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Nielsen: BlackBerry nearly a non-factor in Q2, Android and iOS take top spots

Nielsen: BlackBerry nearly a non-factor in Q2, Android and iOS take top spots

New numbers from Nielsen illustrate what has long been obvious to anyone who pays attention to technology: old feature phones will soon be a thing of the past. Nielsen reported on Thursday that two-thirds of new mobile phones purchased in the second quarter of 2012 were smartphones. What's more, Nielsen found that just under 55% of all U.S. mobile subscribers owned smartphones, meaning something that was considered a high-end item just five years ago is now commonplace.

As far as smartphone operating systems go, Nielsen found that recent adopters over the past quarter unsurprisingly gravitated toward Android, which accounted for 54.6% of all new smartphone purchases, and iOS, which accounted for 36.3% of all new smartphone purchases. RIM's BlackBerry devices continued to lose market share during the quarter, as BlackBerry OS smartphones accounted for just 4% of all new smartphone purchases - just two quarters ago, RIM's share among new smartphone buyers sat at 15%.

BlackBerry PlayBook 4G seem ready for a release

BlackBerry PlayBook 4G seem ready for a release  

Granted, we do know that the BlackBerry PlayBook did run into issues in terms of sales figures in the past, and beleaguered smartphone manufacturer RIM does not seem to be in too good spirits these days. There have been rumors in the past of the BlackBerry PlayBook 4G being launched, and in one of the more recent excerpts from RIM CEO Thorsten Heins, it does seem as though the BlackBerry PlayBook 4G is ready to rock and roll sometime in the future. N4BB and BB FR did spend some time with the tablet, where it sported 4G connectivity as well as software version OS 2.0.1.354.

Initial impressions pointed to a faster processor, and it could possible be a faster dual-core 1.5GHz chip that sees action. In addition, word has it that RIM has also begun to release such tablets to its corporate partners as well as other channels of distribution. BlackBerry Messenger does not seem as though it is installed on the tablet though. Do you think that the BlackBerry PlayBook 4G is going to be able to turn things around for RIM?

Samsung ChatON client for BlackBerry

Samsung ChatON client for BlackBerry
Earlier this morning, we were wondering as to when BlackBerry Messenger for Android would officially hit the market, and since there were no forthcoming answers, it was time to exercise some patience. Samsung seems to be moving faster in this aspect by announcing the availability of their Samsung ChatON client for BlackBerry devices, which would more or less “complete the collection” as ChatON is already well and alive on iOS, Android and Bada platforms. The only missing party? Windows Phone.

First unveiled by Samsung in August 2011, ChatOn advertises itself as a new multi-platform mobile messaging service that can send text, images and video clips not only between the company's Android- and Bada-powered smartphones, but also onto other platforms. With BlackBerry next in line to receive ChatON, one can make an intelligent guess that a Windows Phone version is not too far off in the horizon.

Would you use a service like ChatON, or do you prefer to stick to other solutions like WhatsApp?

BlackBerry remains top smartphone in Washington

BlackBerry remains top smartphone in Washington


Research in Motion's BlackBerry operating system has gone from being a leading smartphone platform to the struggling OS it is today. While adoption rates may be slowing with consumers and businesses, the same cannot be said for U.S. Government workers, a new report claims. The Washington Post on Tuesday reported that nearly half a million federal workers, including President Barack Obama, are still using BlackBerry phones. That number hasn't dipped over the past few years despite RIM's plummeting sales. “We appreciate RIM's focus on security, which is paramount for government use,” said Casey Coleman, chief information officer at the General Services Administration. Some agencies are changing their policies and allowing workers to choose other smartphones, however, which may impact BlackBerry's government market share moving forward. Coleman added that other platforms are proving equally secure, and that the GSA places “a priority on adoption where appropriate of innovative new technologies.”

Apple and Google's OS share slides in March as BlackBerry shows narrow gain

Apple and Google's OS share slides in March as BlackBerry shows narrow gain

The smartphone and tablet landscapes remained largely unchanged in March as far as operating system usage share is concerned. New data from analytics firm Net Applications shows that the collective operating system share owned by Apple's iPhone and iPad inched down to 59.87% in March from 60.59% in February. iOS's share had skyrocketed in February as it continued to gain after losing share ahead of the holidays. Google's Android smartphones and tablets dipped as well in March according to Net Applications's data, dropping to 18.66% from 19.02% in February. Symbian stayed flat at 2.77% in March, and the only mobile operating system to show gains during the month was RIM's BlackBerry OS, which climbed a fraction of a point to 2.21% from 2.15% in February.

BlackBerry Curve 9220 specs detailed, simulator available

BlackBerry Curve 9220 specs detailed, simulator available
RIM isn't feeling too good lately, but that won't stop it from readying the launch of new devices. And one of the company's upcoming devices is the BlackBerry Curve 9220.

As its name suggests, the Curve 9220 is an entry level smartphone. A simulator for it has been released by RIM, which means the handset itself should be officially announced pretty soon.

Feature-wise, the 9220 offers a 2.44 inch QVGA display, Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, GSM / GPRS / EDGE connectivity, 512MB of RAM, 512MB of internal memory, MicroSD card support, and a 2MP rear camera. Those who want the 9220 device simulator can get it here at RIM.

According to previous rumors, the BlackBerry Curve 9220 should become available in mid-2102, running Blackberry OS 7.1.

BlackBerry PlayBook Twitter and Kindle apps on the way?


BlackBerry PlayBook Twitter and Kindle apps on the way?
We all know that the BlackBerry PlayBook OS 2.0 update is arriving next week, but it looks like some long-awaited apps might be on the way as well. According to Best Buy Canada's product page for the PlayBook, it suggests that we might be seeing a native Twitter and Amazon Kindle app that will be released soon (possibly with the OS 2.0 update). In the description of the PlayBook, they mention:

“Plug in to BlackBerry App World™ and read, write and game like never before. With thousands of apps for every use, you'll never run out of new and exciting options. Pick up Angry Birds or Cut the Rope, read the latest magazines, or connect online with Facebook and Twitter apps. With access to Kobo and Kindle, you can enjoy new late night reading without ever leaving your living room.”

It could have been just a typo on the website, but Best Buy were the ones who advertised the OS 2.0 update as “coming soon” before an official release date was even given, so there's a chance that they could be on to something here. Well, the update arrives next week, so we shouldn't have to wait too long to find out. Stay tuned.

