Blackberry Phones

Following the much delayed BlackBerry PlayBook 2.0 update, the tablet finally has a native email client, other PIM apps and a larger selection of apps thanks to its Android player. Research in Motion is now looking to further boost interest in its debut slate, and it has announced the BlackBerry Mini Keyboard for those users looking for a physical keypad option on top of the virtual one.

The accessory retails for a lofty $119.99 and is available for pre-order starting today, with shipments going out on March 23rd. The concept of the keyboard is similar to the competition. It includes a multitouch trackpad for browsing, a keyboard for easy input and a battery that last up to 30 days. Unlike the ASUS Transformer Prime, RIM’s accessory does not have a docking feature and is just a carrying case with an integrated Bluetooth keyboard. RIM’s video demonstation follows below.

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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.

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one London Bridge that will not fall, that’s for sure. I’m talking about this rather edgy looking BlackBerry device which has been given the nickname, BlackBerry London. Yes sir, it is most probably one of the next generation of BlackBerry smartphones that will be powered by the upcoming BBX operating system as well as boasting QNX roots. Touted for a release in June next year – why London, I wonder, perhaps it has something to do with the summer Olympics that is happening in that part of the world then.

Touted to run on a TI OMAP dual-core CPU that has been clocked to 1.5GHz, the BlackBerry London will also come with 1GB RAM, 16GB of internal memory, an 8-megapixel rear camera, coupled with a 2-megapixel front-facing camera for vain self portraits as well as video calls. It seems that the London will be “thinner than the iPhone 4″ while sporting similar dimensions to the Samsung Galaxy S II. It takes on a rather boxy look to say the least, and will most probably run on some variation of the PlayBook’s operating system.

How much do you think this puppy will cost when it arrives, and will it help RIM get out of the doldrums?

You can more or less tell that the competitors have sniffed blood – and the blood belongs to the injured animal known as Research In Motion, or RIM for short. Who would have thought that RIM would one day be fending off the likes of Apple prior to the iPhone’s release? After all, Apple made computers and portable media players, not phones, and the BlackBerry family was the bomb back then as corporate figures and folks who cannot live without instant email proved to be quite the market winner. Too bad Apple’s iPhone changed the smartphone scene, and RIM has been on a slow downward spiral since then.

Their entry into the tablet market did not light up the world either, as the BlackBerry Playbook proved to be a flop as it did not sell as many units as RIM had originally hoped. I guess you can say that RIM’s pretty much stuck at the moment, and they’re most probably keeping their fingers crossed that the latest operating system known as BBX will be able to bring the Canadian company back to where it was originally, and beyond, of course. Word has it that the new BBX smartphones from RIM will come with a similar screen resolution as that of the Playbook, so you can expect to see a 1,024 × 600 resolution being squeezed into a smaller form factor – logically increasing overall sharpness in the process.

Seems like Research In Motion (RIM) is experiencing a roller coaster ride at the moment, taking their users across Europe for the ride as well. We first reported that BlackBerry services in Europe, the Middle East and Africa suffered some downtime, only to have RIM restore it back up within the day – and now there are still outages happening across Europe and the other regions mentioned for a second consecutive day.

Canada-based RIM continued to be on the receiving end of reports of interruptions to various services such as Internet browsing, the ability to roam as well as instant messaging. Pockets of these outages persist in select regions, and according to Everything Everywhere, the UK’s biggest mobile operator by revenue, customers continued to experience new problems on Tuesday although they did not mention just which services were affected. As for India carrier Bharti Airtel, Ltd., intermittent outages to services also happened since 6 pm on Tuesday.

All RIM could do was muscle this statement – “Some users in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, India, Brazil, Chile, and Argentina are experiencing messaging and browsing delays. We are working to restore normal service as quickly as possible.”

