobile of Isis, a joint partnership on mobile payments.
BlackBerry devices will be the next in line to get NFC chips. The idea is to use the NFC chips and smartphones to be able to make purchases. Eventually coupons, discounts, stores, and even transit ticketing areas could be supported for quick and easy purchasing with your smartphone.
It is expected to see the Isis service with NFC chip enabled BlackBerry smartphones within the next 18 months.
via Electronista
Source WSJ
Remember Apple’s conference call the other day where CEO Steve Jobs took a few swings at 7″ tablets, which included RIM’s upcoming PlayBook? Specific to BlackBerry, Steve Jobs said:
“We’ve now passed RIM. And I don’t see them catching up with us in the foreseeable future. They must move beyond their area of strength and comfort, into the unfamiliar territory of trying to become a software platform company. I think it’s going to be a challenge for them to create a competitive platform and to convince developers to create apps for yet a third software platform after iOS and Android. With 300,000 apps on Apple’s App Store, RIM has a high mountain ahead of them to climb.”
Continue reading RIM’s Balsillie Fires Back at Apple and Jobs’ Reality Distortion Field
If you’ve ever been worried about your safety when walking alone at night, or while in unfamiliar territory, then you know how valuable a peace of mind knowing help is at the push of a button can be. Personal Guardian is a one-push panic button that when activated will silently trigger a call to an emergency (or pre-configured) number as well as an email, SMS message, and Tweet with location information. In an emergency situation, it is a fast and easy way to alert your loved ones and 911 that you need assistance. After setting up, Personal Guardian also alerts you when an unauthorized SIMCard is used on your BlackBerry. With the alerts, it will also turn on real time tracking. You can manage your account and track your phone via web.
Personal Guardian is available now in BlackBerry App World for the one time fee of $19.99.[qrcode pix=150]http://appworld.blackberry.com/webstore/content/13912[/qrcode]
Press Release
Continue reading Press Release: Personal Guardian released in BlackBerry App World!
It’s a HAPPY DAY for BlackBerry users, especially those on AT&T. Today AT&T and Research In Motion have officially announced the BlackBerry Torch 9800, the first BlackBerry to feature a sliding form factor. The Torch 9800 offers users the best of both worlds with a full physical keyboard and touchscreen. The highly-anticipated BlackBerry 6 operating system also makes its debut on the BlackBerry Torch 9800, ushering in the next-generation of messaging and multimedia on BlackBerry. Read on for the full details!
Press Release
There is a rumor that RIM tried to purchase Palm alongside Apple, Nokia, Google and of course HP. HP eventually won the deal for $1.2 billion. According to the SF Gate, RIM basically had the deal in its hands and “had to work incredibly hard to blow it,” says their source. source recalls. RIM initially came in higher than HP, but HP upped its bid, our source says.
While Palm may have had some patents that would be beneficial to RIM, the idea of acquiring the company for the WebOS or integrating the WebOS on a BlackBerry seems highly unlikely. WebOS lacks the security that is fundamental to RIM’s business, although from a consumer perspective it may be cool.
In terms of improving on the OS, it’s better to look at the QNX acquisition. QNX is a company based in Ottawa (BlackBerryCool.com HQ) and there are several people close to the company who say the acquisition has little to do with automotive integration, and more to do with developing a next-generation OS. Remember, QNX’s core business is “middleware, development tools, realtime operating system software and services for superior embedded design.” Lets hope that they can help RIM develop an OS that puts many of the developer and consumer frustrations to rest.
During the Apple iPhone 4 Antenna press conference, Steve Jobs claimed that Apple’s antenna issues were not specific to the iPhone, and other smartphones such as the BlackBerry Bold 9700 experience similar issues. It seems NHCBBA readers don’t experience these issues and RIM’s CEOs took aim at Steve Jobs and defended their antennas. Here is their official statement from Jim Balsillie and Mike Lazaridis:
“Apple’s attempt to draw RIM into Apple’s self-made debacle is unacceptable. Apple’s claims about RIM products appear to be deliberate attempts to distort the public’s understanding of an antenna design issue and to deflect attention from Apple’s difficult situation. RIM is a global leader in antenna design and has been successfully designing industry-leading wireless data products with efficient and effective radio performance for over 20 years. During that time, RIM has avoided designs like the one Apple used in the iPhone 4 and instead has used innovative designs which reduce the risk for dropped calls, especially in areas of lower coverage. One thing is for certain, RIM’s customers don’t need to use a case for their BlackBerry smartphone to maintain proper connectivity. Apple clearly made certain design decisions and it should take responsibility for these decisions rather than trying to draw RIM and others into a situation that relates specifically to Apple.”
– Mike Lazaridis and Jim Balsillie
RIM is a pretty quiet company and this is not the norm for their CEOs. Generally, RIM doesn’t talk about other smartphones or comment directly on another company but it’s great to see them respond to a blatant attack on the company.
Night Hawk Computers Blackberry Alliance 