BlackBerry PlayBook OS confirmed for February 21st


BlackBerry PlayBook OS confirmed for February 21st
Earlier this week we heard reports about the PlayBook OS 2.0 update arriving on February 21st, and it looks like the rumor has turned out to be accurate. According to reports online, in a webcast about “Developing native games with the BlackBerry NDK 2.0″, RIM confirmed the release date of PlayBook OS 2.0. Well, assuming that everything goes well and there aren't any problems with the rollout, we should see PlayBook OS 2.0 by next Tuesday. For those of you planning to pick up the BlackBerry PlayBook just because of the upcoming update, you should start shopping around for one by now.

PlayBook OS 2.0 is said to bring features such as native calendar, email, and contacts apps, support for Android apps, and the usual host of fixes and tweaks to the operating system. Who is excited about the upcoming update?

BlackBerry dealt another blow as government agency opts for iPhones, Android


BlackBerry dealt another blow as government agency opts for iPhones, Android


Government deployment of BlackBerry smartphones in the United States has been big business for struggling Canadian handset maker Research In Motion, but the tide seems to be turning toward Android and iOS. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said earlier this month that it would be ditching BlackBerry smartphones in favor of Apple's iPhone, and now the General Services Administration has added the iPhone and Android devices to its list of approved devices. The GSA, an independent 12,635-person agency that procures supplies and products for other federal agencies, spends upwards of $70 billion each year with contracted vendors. In addition to BlackBerry phones, Android devices and iPhones have now been approved for purchase by GSA staff in order to support “applications that can help them work more efficiently with customers like the Departments of Justice and Homeland Security,” a spokesperson told Bloomberg Businessweek. It is not clear when the policy change went into effect.

HTC Sensation XL, Nokia C3, BlackBerry Torch 9810, Samsung Galaxy Mini discontinued by Vodafone UK


HTC Sensation XL, Nokia C3, BlackBerry Torch 9810, Samsung Galaxy Mini discontinued by Vodafone UK
In the UK, Vodafone is set to discontinue four smartphones, according to SoMobile. These are the HTC Sensation XL, Nokia C3, Samsung Galaxy Mini, and BlackBerry Torch 9810. For the first three of those this undoubtedly has something to do with the fact that they'll all be getting successors announced at the end of this month in Barcelona during Mobile World Congress.

The HTC One X should succeed the Sensation XL in the ‘huge smartphone' category for the Taiwanese company, while the recently leaked Nokia Asha 302 will pick up where the C3 left off. And the Samsung Galaxy Mini 2‘s pedigree is pretty obvious from its name. So we may safely assume that Big Red will sell these new handsets at some point.

BlackBerry 10 OS images leaked?


BlackBerry 10 OS images leaked?
Keen on finding out what BlackBerry 10 OS is going to look like when it's released? Well, the folks over at CrackBerry claim to have landed themselves the very first snapshots of the upcoming operating system. Thanks to the leaked screenshots, we get to peek at its homescreen, icons, “widgets”, unified inbox and in-call screen. While the images look pretty interesting (I'm definitely reminded of iOS and Android), there's something peculiar about them.

They appear to look like badly edited photographs, so we're not 100% convinced this is the new BlackBerry 10 OS. However, the images were reportedly taken from a 14-page PDF that was prepared by RIM's external ad agency partners as a BB10 briefing document so it could be screenshots from a rough document, or just something stitched together as a sample. But assuming that these images were authentic, there's a chance that the final product will end up looking very different. I guess we'll just have to wait and see when BlackBerry 10 OS is released later this year.

Leaked BlackBerry 10 images reveal home screen widgets, more


Leaked BlackBerry 10 images reveal home screen widgets, more

Research in Motion has already confirmed that BlackBerry 10 smartphones won't be shipping until late this year. Thanks to new images published by CrackBerry, however, we now have a preview of what's to come. The images have come from one of RIM's external ad agencies and highlight the much-awaited introduction of home screen widgets. The pictures reveal a number of changes, such as an updated Windows Phone-like icon tray that features dedicated call, search and camera buttons, quarter-screen widgets, iOS-styled folders and integrated video calling. Read on for more.

The new BlackBerry 10 widgets were clearly designed in a post-Android world, drawing heavy inspiration from Google's operating system and Windows Phone's Live Tiles. The new folder icon looks to be inspired by iOS, showing a preview of the applications inside, and the Pictures icon shows previews of photos from the albums within. The calling screen displays the normal speaker, keypad, mute, add call and notes icons, and there is also a dedicated video chat button.

There is no doubt that RIM has drawn inspiration from iOS, Android and Windows Phone operating systems, which isn't a bad thing at all. The BlackBerry 10 OS looks far more polished and fresh than RIM's current OS, but the real question will be whether it or not it's too little too late. The BlackBerry London will be the first BlackBerry 10 smartphone to market, and as

BlackBerry PlayBook OS 2.0 said to launch on February 21st


BlackBerry PlayBook OS 2.0 said to launch on February 21st


When Research In Motion released its BlackBerry PlayBook tablet, the device had its fair share of problems. RIM promised an operating system update that would address these problems but the launch was delayed by several months. A new report from N4BB claims the official release of the PlayBook 2.0 update is set for February 21st, just over a week later than the company initially planned. The PlayBook OS 2.0 update will include native email, calendar and contacts apps, but unfortunately native BBM will remain absent from the tablet and can only be accessed through BlackBerry Bridge.

Read

BlackBerry PlayBook OS 2.0 arriving next week?


BlackBerry PlayBook OS 2.0 arriving next week?
Looking forward to PlayBook OS 2.0 for your BlackBerry PlayBook? According to rumors online you won't be waiting for too long, in fact we might be seeing the update as early as in a week's time. N4BB.com has reported that its sources have confirmed February 21st to be the expected release date of PlayBook OS 2.0. However, there's really no way of confirming the rumor besides waiting for the day to arrive or getting someone in the know to disclose that information. We've previously heard rumors about a February 17th release date, so this new date marks a slight delay for its release – but just as long as RIM sticks to its February deadline, I'm sure nobody will get too upset.

