Sprint BlackBerry Bold 9930 non-camera version launches on September 9th

Although Verizon has had a non-camera version available since launch, Sprint will now be releasing their non-camera version of the BlackBerry Bold 9930 on September 9th. While many folks can make use of the camera equipped versions, there is still somewhat of a demand in the business sector for devices without cameras. Some employers simply do not allow the use of camera equipped phones. Fewer and fewer device manufacturers are catering to this user base, instead relying on software locks and IT policies to block camera access. RIM could do that as well through the BES infrastructure but it’s still nice to see separate devices being made available.

Personally, if I never used the camera on my device — I think I’d opt for a non-camera version just for the cleaner appearance of it. No price difference is found between the two versions but if you’re in need of a non-camera equipped BlackBerry and Sprint is your carrier; you can get the BlackBerry Bold 9930 for $249 from Sprint starting September 9th.

via:cb

QNX Superphone to come with front facing camera for BBM Video Chat

The rumors of a BlackBerry coming with a front facing have been around for a long time. Most BlackBerry users (myself included) have been clamoring for this to happen since the first Torch came out. Truthfully these recent BlackBerry 7 devices should’ve come equipped with front facing cameras and chat already, but unfortunately what’s done is done.

Today, sources have reported that RIM is taking the idea of front facing cameras, and video chat integration via BBM, very seriously. Video Chat over the BlackBerry PlayBook works extremely well so we know RIM is capable of doing this efficiently. Let’s hope these rumors end up being true and we can have some awesome video chat capabilities on the new generation of BlackBerry devices.

• We know what most of you will say, but we’ll ask anyways. Do you want a front facing camera on the new QNX-powered BlackBerry lineup?
• Will these rumors stop you from getting a BlackBerry 7 device?
• Let us know in the Comments below we might talk about in our weekly news show.

TweetBook for the BlackBerry PlayBook now available

If you’re looking for a new Twitter app for your BlackBerry PlayBook, TweetBook might be the one for you. This new client from Smarter Apps brings Twitter to your PlayBook in grand fashion. It’s multi-pane design lets you access DM’s, mentions and full timeline as well as your camera, search, multiple accounts and much more.

TweetBook is designed to feel and function as a native Twitter application for the BlackBerry PlayBook. This provides the user with a high quality, full-featured Twitter experience: search, browse, send images, messages, follow your interests and friends while tweeting to your heart’s content on Twitter® with ease and simplicity.

TweetBook manages all of Twitter’s content within sleek, rich graphics and multi-pane windows, supports multiple accounts, and receiving notifications on your PlayBook home screen will keep you on top of your friends, mentions and interests. TweetBook also takes advantage of the BlackBerry PlayBooks built-in camera, allowing you to directly take and upload images to your tweets – it couldn’t be simpler!

TweetBook sells in BlackBerry App World for $4.99, so while it may be a bit steep for some, it’s definitely a great option for Twitter on the PlayBook. We’ll have a full review coming up so stay tuned!

More information/download of TweetBook[qrcode pix=120]http://nhcbba.com/downloads/TweetBook_for_PB[/qrcode]

 

via:cb

 

Mobile Miscellany: week of August 1, 2011

Here’s some of the other stuff that happened in the wide world of wireless for the week of August 1, 2011:

• Vodafone unveiled the world’s first prepaid-only Facebook phone, dubbed the Vodafone 555 Blue. It has a portrait QWERTY, 2 MP camera, 2.4-inch display, and a few other minor features added in. No word was given on pricing or availability, only that it’ll be sold through its own shops and website. [via Pocket-Lint]
• The Motorola Milestone Plus is Cellular South’s variant of the Droid Pro, a portrait QWERTY that runs Android 2.2 and has a 1GHz CPU and 3.1-inch display. It can be yours for $200 with a two-year commitment and after a $50 mail-in rebate. [via AndroidCentral]
• While we’re chatting about Cell South, the regional carrier will soon release the Samsung Admire, the same entry-level Android device we’ve peeked at en route to MetroPCS. No pricing or availability have been announced. [via AndroidCentral]
• A phone with the model number LG-P699 received its Bluetooth certification this week. It’s widely speculated that this phone’s the Optimus Net. [via PhoneArena and PocketNow]
• Screenshots and an APK of Sony Ericsson’s latest home launcher for its Xperia series were leaked this week. Most of the changes are subtle UI differences. [via Xperiablog]
• Rogers announced the upcoming availability and pricing of the BlackBerry Bold 9900, Torch 9810, and Torch 9860. All three will be added to the lineup this summer, and all will require a three-year commitment. The 9900 will be sold for $250, and both Torches will be priced at $200. [via MobileSyrup]

engagdet

BlackBerry Torch 9850 and 9860: 5 things you should know

I’m happy to tell you about two new BlackBerry® 7 OS smartphones announced today, the all-touch BlackBerry® Torch™ 9850 and 9860 smartphones. #TeamBlackBerry members in North America will be able to purchase the BlackBerry Torch 9860 smartphone from AT&T, Rogers, Telus and Bell, and the BlackBerry Torch 9850 smartphone from Sprint and U.S. Cellular. For more details on pricing and international availability, make sure to check out our BlackBerry Torch product page or contact your local carrier.

