BlackBerry Desktop Software For Mac v2.2.0 now available for download in the BlackBerry Beta Zone

After years of neglecting their Mac user baser, RIM seems to now be putting a lot more attention into making sure the BlackBerry tools available to Windows users are now also available to Mac users. As such, another update to BlackBerry Desktop Software For Mac is now available in the BlackBerry Beta Zone. This updates the currently available v2.1.2 to v2.2.. If you have a BlackBerry Beta Zone account and are signed up for the Desktop Software program you can now login and grab the download. Note however, this version is only available to North American users currently.

More info available in the BlackBerry Beta Zone

via:cb

RIM May be Ditching Edelman and Razorfish PR Firms During Transition

One of the biggest criticisms of RIM is that the brand has taken a serious drop in North American popularity. In this big transition phase for RIM, from the old OS to a new QNX and supersphone company, RIM is going to need new representation. You probably shouldn’t the old PR firms that represent your old brand, when you’re moving on to something new and better. Rumor has it that RIM is shopping around for new firms to represent them.

According to PRWeek, RIM has held initial meetings with a number of agencies, with a view to holding a full pitch. Apparently RIM has not denied that it’s looking for a new agency and the company will still work with Good Relations, part of the Bell Pottinger group, on its consumer tech and b2b comms across UK and Europe. Frank PR still handles RIM’s consumer PR in the UK.

Check out the story in PRWeek for quotes and more details.

NA Carriers Confirmed for Torch 9810, 9850, & 9860 – Verizon Suspiciously Missing?

In the interviews with the project managers for the BlackBerry Torch 9810, 9850, & 9860 was an interesting bit of information. In it RIM confirmed the North American carriers for all three devices. The regular suspects are there and it does confirm the Torch 9810 as a AT&T exclusive in the USA. Check out the list of North American carriers for yourself and tell me if you see something missing:

• BlackBerry Torch 9860 from AT&T, Rogers, Telus and Bell
• BlackBerry Torch 9850 smartphone from Sprint and U.S. Cellular
• BlackBerry 9810 from AT&T, Bell, Telus and Rogers

Did you notice a big US carrier missing from that list? While Verizon could be holding out to make the announcement themselves we have already seen Verizon branded versions of the 9850. I know for a fact that Verizon is getting the 9930 but after getting the first and second Storm could it be they are not going to launch the redeeming Torch 9850?

via: bbreview

Carrier Billing results in twice as many people buying applications

With the release of Version 2.0 of BlackBerry AppWorld, RIM added an option to purchase applications via carrier billing for select carriers. This is an option that is growing in popularity, and results in twice as many applications being sold by the average customer on carriers who support carrier billing.

The above chart shows the comparative amount of sales for the seven largest North American wireless providers, normalized by the size of their BlackBerry customer base. Of these carriers the two that support carrier billing in AppWorld (AT&T and Telus) see their average customer twice as likely to buy applications then a user on any of the other networks.

The measurements in this chart are relative to the number of purchases at Verizon Wireless (the largest carrier), such that Verizon would always have a value of 1.00X. The number of purchases is based upon purchases of Pixelated Plus from January-March 2011. Normalization for carrier size was based on data from the free application Pixelated over the same time period. All data was collected through BlackBerry AppWorld at the time of download.

via:bbr

RIM Launches BlackBerry Mobile Conferencing App in Beta Zone

Image courtesy of PocketBerryRIM has announced the BlackBerry Mobile Conferencing app designed to make scheduling, joining and rejoining conference calls from your BlackBerry quick and easy. Features of the app include:

• Calendar Integration: The BlackBerry Mobile Conferencing application integrates with the Calendar application on your BlackBerry smartphone for maximum convenience.
• One Click Join: When your calendar indicates it’s time for a conference call to begin, you get a pop-up display that can dial you into the meeting without you having to remember or dial lengthy phone and access code combinations.
• Reconnecting: If you’re inadvertently dropped from a conference call, the application allows you to reconnect with one easy click.
• Store Dial-In Numbers: When there are multiple phone numbers in the invitation for participants in different locations, the application is designed to choose the most appropriate number for you (limited to North American phone numbers only). You can also choose to change the suggested dial-in number manually.
• Easy Conference Scheduling: Turn almost any meeting invite into a conference call with just a single click. You can also store reservationless or recurring conference information to your conference profile on your BlackBerry smartphone so you can include it in conference call meetings you schedule from your device.
• Protect Your Host Codes: When sending conference call meeting invitations using conference profile information, participants see only the information they need to join the call. Moderator codes are kept hidden and only used to join the meeting organizer into conference calls in cases where the code is required to open the conference bridge.

The app is live in the Beta Zone so head over there and join. The Mobile Conferencing app requires OS 5.0 or later and the review pool is limited.

via:bbcool

NHCBBA Likes to Ask: What Are Your Unanswered BlackBerry PlayBook Questions?

The subject line says it all. We’ve been covering the BlackBerry PlayBook like crazy (I know, some of you would wish we’d tone it down a bit) since it was announced back at DevCon in September 2010. Even if you’re not that interested in the PlayBook itself, it’s really an exciting device for RIM as the BlackBerry Tablet OS is our first experience with QNX on a BlackBerry and what will ultimately pave the way to the future operating system on BlackBerry Smartphones.