The PlayBook OS 2.0 is supposed to turn the PlayBook into what it should have been when on launch day. It includes native email, calendar and contacts apps. BBM still won't be present (you'll need to use BlackBerry Bridge for that), but hopefully the support for running Android apps can make up for it. Who's still looking forward to PlayBook OS 2.0?

RIM's recent marketing blitz deemed a bust; BlackBerry 7 sales weakened in January


RIM's recent marketing blitz deemed a bust; BlackBerry 7 sales weakened in January


When new CEO Thorsten Henis took the reins at Research In Motion, he immediately pointed to the smartphone vendor's marketing strategy as an area the company needed to focus on if it hoped to regain share in key markets like the United States. The wheels on RIM's recent marketing efforts had already been set in motion, however, and early reports suggest that the increased volume of familiar BlackBerry ads aren't having the impact RIM was hoping for. Read on for more.

RIM ramped up its marketing efforts in January, but the move does not appear to have paid off. “Our January checks indicated weak sell-through trends for the new BlackBerry 7 smartphones despite increased marketing efforts,” Canaccord Genuity analyst Mike Walkley wrote in a research note to investors late Wednesday night. “With very strong share gains for the iPhone 4S, increasingly price competitive Android smartphones, improving Windows smartphones, and strong sales of the affordable 7 inch Amazon Kindle Fire tablet, we anticipate increasing competition across all tiers of RIM's products in C2012.”

As a result of weakening device sales and RIM's poor outlook for the current quarter, the analyst lowered his estimates for RIM's February quarter as well as the vendor's full fiscal year. And despite a new round of marketing that kicked off in February with RIM's “Be Bold” campaign, Walkley doesn't see much changing for the Waterloo, Ontario-based until late in 2012.

“Given the strong share gains for Apple post the launch of the iPhone 4S and increasing Android and Windows competition in all price tiers, we believe BlackBerry 7 products will continue to struggle until BB10 products launch in late C2012,” the analyst noted. RIM expected to launch its first QNX-powered BlackBerry 10 smartphone - code-named the BlackBerry London - toward the end of the third quarter or early in the fourth quarter.

Walkley reiterated his Hold rating on RIM's stock and maintained his $15 price target.

BlackBerry PlayBook OS 3.0 being tested?


BlackBerry PlayBook OS 3.0 being tested?
While most BlackBerry PlayBook owners are eagerly awaiting the arrival of PlayBook OS 2.0, it looks like RIM has already started working on the next version - if rumors are to be believed. The folks over at n4bb.com have reported that, according to a source, the PlayBook OS 3.0 is being tested right now. RIM has failed to make any mention of a PlayBook OS 3.0 in the past so this comes as a surprise, but if it turns out to be true that means we should be seeing OS 2.0 being released pretty soon.

No details about OS 3.0 were released, so we can't say what it's going to feature. Perhaps it'll be closing the gap between QNX and BlackBerry 10? I guess we'll just have to wait and see. What features would you like to see available in PlayBook OS?

Three UK Releases BlackBerry Bold 9790


Three UK Releases BlackBerry Bold 9790
Three UK has finally announced the availability of the new BlackBerry Bold 9790 on their network. The handset retails for 319.99 GBP (about $509) on Pay As You Go or for free on monthly plans starting at 28 GBP (about $44). To refresh your memory, the BlackBerry Bold 9790 offers a 2.4-inch 480 x 360 touchscreen display, a 1GHz single-core processor, a 768MB RAM, an 8GB of storage, a 5MP camera, a full QWERTY keyboard, HSDPA, NFC, GPS, WiFi and runs on BlackBerry OS 7. [Product Page]

RIM: BlackBerry apps are more profitable than Android apps


RIM: BlackBerry apps are more profitable than Android apps


Research In Motion executivess took the stage during BlackBerry DevCon Europe on Tuesday to clear up a few facts about the company's success with its BlackBerry App World marketplace. RIM's new CEO Thorsten Heins said BlackBerry App World is now home to more than 60,000 applications, which is a fraction of what's available in the Android Market or iTunes App Store, and that BlackBerry devices are among the most popular smartphones purchased in the United Kingdom. RIM's vice president of developer relations Alec Saunders also said that there are 174 million app downloads per month, or about 6 million applications downloaded per day, The Verge reported. Saunders argued that RIM's BlackBerry App World has 43% more daily downloads per app than Apple's own iTunes App Store and he said App World can be more profitable as well - BlackBerry apps supposedly earn about 40% more than their Android counterparts, and 13% of BlackBerry developers have made more than $100,000 from their apps. In addition to the app figures, Saunders and Nokia's head of Qt announced that RIM's BlackBerry PlayBook OS now supports the Qt developer framework, originally intended for Nokia devices.

BlackBerry Playbook OS 2.0 Update Coming Next Month – Runtime For Android Lets Users Run Android Apps and Games


BlackBerry Playbook OS 2.0 Update Coming Next Month – Runtime For Android Lets Users Run Android Apps and Games
The BlackBerry Playbook is said to be receiving its OS 2.0 update come next month and along with some much needed new improvements (like a native email app), the update will finally give the device the long promised ability to to play Android apps and games via the BlackBerry Runtime for Android app player. Developers have until February 6th to submit their Android apps into the BlackBerry App World store if they want their apps approved in time for the new Playbook OS 2.0′s launch.

So what exactly does it take for an Android app to win approval by RIM? Well, for one — a developer must remove any and all words containing “Android” in them, as well as our beloved green mascot (I call him Andy). Makes sense. Also mandatory, a developer must remove anything that would otherwise take a user to the Android Market be it links or otherwise. RIM says porting Android apps should be a relatively painless process and we'll have to wait and see how many developers jump on this opportunity. As a fan of technology in general, I've always had a soft spot for the Playbook and it will be interesting to see if this will help garner new sales of the almost failed tablet.

Upcoming BlackBerry London image leaks again


Upcoming BlackBerry London image leaks again
BlackBerry London is a name we have heard several times before. We have even come across a purported image of the device before. Now we have yet another image of the upcoming smartphone based on RIM's new BlackBerry 10 platform.

The image, courtesy Crackberry.com, shows the device in black, and looks like a slide from a presentation. The front of the device looks similar to the last picture we saw of the phone but has some differences. For starters, it is completely black, but that could just be an alternate shade. What more important is that the beveled edges are missing, replaced by rounded corners and the large BlackBerry logo on the bottom is now a bit smaller and directly below the display.