Nothing warms our hearts quite like the thought of corporate suits and government workers pumping out the tunes of Iris DeMent and Amy Martin as they scurry throughout their busy days. As we’ve previously speculated, a new service for BlackBerry Messenger — dubbed BBM Music — has now become real official. For $5 per month, users may keep up to 50 songs in their personal library, which is kinda reminiscent of the wistful days filled with 128MB MP3 players. Fortunately, it gets better.

A social component allows you to add BBM Music friends, which gives you access to their current 50 songs, too — and serves as a real incentive to grow your social circle. Once you get bored of your jam selection, up to 25 songs per month can be swapped out for new ones, and your current library can be stored locally on the handset. The new service begins today in closed beta for residents of the US, Canada and the UK, but more countries will be added down the road. Curious if yours made the list? Just hop the break for the full PR to find out.

BlackBerry 7 OS will be rolling out in a trio of smartphones from RIM – the BlackBerry Curve 9350, 9360 and 9370. Looks like the BlackBerry Curve family has just gotten a little bit larger, and will these three handsets help RIM out in their current battle for market share among the other smartphone manufacturers? These new models will come in a slim and stylish package, where they are ergonomically designed, sporting a comfortable and iconic keyboard that delivers fast, accurate typing alongside an optical trackpad for easy navigation using but one hand.

Other shared hardware specifications include GPS navigation, Wi-Fi connectivity, a 5-megapixel camera with flash and video recording capability, a microSDHC memory card slot, supports up to 32 GB memory cards for additional media storage. With BlackBerry 7 OS support, you can be sure that these new Curve smartphones will bring your user experience to the next level, and we’re stoked to see just what NFC (Near Field Communications) support will bring to the table.

We expect to see all three of the BlackBerry Curve 9350, 9360 and 9370 smartphones arrive in the Great White North this month, while carriers in other parts of the world will have to wait until the beginning of next month. Needless to say, release dates as well as pricing for specific devices from different carriers will be announced in due time according to RIM’s partners.

Hot on the heels of releasing its new device arsenal, RIM is prepping to roll out a brand spanking new BlackBerry App World. Scheduled to launch Monday, version 3.0 features a retooled interface for quick perusal of apps, games and themes — if the beta release is any indication. Another added feature is the My World storage folder that keeps all of your downloads on the home screen and lets you wirelessly reinstall them should you accidentally delete one or upgrade devices.

Sure, there are rumblings that the BB music service will be a part of this release, but as Reuters reported, that announcement isn’t expected until early September. Although, this update would complete the new smartphone trifecta rather nicely: new device, new OS and new app store. Well done, RIM, now if you could just get your advertising in order, you’ll be all set.

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Research In Motion is working on a music service that will tie in with BlackBerry Messenger. CNET reports that RIM will deploy a test version of its subscription-based streaming music service in the coming weeks, and that a final product will come later. BlackBerry owners will be able to share their songs with other subscribers using RIM’s BBM service, the report suggests.

It’s unclear how much the BlackBerry maker plans to charge, but The Wall Street Journal said it will cost “significantly less” than similar services such as Rhapsody and Spotify, which both charge about $10 per month for premium access. RIM has already inked deals with Sony Music Entertainment, Warner Music Group, EMI and Universal Music to provide the content, according to reports.

The BlackBerry Bold 9900 is now officially a part of T-Mobile’s portfolio after the carrier announced that it will be releasing the smartphone on August 31. Retail customers will be able to grab the handset for $299 after a $50 rebate, as long as they do not mind committing to a 2-year agreement, of course. T-Mobile business clients, however, are given the privilege to pre-order their Bold 9900 today, which ensures that they will be among the first to get a fresh taste of the new ‘Berry smartphone.

So, what is so special about the BlackBerry Bold 9900 that justifies its relatively hefty price tag? Well, let’s go into detail and try to find out. First of all, the device boasts the recognizable BlackBerry form factor and sports that almost iconic QWERTY keyboard praised by fans of the brand worldwide. Furthermore, its display clocks in at 640 by 480 pixels of resolution, which is impressive for a 2.8-inch display.