BlackBerry Bold 9900 launching in India on August 8th?

All of us here at NHCBBA are anxiously awaiting a release date for the BlackBerry Bold 9900 in North America, but so far we’re not hearing anything concrete. We’ve heard rumors that August 22nd will be the launch date in the UK, and now new word has it that India will be releasing it the second week of August, on the 8th. This will of course be the standard black version of the device, though the same source is reporting that a white version will follow in October.

With all the delays this BlackBerry has seen, it’s nice to finally be seeing it get some release dates. My fingers are crossed now for some news for Canada and the US, as well as for those other as of yet unnanounced devices!

Source: iGyaan  via: cb

Gist for BlackBerry Gets Big Update & Support for More Countries

RIM purchase Gist a bit back as a way to create a social address book for BlackBerrys. Quite a few people were excited about what this could mean but it keeps on getting better. Gist just released a new version of their app (For OS 6.0 only) that first of all expands the app beyond the US and Canada. It is now available in :

• Australia
• India
• New Zealand
• Nigeria
• Philippines
• Singapore
• South Africa
• United Arab Emirates
• United Kingdom

They have also bulked up the app which now allows you to connect to Twitter, Facebook, and Google Apps (Including Gmail, Google Apps, Google Calendar, and Google Contacts) to bring all of your contacts to one place in one app.

You can pick up this latest version of Gist in App World now[qrcode pix=180]http://nhcbba.com/downloads/Gist[/qrcode]

Thanks to everyone that sent this in!

via: bbreview

Indian Man arrested because he was in possession of 100,000 SIM cards

Depending on which country you’re in, when you purchase a SIM card you need to submit some form of identification so that should the authorities ever need to investigate something they can contact you. In Finland, you don’t have this silly rule. In India and China, you do. Most people around the world have just one SIM card, and thus one mobile phone, but there’s a growing number of folks who prefer having two devices, either because they want to have some semblance of a work/life balance, or because they need to cheat on their significant other without being caught. Anwar Bablu doesn’t fit into either of those two categories. Indian police arrested him because he was in possession of 100,000 SIM cards, a number that’s hard to wrap your head around because it’s difficult to imagine what a room full of 100,000 mobile phones looks like, or how heavy a plastic bag with 100,000 SIM cards weighs. Bablu had a side business whereby he would rent out SIM cards to individuals who would then return them when they no longer had a use for them. Once returned, he would rent out that SIM card again, which is puzzling if you’re one of the people who has such a SIM card and all of a sudden you start receiving phone calls and text messages from strangers.

The bigger question is should India repeal their relatively new law that dictates each SIM card should be tied to an individual? Bablu is most certainly an outlier with 100,000 SIM cards, but we suspect there are other smaller players in numerous Indian cities who provide the same service. Curbing terrorist attacks, drug deals, and other illegal activities is a noble goal, but people will always find a way to get around government regulations. Bablu and others like him profit from that.

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BlackBerry PlayBook Launches in India – International Rollout Continues

RIM has been making good on their promise to bring the BlackBerry PlayBook to 16 additional markets. Their latest addition is India where they are now selling the BlackBerry PlayBook. The PlayBook is plastered all over the BlackBerry India homepage and Facebook page for the launch. Shahzoor from BBIn.in let me know the pricing at:

 

BlackBerry PlayBook 16GB (WiFi model) – Rs. 27,990
BlackBerry PlayBook 32GB (WiFi model) – Rs. 32,990
BlackBerry PlayBook 64GB (WiFi model) – Rs. 37,990

It will be really interesting to see how the BlackBerry PlayBook takes off internationally because in many countries the Bridge feature is a godsend. The PlayBook doesn’t need its own data plan to get email and browse the web which is a big cost consideration.

via:bbr

Will RIM Update the PlayBook OS for Next Saturdays Saudi Arabia Launch?

Sky pointed out in the forums that STC confirmed on their Facebook page that the BlackBerry PlayBook is launching next Saturday in Saudi Arabia. That begs the question of if it will ship with Arabic language support. The current BlackBerry PlayBook OS only supports English, French, Italian, German, Spanish, Dutch and UK English. I had one of the devs testing out 1.0.6 in the Beta Zone (coming by the end of the month) check if it supported Arabic and it was not there. We also had STC state in May that the PlayBook would launch in Saudi Arabia starting June 25th (next Saturday) with full Arabic read and write support. On the other hand the PlayBook rendering in their announcement is in English…

 

So will RIM launch the PlayBook in these countries without support for the native language or is there an OS update in the wings just waiting to swoop down. RIM has confirmed that the PlayBook will be launching in 16 new markets by July 10th which also includes countries like India and Indonesia that don’t currently have their native languages supported.

What do you think? Will RIM be rolling out an OS update very soon?

