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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.

RIM sells all BlackBerry PlayBook versions for just $299 until February 4


RIM sells all BlackBerry PlayBook versions for just $299 until February 4
If you're in the US, now may be the time to buy a BlackBerry PlayBook. Especially if you've been craving one of the SKUs with more integrated storage (like 32 or 64 GB).

That's because all PlayBook versions can now be bought for just $299 from the BlackBerry online store. So no matter if you go for the one with 16 GB, 32 GB, or 64 GB of built-in storage, the price is the same.

That makes the amount of money you save on, say, the 64 GB unit be $400. It's $300 for the 32 GB version, and ‘just' $200 if you go for the 16 GB variant – but why would you? At this price, it's clearly a bad idea to buy anything else than the 64 GB PlayBook.

This sale does feel like it's a desperate attempt from RIM to rack up some PlayBook sales. But it may just work, despite the fact that you could find the 16 GB unit even $100 cheaper than this over the past few weeks. After all, what HP's sales for the TouchPad proved was that people will buy cheap tablets, if they're made by a well-known brand.

BlackBerry Bold 9790 coming to Three UK

BlackBerry Bold 9790 coming to Three UK
Three is the latest UK mobile network to confirm that it's going to sell the BlackBerry Bold 9790 (after O2, Vodafone and Orange).

The 9790 has appeared over at Three's coming soon webpage (next to Nokia's Lumia 710), and should become available sometime later this month.

Introduced as a cheaper alternative to the Bold 9900, the Bold 9790 features a 2.4 inch touchscreen display with 480 x 360 pixels, full QWERTY keyboard, HSDPA, Wi-Fi, NFC, GPS, 1GHz single core processor, 768MB of RAM, 8GB of internal memory, 5MP camera, and BlackBerry OS 7.

If you're in the UK and don't want to get the Bold 9790 on contract, you'll be able to buy it SIM-free, too, reportedly starting January 9, for £399.

Rooted BlackBerry PlayBook tablets now have access to Android apps


Rooted BlackBerry PlayBook tablets now have access to Android apps


Research In Motion's BlackBerry PlayBook tablet became the first BlackBerry device to be rooted this past November, granting users access to the device's file system and allowing a level of customization that BlackBerry users have not had in the past. As RIM enters into the cat and mouse game Apple knows all too well, PlayBook owners willing to root their devices now have access to the Android Market as well as the apps contained within. CrackBerry has published a complete how-to guide that details all of the software and steps required in order to install Google's Android Market on a PlayBook tablet. While an upcoming PlayBook software update will soon bring official Android app support to the tablet, apps will need to be repackaged and made available in BlackBerry App World in order to function in RIM's app player. Using the guide linked below, no such tweaks are necessary from developers, and users can have Android apps running on the PlayBook immediately.

Desperate for Users, RIM Slashes PlayBook Prices — Again


Desperate for Users, RIM Slashes PlayBook Prices — Again
The BlackBerry PlayBook is now available at 60 percent of its original price. Photo: Jon Snyder/Wired.com

When in doubt, hold a fire sale.

Research in Motion is slashing prices on its BlackBerry PlayBook tablets yet again, dropping the bill to 60 percent of the PlayBook's original asking price. From the first of the year through February 4, PlayBooks ordered directly from RIM's online store front will cost $300 for any version, regardless of storage capacity.

If you're able to score a high-capacity version, it's not a bad deal. 64GB PlayBooks sell for $700 retail, while the 32GB versions go for a cool $600. Saving three or four hundred bucks on new hardware with premium specs could prove attractive to bargain hunters.

The new promotion represents yet another effort to push PlayBooks into consumer hands. When RIM dropped tablet prices by $300 on Black Friday, demand surged, and third-party retailers like Best Buy and Staples were unprepared for the rush. In fact, the discount tablets were on back-order before the end of the day.

This time around, however, the discounted tablets will only be available from RIM directly. Staples and OfficeMax are still sold out of RIM's tablets, while Best Buy's PlayBooks are still priced at $500.

So why is RIM holding a fire sale?

Conventional wisdom says it's a business move focused on the long haul. In order to create demand for its App World ecosystem, RIM needs to seed the market with hardware. App World currently hosts somewhere between 5,000 to 10,000 BlackBerry PlayBook apps, a tally that pales in comparison to what's offered by mobile giants Apple and Google, whose app numbers are in the hundreds of thousands.

On the other hand, RIM is in a financial mess. The company took a near half-billion dollar hit after deeply discounting PlayBooks for the first fire sale, basically selling the 16GB versions at cost, according to estimates. It's tough to determine whether the company is losing money on its most recent sale, or just reducing its margins.

To put it lightly, RIM has had a rough year. After the rocky launch of the PlayBook, stock prices plummeted to nearly a quarter of what they were in 2010. Promises of critical software updates for the tablet went unfulfilled. Rioters in London used RIM's BlackBerry Messenger product as a key tool in organized looting. And, recently, a report suggested that RIM co-CEOs Mike Laziridis and Jim Balsillie could be stripped of their other executive title as chairmen of the company board.

Needless to say, the ailing company is desperately in need of a jumpstart. If RIM can get enough devices in the hands of consumers to produce a demand for software, developers could be convinced to start creating apps for the platform.

It's a longshot, but what other choice does RIM have?

BlackBerry Torch 10000 apparently in the making, may be headed to AT&T

BlackBerry Torch 10000 apparently in the making, may be headed to AT&T
RIM is apparently looking to take ridiculous smartphone names to a whole new level. And while it won't be the sort of ridiculousness best embodied by the Sprint Samsung Galaxy S II Epic 4G Touch (just try saying that out loud ten times in a row), that doesn't make this any less ridiculous.

RIM has so far been famous for its name+four digit number model for naming devices. The name (sort of) signifies the class of device, and the digits are the actual model denomination. Fair enough, though quite convoluted for my taste.

But now RIM's running out of digits – see, four isn't enough anymore, as the company has already reached the 9900s. What do do next? Well, obviously, add another digit.

Hence, the BlackBerry Torch 10000. Don't laugh, for this may become an actual product in 2012. At this point I'm hoping RIM simply won't be around long enough to launch the BlackBerry Whatever 143580.

Anyway, the new name comes courtesy of Asurion, which is a company dealing with phone insurance. The Torch 10000 was spotted in a list of current and past AT&T smartphones ripe for being insured. So whenever it launches, the Torch 10000 may make it to AT&T.

Because it has such a round model number, you can probably expect the Torch 10000 to be some kind of a flagship device, perhaps sporting a 1.5 GHz dual-core processor and 8 MP camera, all in a very thin shell. Since the Torch line now comprises both touch-only as well as touch+sliding QWERTY units, it's unclear what form factor the 10000 will have. But it will almost certainly run BlackBerry OS 10, which will be the next major version of the OS (based on QNX, which is currently powering RIM's PlayBook tablet).

As for when you'll be able to buy the BlackBerry 10000, the third quarter of next year seems most likely at the moment. So there's still a hefty amount of waiting to do if for some reason you crave that extra digit.

BlackBerry Torch

BlackBerry PlayBook

BlackBerry Porsche

 

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