We also get a glimpse of the back side of the phone, that shows the camera lens along with an LED flash in the top left corner of the phone.

The new design doesn't look anything like any current BlackBerry phone out there. However, it does look a lot like existing Android phones, with the HTC HD2 and Motorola DROID X2 springing to mind first. The phone does look quite good though and also very slim. You can see by the large amount of space above the display that suggest that RIM has really stretched the phone to get as much battery in as possible while keeping the phone thin. The software also looks good, even though all we can see of it is the music player interface.

We hope this one makes out of the gate before the end of this year, along with that new BlackBerry 10 platform that RIM has promised us.

Source

Bold or old? Who is the real Team BlackBerry? [HUMOR]


Bold or old? Who is the real Team BlackBerry? [HUMOR]
RIM recently took to Twitter to conduct an informal poll of BlackBerry users. On New Year’s Eve the smartphone maker asked #TeamBlackBerry how they planned to #BeBold in the new year. The result not only made for a rather useless infographic but also resulted in the creation of a team of masked avengers. GoGo Girl, Max Stone, Justin Steele, and Trudy Foreal were created to characterize certain BlackBerry users, but our friends over at WinSource had a different view.

I know, I know. It’s especially cruel to kick RIM while they are down, but we can’t help but get a laugh out of it all. When Windows Phone users can make a justifiable jab at the expense of a once-dominant smartphone maker, you know the tides are turning. Don’t even be fooled for a second that the rise of Android didn’t contribute largely to RIM’s demise, and with Google and crew looking into more and more ways to make the OS enterprise-friendly it’s more than safe to say that the BlackBerry is a dying breed.

It would actually make for a really great comic book storyline in the vein of Frank Miller’s darkly toned Batman books of the late 80s. The once triumphant hero is forced out of retirement in an attempt to thwart their greatest foe yet only to die, of all things, from a heart attack. Sad, yes. But let’s not weep too much for the BlackBerry name.

BlackBerry London shows up again with fresher design


BlackBerry London shows up again with fresher design


We first saw the BlackBerry London make it way onto the internet a few months back, though I reported that the version that would come to market would look a bit different, and not so Porsche Design look and feel. CrackBerry got a hold of an internal slide with, surprise, a refreshed BlackBerry London that will be RIM's first BlackBerry 10 smartphone due to launch this fall.

BlackBerry 7 devices gain government approval in U.S. and Canada


BlackBerry 7 devices gain government approval in U.S. and Canada


Research In Motion's latest BlackBerry 7 devices has=ve been granted Federal Information Processing Standard (FIPS) 140-2 certification by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and the Communications Security Establishment Canada (CSEC). FIPS certification is required before a device can be used by a government agency in either the U.S. or Canada. ”The FIPS 140-2 certification for BlackBerry 7.0 and 7.1 illustrates RIM's continuing commitment to providing industry-leading, secure, mobile computing platforms for our customers,” said Scott Totzke, Senior Vice President, BlackBerry Security at Research In Motion. “With all of the latest BlackBerry smartphones and the PlayBook tablet certified under the FIPS program, government and security-conscious customers can deploy our entire range of products with confidence.” Devices that received FIPS 140-2 certification include the BlackBerry PlayBook, the BlackBerry Bold 9900, 9790, BlackBerry Torch 9850, 9860 and 910, and the BlackBerry Curve 9350, 9360, 9370 and 9380. RIM's full press release follows after the break.

BlackBerry 7 and 7.1 OS Achieve FIPS 140-2 Certification

Waterloo, ON - Research In Motion (RIM) (NASDAQ: RIMM; TSX: RIM) today announced that BlackBerry® smartphones running on the powerful new BlackBerry® 7 and BlackBerry® 7.1 Operating Systems (OS) have been awarded FIPS 140-2 certification by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and the Communications Security Establishment Canada (CSEC). FIPS (Federal Information Processing Standard) 140-2 is recognized by the U.S. and Canadian governments and is required under the Federal Information Security Management Act of 2002 (FISMA).

All BlackBerry smartphones running BlackBerry 7 and BlackBerry 7.1 benefit from this certification, including the BlackBerry® Bold™ 9900, 9930 and 9790, BlackBerry® Torch™ 9850, 9860 and 9810, and BlackBerry® Curve™ 9350, 9360, 9370 and 9380.

“The FIPS 140-2 certification for BlackBerry 7.0 and 7.1 illustrates RIM's continuing commitment to providing industry-leading, secure, mobile computing platforms for our customers,” said Scott Totzke, Senior Vice President, BlackBerry Security at Research In Motion. “With all of the latest BlackBerry smartphones and the PlayBook tablet certified under the FIPS program, government and security-conscious customers can deploy our entire range of products with confidence.”

In addition to FIPS 140-2 certification, the BlackBerry 7 OS has received Common Criteria EAL4+ certification (see announcement – November 14, 2011). The BlackBerry® PlayBook™ tablet has also received FIPS 140-2 validation (see announcement – July 21, 2011).

BlackBerry London shows up again with fresher design


BlackBerry London shows up again with fresher design


We first saw the BlackBerry London make it way onto the internet a few months back, though I reported that the version that would come to market would look a bit different, and not so Porsche Design look and feel. CrackBerry got a hold of an internal slide with, surprise, a refreshed BlackBerry London that will be RIM's first BlackBerry 10 smartphone due to launch this fall.

BlackBerry 10 open to licensing says RIM's new CEO


BlackBerry 10 open to licensing says RIM's new CEO
Earlier today we reported about RIM's reshuffling in upper management, with Thorsten Heins taking charge as the new CEO of the company. Well it looks like there could possibly be some major changes in the way RIM works in the future. At RIM's first official conference call with the new CEO took place earlier today, and some interesting topics were discussed.

One of the most interesting points that came up was the possibility of licensing BlackBerry 10 OS. Heins confirmed that RIM will be open to letting other manufacturers creating devices running on BlackBerry “if it makes sense to follow the path.” Sounds like a possibility that should be explored when BlackBerry 10 is released in the future. Would you like to see HTC/Samsung BlackBerry phones?