As we approach the April 19th North American BlackBerry PlayBook launch date, I want to know…  what lingering questions do you still have about the BlackBerry PlayBook? I’ve been trying to clarify some of the confusion that’s out there, like why there’s no native email at launch and the differences between Internet Tethering and the BlackBerry Bridge. Are there other pressing questions you’re still waiting for answers for? Let me know what you want to know in the comments, and I’ll be sure to tackle the issues with some passionate articles! NHCBBA would love to know what you think of this new product that Blackberry is coming out with.  Just tell us in the comments of this post…

Free BlackBerry PlayBook offer for developers extended to March 31st 2011

The free BlackBerry PlayBook offer for developers has again been extended through the end of the month. Developers who create and submit apps to BlackBerry App World before March 31st will be eligible for a free BlackBerry PlayBook tablet. To get in on the action, you’ll just need to submit an app according to the contest guidelines.

Developers who create a qualifying application for the BlackBerry PlayBook tablet prior to its initial North American release are eligible for a free BlackBerry PlayBook tablet. The main criterion to qualify for the free BlackBerry PlayBook tablet offer is to have a qualifying application accepted into BlackBerry App World, subject to certain Terms and Conditions.

Note: New BlackBerry App World Vendor Guidelines have removed the requirement for a notarized proof of identity for individuals. To allow individuals time to register and qualify for the free BlackBerry PlayBook offer, the offer has been extended to March 31, 2011.

You can submit multiple BlackBerry PlayBook tablet apps into BlackBerry App World, but each BlackBerry App World vendor will only qualify for one free BlackBerry PlayBook tablet. Apps will need to meet the BlackBerry App World Vendor Guidelines.”

So if you haven’t created an app yet you still have a few weeks to give it a shot. If you have already submitted an app, why not do another? Hit the link below for more.

Free BlackBerry PlayBook offer for developers

BIS outage across multiple North American Carriers

 

*Update 2* – 11:35am EST Many reports of BIS being back up rolling in across all the carriers in question. Issue seems to be resolved. Give it a little time to hit all users across the many regions in question.

*Update* – 11:20am EST – It looks like users (including myself) are now able to send emails, but still not receive. Hopefully full email capabilities will be back up soon.

It’s been quite a while since we had an outage across multiple carriers and regions in North America, but it looks like BIS email is down for most carriers across the US and parts of Canada. No one is receiving email, but it appears that browser, BlackBerry Messenger, voice and SMS are still working however. It looks like the outage started in the wee hours of the morning today, but there is no word on when they’ll be up and running. Keep it here and we’ll report anything as it pops up. Jump into the forums for more discussion.

NORAD Tracks Santa for Christmas

NORAD Tracks Santa for Christmas By Courtesy of 21st Space Wing Public Affairs

Officials from the North American Aerospace Defense Command have begun tracking Santa Claus’ via their web site that went live Dec. 3, 2010.

U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Carlin Leslie

 

PETERSON AFB , Colo., Dec. 6, 2010 – For the 55th consecutive year, the men and women of the North American Aerospace Defense Command are preparing to track Santa. The NORAD Tracks Santa web site,www.noradsanta.org , went live Dec. 3 and features holiday games and activities that change daily.

The web site is available in seven languages: English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Spanish, and Chinese. The web site will stream videos, captured by NORAD “Santa Cams,” from cities along Santa’s journey Dec. 24.

This year, children are able to track Santa through Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Flickr, and TroopTube. To follow NORAD on these Santa-tracking tools, type in “@noradsanta” into the search engine to start your tracking.

Also, beginning at midnight MST Dec. 24, visitors to the website can watch Santa as he prepares his sleigh, checks his list, and goes through all of his preparations to ensure he has a successful journey.

As soon as Santa takes off from the North Pole, children can also track him with up-to-the-minute updates on Google Maps and Google Earth through the NORAD Tracks Santa web site.

Santa trackers will begin answering phones and replying to e-mail at 2 a.m. MST (4 a.m. EST) on Dec. 24 and will continue until 3:00 a.m. MST (5 a.m. EST) Dec. 25. Children of all ages can then call the NTS toll-free number 1-877-Hi-NORAD (1-877-446-6723) or send an e-mail to noradtrackssanta@gmail.com.

The NORAD Tracks Santa program began in 1955 after a phone call was made to the Continental Air Defense Command Operations Center in Colorado Springs, Colo. The call was from a local youngster who dialed a misprinted telephone number in a local newspaper advertisement. The commander on duty who answered the phone that night gave the youngster the information requested — the whereabouts of Santa. This began the tradition of tracking Santa, a tradition that was carried on by NORAD when it was formed in 1958.

The NORAD Tracks Santa program has grown immensely since first presented on the Internet in 1998. The web site receives millions of visitors from hundreds of countries and territories around the world. In addition, a live operations center is occupied for 25 hours with more than 1,200 volunteers each year who receive hundreds of thousands of phone calls and e-mails from families around the world.

 

Officials from the North American Aerospace Defense Command have begun tracking Santa Claus’ via their web site that went live Dec. 3, 2010. U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Carlin Leslie Download high res image

Review: GPS Ski Maps for BlackBerry

About GPS Ski Maps
SNOW! You love to play in it and you hate to shovel it. In the lower mainland of BC, we don’t (typically) get as much snow as I did when I lived in Northeastern Ontario, but there are some pretty amazing locations in BC where you can enjoy many winter activities – both outdoor and indoor (by the fire…wink wink, nudge nudge). BC is known for its many, beautiful ski resorts. Ok, before you think that I’m actually working in Travel and Tourism, let me get to the point. When looking for a place to travel to, you would probably want to check out maps and any kid of information you can see about the tracks or even the resort itself.

With this in mind, an application that you should check out is GPS Ski Maps, formerly BerrySki. GPS Ski Maps provides in-depth information on hundreds of resorts from across Canada, the USA and Europe. You can also record and view your runs for future analysis; whether you want a trip, season or lifelong summary of your skiing or snowboarding history. Let’s take a look at what GPS Ski Maps has to offer.