RIM posts

BlackBerry App World launches

by Brad Linder Apr 1st 2009

Research In Motion has launched BlackBerry App World, also known as RIM's version of the iPhone App Store. BlackBerry owners can purchase programs priced between $2.99 and $999.99 directly on their mobile phones, with some free apps available as well. Checkout is powered by PayPal.

You'll need a device running BlackBerry software version 4.2 or higher and the service is only available to customers in the US, Canada, and the UK.

Microsoft is expected to launch its own app store, called Windows Marketplace, for Windows Mobile devices soon.

Tags: blackberry, blackberry-app-world, RIM

Filed under: BlackBerry, Mobile

No $.99 BlackBerry Apps for you (prices start at $2.99)

by Brad Linder Mar 5th 2009

Research in Motion is in the process of launching an app store that will let users purchase and download software directly from their Blackberry mobile devices. You know, kind of like the iPhone App Store. But for BlackBerry.

But there's at least one thing setting the BlackBerry App World store apart from the competition: prices will start at $2.99. The companies has released a FAQ for developers explaining the pricing tiers. And it looks like you'll be able to find free apps in the store. But the suggested pricing for paid apps starts at $2.99 and goes up to $999.99.

Now, it's possible that these prices aren't written in stone. RIM does refer to them as "suggested retail prices." But it's also possible that this is RIM's way of ensuring that the company's app store isn't filled with frivolous apps like the fart app craze that has recently overtaken Apple's app store.

[via CrackBerry]

Tags: app-store, blackberry, blackberry-app-world, rim

Filed under: Features, News, Web services, BlackBerry, web 2.0, Mobile

BlackBerry Partners Fund announce first funded companies

by Christina Warren Oct 29th 2008

After several false starts, it finally looks like mobile application development has real momentum. Although the iPhone and Android have received a lot of attention in regards to third-party applications, they aren't the only game in town. Approximately 19 million people have BlackBerry devices and as more and more consumers continue to adopt BlackBerry based smartphones, this is certainly a market with plenty of untapped potential. Back in May, JLA Ventures and RBC Venture Partners announced the creation of the BlackBerry Partners Fund -- a $150 million venture capital fund focussed on applications and services for the BlackBerry platform. Today, the BlackBerry Partners Fund is announcing its first three investments.

The companies receiving funding are buzzd, Digby and WorldMate. I had the opportunity to speak with Kevin Talbot, the Co-Managing Partner of the fund and Nihal Mehta, the CEO of buzzd earlier this week, and both are really excited abut the future of BlackBerry's role in the mobile application space and the opportunities the Fund can help propel.

Tags: blackberry, blackberry partners fund, BlackberryPartnersFund, buzzd, digby, mobile, mobile development, MobileDevelopment, RIM, worldmate

Filed under: Utilities, Web services, Microsoft, Social Software, BlackBerry, web 2.0

RIM and Microsoft announce Windows Live services for Blackberry handsets

by Danny Mendez May 13th 2008

windows live search develop for crackberry

RIM and Microsoft have announced a deal that will officially bring Windows Live Services -- specifically Hotmail and Messenger -- to Blackberry handsets. Has hell frozen over? We wouldn't know. What we do know is the two companies have been rivals in the mobile industry up until now, but they both gain significantly from agreement.

Microsoft is no stranger to the idea of playing in a competitor's sandbox (remember Office for Mac?). By making Windows Live Messenger and Hotmail more accessible on the Crackberry, the company further pushes its communications services towards mass standardization especially in the business world. RIM also benefits from the agreement in the same way Apple benefits from Office for Mac: an OS is only as good as the software on it.

Messenger on Blackberry should retain most of its functions. It looks like users will be able to do the usual: IM, set status, pull up buddy lists, save conversations, use emoticons, and even send and receive files. While it looks like users can join group chats, creating group chats seems to be absent from the feature list.