LG Spectrum and BlackBerry Curve 9370 now available from Verizon Wireless


LG Spectrum and BlackBerry Curve 9370 now available from Verizon Wireless


The BlackBerry Curve 9370 and the LG Spectrum are now available from Verizon Wireless. The LG Spectrum was unveiled during the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas last week. It runs Android Gingerbread, has a sharp 4.5-inch True HD IPS display, a dual-core 1.5GHz processor, an 8-megapixel camera capable of recording 1080p video and support for Verizon's 4G LTE network. The Spectrum is priced at $199.99 with a new two-year Verizon contract. Also joining Verizon's smartphone lineup on Thursday is RIM's BlackBerry Curve 9370. The Curve 9370 is the slimmest Curve ever and offers GPS and Wi-Fi support, a 5-megapixel cameras and runs RIM's BlackBerry 7 operating system. The new Curve is priced at $99.99 with a new two-year contract after a $50 mail-in rebate.

Pink BlackBerry Curve 9360 coming to the UK in March


Pink BlackBerry Curve 9360 coming to the UK in March
The BlackBerry Curve 9360 has so far been available in the UK in both black and white, but what to do if you love pink? Well, it turns out that you just have to wait a little more.

That's because a pink version of the smartphone will become available at Carphone Warehouse in March. Yes, that's a lot of waiting to do if you're impatient, but it's just the way things are. No other details have been made available, but we naturally expect this to come with specs identical to the other Curve 9360s out there. Price-wise, again there's no official word but there's no reason why you shouldn't be able to find the pink handset on the same monthly contracts as the others.

Verizon Wireless Releases BlackBerry Curve 9370


Verizon Wireless Releases BlackBerry Curve 9370
Verizon Wireless has just announced the availability of the new BlackBerry Curve 9370 on their network. The handset can be yours for $99.99 with a new 2-year contract agreement and after a $50 mail-in rebate. In case you didn't know, the BlackBerry Curve 9370 packs a 2.44-inch 480 x 360 touchscreen display, an 800MHz processor, a VGA front-facing camera, a 5MP rear-facing camera, GPS, NFC, Bluetooth, WiFi, a 3.5mm headset jack and runs on BlackBerry OS 7. [Press Release]

Verizon BlackBerry Curve 9370 available now, $99.99 on contract


Verizon BlackBerry Curve 9370 available now, $99.99 on contract
The LG Spectrum is not the only new smartpohne released today by Verizon Wireless. The largest US mobile carrier has also launched the BlackBerry Curve 9370.

Unlike the Android-based LG Spectrum, the Curve 9370 isn't a high-end device, and doesn't have support for Verizon's 4G LTE network.

The new Curve runs BlackBerry OS 7, and features global connectivity (quad-band GSM / GPRS / EDGE), a 2.44 inch touchscreen display with 480 x 360 pixels, NFC, Wi-Fi, GPS, 3.5mm headset jack, 800MHz processor, 5MP rear camera, and a VGA front-facing camera.

You can buy Verizon's BlackBerry Curve 9370 online (here), or in VWZ stores. The smartphone costs $99.99 with a new 2-yr contract agreement, after a $50 mail-in rebate.

RIM's rumored 2012 roadmap includes two new PlayBook tablets, one BlackBerry 10 smartphone


RIM's rumored 2012 roadmap includes two new PlayBook tablets, one BlackBerry 10 smartphone
If you've been wondering what RIM has in store for us this year (after a rather bad 2011 for the company, especially in the newly-entered tablet space), well, wonder no more. We now have some rumored details concerning the Canadian company's roadmap for this year.

Perhaps surprisingly after the while PlayBook debacle, RIM seems intent on launching not one, but two new tablets throughout this year. One will have a 7-inch screen like the currently selling PlayBook, and the other will be bigger, sporting a 10-inch display. The former should arrive around April, with HSPA+ support, and the latter will only be out in December (yet it will get LTE connectivity). PlayBook OS 2.0 will be released by the end of February.

Originally, the 10-inch project was scrapped, but apparently it got revived at some point for whatever reason.

The first smartphone to run BlackBerry 10, the new OS version from RIM, will be available in September. And it may be the only BB10 phone of the year. It may get unveiled in May during BlackBerry World. But as that will happen so far from its launch date, it will probably just be shown, and won't be ready to play with.

We'll also see two new BlackBerry Curve handsets in 2012, both aimed at emerging markets (East Asia and Africa). One of them will be 2G-only, a rare occurrence these days, and they'll both obviously run BlackBerry OS 7.x.

Don't forget that this is just a rumor for now, so treat it as such. Even if everything in here turns out to be true, it remains to be seen whether these steps will be enough for RIM to regain its ‘cool factor' in the developed world.

BlackBerry Bold 9790 online in the UK SIM-less

BlackBerry Bold 9790 online in the UK SIM-less
We previously reported that the BlackBerry Bold 9790, the latest touch and type flagship by RIM will be available over at the UK on January 9. It turns out that now is the moment when the Bold 9790 is yours to purchase over in the United Kingdom for 330 pounds SIM-free.

UK online retailer Clove has received stock of the Bold 9790 and users can already order up. The price is not what you'd consider a bargain and many would argue that buying a BlackBerry device without a BlackBerry service by a carrier is illogical.

Another UK retailer lists the Bold 9790 as free on a contract with all major UK carriers, save for Three UK. Head down to source link number 2 if you want to explore other options.

Still if you want the Bold 9790 it offers a 2.45x480 x 360 resolution, 1 GHz processor, 5 MP camera with autofocus and VGA video recording.

P.S. We just got ours and it's entering the reviewing queue as we speak.

Source 1 | Source 2 | Via

BlackBerry roadmap reveals two tablets and BlackBerry 10 smartphone (leak)


BlackBerry roadmap reveals two tablets and BlackBerry 10 smartphone (leak)
A leaked BlackBerry roadmap does have some important dates that you might want to take note of, especially if you are a BlackBerry fan. Word on the street (from N4BB actually) has it that there is one BlackBerry 10 model in the works, where it will roll out this coming September. This will be the first BlackBerry 10-powered handset that might end up known as the BlackBerry London, although certain circles do claim that this could be the BlackBerry Surfboard instead. Regardless of what it is called, you can bet your bottom dollar that RIM has to get this particular launch right in terms of hardware and software, as many see it as a last chance saloon before consumers, no matter how loyal they were to the RIM brand, makes the jump to other smartphone platforms.