Here is what STC posted on their Facebook page:

Starting from next Saturday, we will be the first telecommunication company in the country to provide the new experience from BlackBerry in the tablets world, the BlackBerry PlayBook, which will be available at our stores.. with the possibility of using our FREE Wi-Fi service in over 2000 locations across the Kingdom for a whole year and with no limits on the data that you want to use. To know the locations, head to: http://m3com.com.sa/

There are three editions of the device:
16 GB for 2099 SAR
32 GB for 2699 SAR
64 GB for 3099 SAR
All these editions work with Wi-Fi technology and a 1Ghz Dual processor, using BlackBerry Tablet OS7, with a 7 inches touch LCD screen and a 1G memory. You will enjoy 2 cameras, one on the front of the device (3 megapixel) and the other one from the back side (5 megapixel), you can also record high quality videos, the device has a video output as well. You will also be able to enjoy playing audio files MP3, AAC 5.1 & WME 5.1, in addition to total and full Bluetooth experience. Using Wi-Fi you will be able to download many free and priced applications from the BlackBerry App World on your BlackBerry PlayBook.
To remind you about STC BlackBerry Packages:
Monthly Package: 99 SAR with 1000 MB, unlimited usage of BlackBerry Messenger and E-mail, in addition to FREE 5 MB while roaming.
Weekly Package: 29 SAR with 120 MB, unlimited usage of BlackBerry Messenger and E-mail.

via:bbr

 

Justin Bieber Gets a Free News App – Actually Looks Good…

I am not sure what to think of this one though I guess it was inevitable. There is now a Justin Bieber app in App World. At first I thought it might be a fan made app that slipped past RIM’s crack squad of world class App World reviewers but that does not look to be the case. This app was developed by Doapp which has 217 other legit news apps in App World not to mention the fact that the app actually looks good.

 

I won’t go as far as installing this app on my BlackBerry but you can if you so wish. Sadly Doapp only offers one line as a description of the app:

Your mobile source for up-to-date news about Justin Bieber.

I guess that sums it up… though for some odd reason the app is only available in India and the United States.

Check out the free Justin Bieber app in App World here. [qrcode pix=120]https://appworld.blackberry.com/webstore/content/44888[/qrcode]

via: bbr

India telecom company to take on BlackBerry with Bharat Berry

BlackBerry news from India heats up as Indian telecom operator, Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Ltd (MTNL), has launched a alternative to BlackBerry services last Friday. The service, Bharat Berry, takes the stage as a less expensive and more accessible replacement option for those BlackBerry users who are under the threat of BlackBerry services being cut off by the India government. Features of the service include:

• Works with all compatible Mobile phones
• Works with your Corporate mail, Gmail and your personal email accounts
• Has all data and communication functionalities you are used to
• Provides over the air (OTA) Contact and Calendar backup
• Is an India-compliant solution

This means that the Bharat Berry service will allow users to have their emails pushed to their device, as well as on the go synchronization of calendar and contacts for multiple mail accounts. The service has been “tested on several entry-level handsets,” according to Dr Ajay Data, director, Bharat Berry Technologies.

Executive Director (Wireless Services), MTNL, AK Bhargava said:

BharatBerry is an Indian compliant Product made by Bharat Berry technologies in India keeping in consideration all necessary India laws; the necessary approval from all respective agencies have been received before launching this service for Delhi GSM subscribers. While the services offered by other providers are handset-based, Bharat Berry service can run on any Java-enabled normal GPRS-enabled handset like Nokia, Motorola, Samsung, LG, Blackberry, HTC, etc and ensures that you remain connected to your email, calendar and contacts through the servers hosted in India.

The cost of the Bharat Berry monthly subscription rate will be Rs 80 (about $1.77) to use along with any standard data plan.

• Visit the Bharat Berry site for more details

via:bbos

BlackBerry Travel now available in over 40 countries

Bitten by the travel bug? Well, here is something for you and all the other keen travelers: BlackBerry Travel is now available in 45 different countries! Since its inception BlackBerry Travel has enjoyed a lot of attraction from numerous people worldwide, but to the disappointment of many, it was initially available only in North America, UK and Spain. But that should not matter anymore, as RIM has actively rolled out its application in more countries over time, effectively reaching a broad, worldwide audience.

Countries supported by BlackBerry Travel currently include Argentina, Aruba, Australia, The Bahamas, Barbados, Bolivia, Canada, Cayman Islands, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, France, Gibraltar, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Jamaica, Kenya, Malaysia, Malta, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Panama, Peru, Philippines, Puerto Rico, Singapore, South Africa, Spain, Switzerland, Taiwan, Trinidad and Tobago, United Kingdom, United States, Venezuela, British Virgin Islands and U.S. Virgin Islands.

No excuses this time not to download the application, so head over to BlackBerry App World for the download. If your country is not listed above, no worry, the application will likely find its way to other countries with time – patience is key.

More information/download of BlackBerry Travel

via:cb

Perfecto Mobile gives free access to its MobileCloud to BlackBerry developers

 

OK full disclosure – I’m not a developer; I have not written a line of code since 1988.  Now with that out of the way, Perfecto Mobile has extended access to its MobileCloud platform to BlackBerry developers for free.  If you’re unfamiliar with Perfecto’s MobileCloud, it’s a development platform that gives you access to devices without the need to install the simulator on your computer.

As my disclaimer says I’m not a developer but this sounds like a pretty handy tool to have access to.  With the multiple types of devices a developer has to accommodate for when developing an application not needing to have multiple simulators running on your computer would be a real asset.

The MobileCloud platform also allows you to test your application across multiple networks in various geographic regions.  Currently their devices are located in Canada, USA, UK, France, India and Israel.  I can see the many benefits of this ability.

More information on the Perfecto MobileCloud

Videos: Funny "Mischief Of BBM"

 

There have been quite a few BlackBerry videos hitting the internet as of late and as we always do, we’re here to bring them straight to you! This video takes place in India in where “dorm boys” are using their BlackBerries to BBM each other without being caught be the warden. Hey, I can always dig a little mischief.