To ensure you have our patented Inside BlackBerry insight into these sweet all-touch BlackBerry 7 OS smartphones, I tapped Product Managers Sangita and Troy to list the 5 things you need to know about the BlackBerry Torch 9850 and 9860. Take it away, Sangita and Troy!

BlackBerry Torch 9810 Features and Specifications

The BlackBerry 9810 Torch 2 has now been officially announced and we now have a a full specs list of the device. If this is a device you are considering to purchase, you might want to take a look at the full list of specs. Here is a sneak peak on the Blackberry:

BlackBerry Torch 9810 Features and Specifications:

• Size (LxWxD):
  Closed: 111mm x 62mm x 14.6mm
  Open: 147.6mm x 62mm x 14.6mm
• Display:
  3.2″ high-resoultion touch display
• Software:
  BlackBerry7 OS
• Battery Life:
  GSM talk time: Up to 6.5 hours
  GSM standby time: up to 12.8 days
  UMTS talk time: up to 5.9 hours
  UMTS standby time: up to 12.3 days
  Audio playback time: up to 54 hours
  Video playback time: up to 7 hours

AT&T customers in the top 5% of data usage to face throttled speeds

If you’re on an unlimited data plan on AT&T, and consider yourself a heavy data user, you may want to pay attention. Like other carriers, AT&T is going to begin throttling speeds once a certain threshold is reached. However, unlike other carriers, AT&T has decided instead of setting a fixed number as the limit, they will simply reduce speeds for customers falling into the top 5% of the heaviest data users. Users will still have unlimited data, and speeds will be restored at the start of the next billing cycle.

The amount of data usage of our top 5 percent of heaviest users varies from month to month, based on the usage of others and the ever-increasing demand for mobile broadband services.  To rank among the top 5 percent, you have to use an extraordinary amount of data in a single billing period.

There will be no changes for the vast majority of customers.  It’s not how much time you spend using your device, it’s what you do with it.  You can send or receive thousands of emails, surf thousands of Web pages and watch hours of streaming video every month and not be in the top 5 percent of data users.

Chances are, this change won’t affect you, unless you use an extraordinary amount of data through streaming tons of video/music daily, streaming remote web camera apps, sending large data files, online gaming, or tethering. If you utilize wifi for these things, you aren’t using your data plan, so therefore you won’t be affected. The changes go into effect October 1, 2011. You can find full details at the source link below.
Source: AT&T via: TiPb

via: cb

AT&T announces throttling plans, gently reminds us why the T-Mobile acquisition is so great

AT&T today officially confirmed what so many had expected for some time now: the carrier will be throttling select users’ unlimited data plans. The move, which takes effect on October 1st, is a response to a “serious wireless spectrum crunch,” according to a message issued today. The changes will not affect most customers, according to the company, primarily targeting those who fall within the top five percent of heavy users in a given billing cycle. Once the new period begins, speeds will be restored. Even with this new plan in place, however, the company says that the spectrum problems still won’t be resolved — it does have a simple solution, however, explaining that “nothing short of completing the T-Mobile merger will provide additional spectrum capacity to address these near term challenges.”

Full text after the break.

BlackBerry Torch 9860 Caught Wearing AT&T Branding

We already know that Verizon, Sprint, and T-Mobile are carrying a whole slew of new BlackBerrys but AT&T leaks have been few and far between. The latest comes to us in the form of the BlackBerry Torch 9860 caught on camera by Engadget bearing the AT&T colors. Not much new here but there are some nice high res pics of the device. This is going to be the first all touch BlackBerry on AT&T since the Storm was a Verizon exclusive though the original Torch might count.

I am curious if users are actually going to pick up the 9860 or rather opt for the 9810 or 9900. Let us know what you think!

via: bbreview

Kodak win in patent case against Apple will stand, ITC says

The U.S. International Trade Commission said on Tuesday its May ruling that Kodak did not infringe on Apple’s patents will stand. The two companies have been locked up in two separate legal battles for the better part of this year. Here’s how it started: Kodak first filed lawsuits against Apple and Research In Motion and accused both firms of infringing on its camera patents. That case was called “In the Matter of Certain Mobile Telephones and Wireless Communication Devices Featuring Digital Cameras, and Components Thereof.” A judge has already ruled in favor of RIM and Apple in that lawsuit, and it could end up costing the camera maker millions of dollars. Shortly after that case was filed, however, Apple responded with own suit against Kodak titled: “In the Matter of Digital Imaging Devices and Related Software.” That’s the suit that Kodak won in May and the one ITC ruled today will stand. “We are pleased that the commission has confirmed the ALJ’s finding that there is no violation by Kodak,” David Lanzillo, a Kodak spokesman, told Bloomberg.

Read

via: BGR