Apart from that, there might be a couple more tablets from RIM coming your way – you know what they say, if at first you do not succeed, try again. Do you think when April rolls around, marking the first year anniversary of the BlackBerry PlayBook, a 3G version of the 7″ tablet might actually roll out in commemoration as well? Apart from that, if RIM manages to pull over to December this year, then do expect to see a 10″ tablet sporting LTE 4G connectivity.

BlackBerry Curve 9370 Launches at Verizon


BlackBerry Curve 9370 Launches at Verizon
BlackBerry phones remain your thing? You would be delighted to know that a new model has just been announced for Verizon Wireless. The BlackBerry Curve 9370 is a budget-friendly RIM device, which was recently introduced at CES 2012. It still has the design form expected from any BlackBerry smartphone: the full QWERTY keyboard, the 2.44-inch display, the candybar mold, and a 5-megapixel camera with flash at the back (highly unlikely to shoot videos, though). It also has Bluetooth, WiFi, a microSD card slot for up to 32GB of expanded memory, and a pre-installed 2GB microSB card

This new device supports CDMA radios as well as GSM for people who roam around the world more often. It even has NFC capabilities in anticipation for developments on mobile payment technology. The phone can be upgraded to BlackBerry OS 7.1, the latest in RIM's software department.

The BlackBerry Curve 9370 will cost you $99.99 with a two-year contract from Verizon after a $50 mail-in rebate.

BlackBerry Bold 9790 now available in the UK SIM-free for £330


BlackBerry Bold 9790 now available in the UK SIM-free for £330
A few days ago, we got word that the new BlackBerry Bold 9790 would be out in the UK on January 20, which is this Friday. However, as is rarely the case in the mobile world, the phone has arrived in stock early. The Bold 9790 is already available at Clove, a well known online retailer.

The price being asked is £330, VAT included. That's £12 cheaper than announced last week, and you'll be getting a SIM-free and unlocked smartphone for the price. If you're interested in buying one, go to Clove right now.

WhatsApp for BlackBerry gets refreshed, here's a first look


WhatsApp for BlackBerry gets refreshed, here's a first look


The most popular and successful multi-device communication platform is without question WhatsApp. More of a text messaging replacement than straight BlackBerry Messenger competitor, WhatsApp has been the number one service people rely on to communicate across iOS, Android, BlackBerry, and Windows Phone devices. We were sent a preview copy of the new version of WhatsApp for BlackBerry smartphones, our exclusive first look is after the break.To start, the entire app's user interface has been refreshed, and it really looks strong. It's clean, it's sophisticated, and it's one of the better interfaces on a BlackBerry product that we've seen. The app contains the same basic 5 tabs that you're used to - chats, favorites, contacts, status, and settings - but it's done in a way that feels natural and light. There's a really intuitive context button on the right of the top tab bar, and it changes based on what tab you're on. If you're in the chats tab, the button changes to allow you to start a new chat, if you're on the favorites tab, it changes to refresh favorites button, a search option on the contacts tab, add a status on the status tab, and add a friend on the settings tab.

I have noticed a couple little issues using this pre-release version on my BlackBerry 9900, though. The touch area for the tab buttons at the top of the interface are a tad small and I have tapped a contact's name and started a chat instead of changing to the tab I aimed to switch to. Additionally, the rows that list your favorites or contacts are very narrow, and while that works fine for navigation with the trackpad, not the best possible spacing for touch selection.

All in all, the app gets a very welcome refresh, and the best multi-platform communication service gets even better. It should be available tomorrow directly from WhatsApp's beta site, and in BlackBerry App World soon after.

BlackBerry gets Game Boy skin


BlackBerry gets Game Boy skin
Here is a little throwback to the age where a quartet (and later, just two) of AA batteries delivered hours of handheld fun wherever you went, even while you are busy collecting them all Pokemans! The Game Boy Skin for a variety of BlackBerry models are now available, retailing for just $8.95 a pop. Supported BlackBerry models include the Blackberry Bold 9000, Blackberry Bold 9650, Blackberry Bold 9700, Blackberry Bold 9780, Blackberry Bold 9900, Blackberry Bold 9930, Blackberry Curve 8520, Blackberry Curve 8530, Blackberry Curve 8900, Blackberry Curve 9300, Blackberry Curve 9330, Blackberry Curve 9350, Blackberry Curve 9360, Blackberry Curve 9370, Blackberry Curve 9930, Blackberry Torch 9800, Blackberry Torch 9810, and the Blackberry Torch 9850, where you will need to specify just which BlackBerry you would like the skin to fit when you checkout. The skin is said to bring some retro flair to your smartphone without adding any additional bulk, while delivering protection from minor surface scratches.

BlackBerry Bold 9790 Now Available For Pre-Order At Clove UK


BlackBerry Bold 9790 Now Available For Pre-Order At Clove UK
You can now pre-order the all new BlackBerry Bold 9790 in the UK via Clove. The handset can be yours for 342 GBP (about $524) unlocked and will start shipping from January 20th. To refresh your memory, the BlackBerry Bold 9790 offers a 2.4-inch 480 x 360 touchscreen display, a 1GHz single-core processor, a 768MB RAM, an 8GB of storage, a 5MP camera, a full QWERTY keyboard, HSDPA, NFC, GPS, WiFi and runs on BlackBerry OS 7. [Product Page]

BlackBerry PlayBook 2.0 hands-on


BlackBerry PlayBook 2.0 hands-on
Research In Motion didn't unveil any new devices at the Consumer Electronics Show this year, but the Waterloo, Ontario-based vendor still managed to appease fans with a preview of its first major PlayBook OS update that will finally be released some time next month. We spent a good amount of time putting the OS 2.0 through the paces and while there are still some kinks to iron out - we had apps crash on us a number of times - we absolutely walked away impressed. Check out our hands-on photos in the gallery below and hit the break for our impressions.

PlayBook owners have been waiting for what seems like an eternity for RIM to finally bring native PIM functionality to the PlayBook, but the wait was worth it. We were already fans of RIM's tablet, but the addition of in-built email, calendar and contacts without the need to tether to a BlackBerry smartphone is obviously a welcome addition. RIM did a great job with the apps as well, providing what is easily among the best email and calendar experiences we've seen on a tablet. Apps integrate with each other seamlessly and we're big fans of the layered UI RIM used in the email app.

The email app opens to reveal a unified inbox with a list of messages on the left, and the body of highlighted messages appears to the right. Interactions with the menu buttons on the far left beyond the message list reveal a new panel on which users can perform searches, apply view filters, drill down to individual accounts and more. The calendar and contacts apps function much the same way, with layers of panels that slide to the right as the user selects menu items.

Integration across apps is also well-designed. For example, contacts are tied to meeting entries in the calendar. In the day view, a panel opens up to the right that displays a complete list of all contacts the user is scheduled to interact with over the course of the day. If changes to a meeting need to me made, the user can quickly and easily call or message contacts scheduled to attend the meeting and notify them of the changes. The PIM functions in PlayBook OS 2.0 support the standard mix of email services along with LinkedIn and Twitter right now, but more integration with various social services is coming.

While BlackBerry Bridge is no longer needed for email, calendar or contacts, RIM has added some great new functionality that we will be showing off in a forthcoming video walkthrough. Most notable is the new remote control feature, which allows users to type, navigate and even perform gestures on a PlayBook using a BlackBerry smartphone.

Even with all its improvements, the PlayBook OS is still missing key elements - most notably, support for two features RIM is well known for are still missing: BES and BBM. The absence of this core functionality makes the PlayBook 2.0 still feel like an incomplete solution, but from what we know so far, RIM is working hard to overcome the development obstacles we have detailed numerous times here on BGR. As it stands now, assuming RIM works out the stability issues we saw, PlayBook owners should absolutely be happy with the PIM features and other new functionality coming to the PlayBook next month.

PageOne launches Blackberry Responder App

Robust messaging and SOS alert functionality improves operational efficiency at the touch of a button
London, 10th January, 2012 - PageOne Communications, the UK’s leading provider of mobile messaging solutions to the public and enterprise sectors, today announced the launch of its BlackBerry® Responder App for BlackBerry devices. The App provides a simple, quick and secure way of ensuring important real-time operational and emergency messages are delivered to and acknowledged by individual users or groups.
Critical information sent via BlackBerry email can often become lost amongst everyday general messages, meaning staff miss important alerts and do not respond promptly to the sender. With a dedicated inbox, pop-up alerts and 2-way QuickReply options the Blackberry Responder App ensures vital information that needs to be noticed is actioned immediately. Receipt and opening of messages is confirmed and the QuickReply option allows staff to respond with status, action or updates.
“With the average employee receiving 100-200 emails per day, its vital to differentiate those that must be immediately acted upon,” said  Nigel Gray, Sales Director at PageOne Communications. “Doing so instantly makes your existing communications that much more effective.”
The Blackberry Responder App also offers optional lone worker functions such as an SOS alert and GPS location capability to provide additional support and peace-of-mind for lone field operatives. Pressing and holding the BlackBerry’s SOS alert button triggers an audible and visual distress signal direct to their employers Connect or Flare account, together with a GPS location if available. The SOS alert can also automatically be pushed to an email account, mobile or pager.
As part of their employer duty of care, staff overseeing operatives out in the field can see an audited overview of all remote staff and their status via a customised dashboard. Automated periodic reminder alerts can be set-up that must be acknowledged by the user, without which an SOS alert is auto-generated.
“The more for less mantra rippling through both the public and private sector has had a major impact on, and changed, working practices. We have seen a dramatic increase in the number of employees who should be classified as lone workers for some or all of their role,” added Nigel Gray. “The BlackBerry Responder offers a cost-effective way of meeting this employer duty of care to its employees.”
PageOne’s Blackberry Responder service requires no server/network hardware or software to be installed and seamlessly integrates with PageOne’s Connect and Flare web-based suites. Operational staff can send and receive messages to any combination of BlackBerry, pager mobile and email with an automatically generated audit trail of message delivery, receipt and reply. Using status updates they can also deliver more targeted broadcasts, for example sending only to staff who are ‘available’.
For further information on PageOne’s BlackBerry Responder Application, please visit http://www.pageone.co.uk/services/blackberry-smart-phone-messaging-app
-End-
About PageOne. www.pageone.co.uk
PageOne Communications is celebrating 25 years of innovation in mobile messaging solutions. The company has proven expertise in helping clients drive operational and cost efficiencies, deliver effective results and have a real business edge in a competitive market. With a rich heritage in all aspects of messaging - from paging and  SMS through to voice, email and location based services - it places its customers at the heart of its product development to help thousands of organisations across the public and major corporate sectors with reliable, cost-effective and award-winning solutions.
Note to editorsThe PageOne name is written as one word with a capital 'P' and capital 'O'.
Press Contact:Geraldine Fernandez / Robert Hickling 
Say Communications 
Tel: 020 8971 6400
Email: pageone@saycomms.co.uk
Source: RealWire

BlackBerry PlayBook OS 2.0 arriving in February 2012


BlackBerry PlayBook OS 2.0 arriving in February 2012
[CES 2012] RIM's long-awaited OS update for its debut tablet the BlackBerry PlayBook has finally been given a release date. According to an announcement from the company today, PlayBook OS 2.0 will be arriving in February 2012 - which means at most less than two months of waiting. The update which is touted to improve every aspect of the PlayBook will include the following features:

A new unified inbox, tabbed email, rich-text email composing and editing, and inbox management tools to give an advanced messaging experience; an innovative people-centric calendar and relationship-centric contacts app for deeper integration of social relationships; a remote control feature for your BlackBerry phone to control the PlayBook and the ability to open files on your BlackBerry phone on the PlayBook itself.

Documents To Go and Print To Go have also been updated with improved functionality, and the BlackBerry App World and Video Store will have access to more apps and video content. The web browser has also been updated with a “reading view” to make reading websites a more pleasant experience. Anybody excited about this new update or have you already given up on your PlayBook?

BlackBerry 7.1 OS out now, brings Wi-Fi hotspot and calls


BlackBerry 7.1 OS out now, brings Wi-Fi hotspot and calls
RIM has just released an update for its lineup of BlackBerry 7 OS-running smartphones. Version 7.1 brings a few new features and updates a few of the native Blackberry apps.

The new features are:

The updated apps are the BlackBerry Messenger 6.1, BlackBerry Traffic, BlackBerry Maps and BlackBerry Travel.

If you want to learn more about the 7.1 update just follow this link.

Via

BlackBerry 7.1 OS released


BlackBerry 7.1 OS released
Good news, BlackBerry users - RIM has announced a brand new update to kick start the new year: BlackBerry 7.1 OS. The update brings a whole bunch of new features to improve your BlackBerry smartphone experience.

First up users will get the mobile hotspot feature: an option that has been available on platforms like Android and iOS for awhile now, BlackBerry 7.1 OS will let you turn your smartphone into a wireless hotspot which lets you hook-up up to five different devices with the internet. Universal Search also gets an update to include auto-suggest which intelligently filters Bing search results.

BlackBerry Tag unlocks NFC capabilities of your phone to make sharing contacts, media, BBM chat invites and more a quick and simple process. WiFi calling is now available (depending on your carrier) with BlackBerry 7.1 OS. The update also brings FM Radio capabilities to your Curve 9360 and 9380 smartphones - all you have to do is plug in your headset to boost the reception. No data usage or data plan required. BlackBerry Maps has also been updated to show special offers, coupons and discounts on the map itself.

And to take full advantage of BlackBerry 7.1 OS, BBM 6.1 has been pushed out of beta, BlackBerry Travel and Traffic have also been updated. BlackBerry 7.1 OS will start rolling out today all over the world, so expect it to hit your phone sometime in the coming weeks.

RIM to showcase BlackBerry OS 10 at MWC this year

RIM to showcase BlackBerry OS 10 at MWC this year
RIM will be showcasing their next generation BlackBerry OS 10 (earlier known as BBX) at Mobile World Congress in February.

Unfortunately, the company has no plans to actually launch any smartphones running BB 10 at MWC, and they still plan to do that later in 2012. All that we will see at MWC is a demonstration of the BB10 OS along with their current BB 7 handsets, with the focus being on the NFC and BBM connected apps.

In other news, it seems that RIM has dropped plans for launching the BlackBerry Colt, along with the Milan. It now seems that the first phone to ship with BB 10 is going to be the BlackBerry London (pictured above) that was recently leaked and is expected to come out in Q3 this year.

Source 1Source 2

RIM now working on only one BlackBerry 10 smartphone; Colt, Milan cancelled

RIM now working on only one BlackBerry 10 smartphone; Colt, Milan cancelled


We already reported that the BlackBerry Colt - the handset that was originally intended to be the Research In Motion's first BlackBerry 10 smartphone -  had been cancelled. Now, we have heard from multiple sources that the BlackBerry Milan that leaked last month was in fact was never a QNX smartphone, but a BlackBerry 7 device with a slightly different design identity. Regardless, the Milan has been cancelled as well. We're told carriers balked at the idea of carrying a BlackBerry 7 phone so similar to the BlackBerry Torch at this point in time. The only phone RIM is working on bringing to market right now is the BlackBerry London. We have been told that RIM is currently shopping the London with carriers, and while it still looks very much like the image published by The Verge in November, there have been some slight design changes made. Lastly, we got word that when representatives from Porsche Design showed up to RIM's headquarters to check out the progress the company was making on the designed by Porsche BlackBerry 9900-series phone for the first time, “it was a complete disaster.”

BlackBerry 10 Milan slider cancelled?

BlackBerry 10 Milan slider cancelled?
Here's an interesting story. Remember how BGR reported that BlackBerry 10 was rumored to be a disaster, and RIM countered their story with claims that the rumors were false? Well, today's tip seems to suggest that the former's source might be right. According to the folks over at N4BB, RIM's first BlackBerry 10 device - the slider device that was codenamed Milan has been reportedly cancelled. No word on why the device was cancelled but apparently it's a hardware-related issue.

But since the phone was never officially announced, it's hard to make a big deal about the issue either - it could have been a fan-made drawing or a leaked concept for all we know. However, if the device is indeed real, and was cancelled due to problems, could it possibly be BlackBerry 10-related? Nothing is certain right now, but if you've been waiting to get your hands on the Milan, I wouldn't hold my breath if I were you.

Unannounced BlackBerry Milan slider cancelled because of hardware issue

Unannounced BlackBerry Milan slider cancelled because of hardware issue
About a month ago we showed you a leaked image of an upcoming BlackBerry portrait slider, the device codenamed Milan. This was supposed to run BlackBerry OS 10, and launch this year.

Well, apparently that won't happen anymore. According to one of N4BB‘s sources, the BlackBerry Milan has effectively been cancelled by RIM before even being released. The reason seems to have something to do with a hardware issue. There can be many of those during the development phase of a new smartphone, but to cancel a handset for such a problem can only mean that it was huge and basically unsolvable without severely altering the hardware (which at this stage we're guessing would have simply ended up costing way too much).

Image via CrackBerry

Android and iOS both lose usage share in December as BlackBerry gains


Android and iOS both lose usage share in December as BlackBerry gains

Usage of Apple's iOS platform and Google's Android operating system both declined between November and December as BlackBerry and Symbian both showed gains. Despite huge activations over the holidays, new data released by analytics firm Net Applications shows that Internet usage of iOS on Apple's iPhone and iPad displayed the sharpest decline in December, dropping to 52.10% from 54.04% in November. Google's Android platform on smartphones and tablets dipped less than half a point to 16.29% in December but it stayed in the No.3 spot as Java ME gained more ground, climbing to a 21.27% share last month. Also showing usage gains in December were RIM's BlackBerry platform, up to 3.51% from 3.18% in November, and Symbian, which climbed to 5.76% from 5.27% a month earlier.

New sale cuts BlackBerry PlayBook price by as much as $400


New sale cuts BlackBerry PlayBook price by as much as $400


Research In Motion's debut tablet has been something of a disappointment for the Waterloo, Ontario-based vendor. While the slate showed promise, it failed to offer potential users a compelling reason to choose it over the iPad or an Android tablet, and RIM would end up taking a $485 million charge in the third fiscal quarter due to unsold PlayBook inventory. Sale pricing ahead of the holidays last year seemingly helped RIM and its distribution partners clear out some inventory, however, as the company is once again offering discounts on its QNX-based tablet. While pricing starts at $299 rather than $199 this time around, all three PlayBook models cost $299, which means the 64GB version can be had for a deep $400 discount. RIM's first major update for its tablet OS set to bring native email and more next month.

BlackBerry Torch

BlackBerry PlayBook

BlackBerry Porsche

 

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