Tags: blackberry, hotmail, live, messenger, microsoft, RIM

Filed under: Design, Internet, Text, Office, Productivity, Google

Google Docs Mobile goes live

by Chris Gilmer Oct 17th 2007

If you are a Google Docs user you are going to be happy to know that Google Docs Mobile was recently released. Accessing your online Google Docs has gotten easier but don't get your hopes up yet, there are some restrictions.

There were some hints in September about the new mobile service when users came across a working web address for the service. Google Docs Mobile is still in its early stages and it's far from perfect. For instance, only iPhone and Blackberry devices are officially supported. And you can only view documents. You can't edit them. You can either open spreadsheets as an HTML document or you can download an XLS version.

Presentations are said to be viewable on the iPhone. Other devices may work with the mobile version, but Google has said that the more advanced a phone's browsing capability is, the more seamlessly it will work with the Mobile Docs site. As for the interface, it's basically a stripped down version of the online site offering not much more than plain text with no formatting.

A trend that has been flowing with Google has been the development of proper mobile applications, as with Gmail, and Gmail Apps for your domain. We wonder how long it will take for a Google Docs mobile application to get off the ground?

Tags: apple, blackberry, docs, google, iphone, mobile, presentations, rim, spreadsheets, word, work

Filed under: OS Updates, Utilities, Features, Windows Mobile, Office, BlackBerry, Mobile Minute

Mobile Minute news: Blackberry on Windows Mobile, free ZIP utility and more

by Brad Linder Apr 23rd 2007

In today's mobile Minute, we'll take a look at some of the latest news and software related to Windows Mobile devices.

RIM announces BlackBerry software for Windows Mobile

BlackBerry makers Research in Motion have announced plans to create a program that brings Blackberry software and services to devices running Windows Mobile 6.

The software will include email, phone, calendar, address book, tasks, memos, browser, instant messenger, and other applications developed to run on BlackBerries. Since the application will work like any other third-party Windows Mobile program, showing up on your screen as an icon you click to launch the suite, you'll be able to flip back and forth between the Windows Mobile calendar/email etc and the Blackberry suite.

The new program will enable push email on Windows Mobile devices (something you can already get for free through emoze), and allow companies to deploy software that will run either on BlackBerry or Windows Mobile devices. You'll also have a more input methods than on a traditional BlackBerry, with support for QWERTY keyboards, 5-way navigation buttons, or stylus support.

Tags: astronavicator, blackberry, ezyunzip, handyzip, pocketpscscreens, rim, softmaker, theme, themes, today screen, TodayScreen, total commander, TotalCommander, upgrade, windows mobile 6, WindowsMobile6, winrar, zip

Filed under: Developer, Hardware, News, BlackBerry

RIM yanks steering wheel towards mobile computing with new API

by Grant Robertson Mar 29th 2007

Blackberry owners could soon be dancing in the streets over RIM's new developer API which, for the first time, enables those propeller-headed software engineers to do neat stuff like embed multimedia content, support common formats like Mp3, WMA and AAC, and access the camera available in newer models.

In addition, there's also a sweet new maps API which will allow applications to draw a route or show an address with minimal fuss.

Windows Mobile has been kicking some Blackberry-behind of late, but this could give some new life to the family of devices. Frankly, when you think of the first devices RIM brought to the party -- a line of greenscreen pagers with thumbwheels -- they've come pretty far. I wouldn't count this puppy out just yet.

Tags: blackberry, research in motion, ResearchInMotion, rim

Filed under: Hardware, News, BlackBerry

RIM says music biz is strangling wireless growth

by Grant Robertson Feb 22nd 2007

I'm not a fan of DRM, and that's certainly no secret. I find myself in more powerful anti-DRM company all the time. Today I'm joined in my distaste by Jim Balsillie, chairman and co-chief executive of Blackberry maker Research In Motion who says the entertainment industry is "holding up development" in the wireless sector with its relentless quest to ~~sell you another copy of everything for each new device you buy~~ protect its content.

Balsillie told a roomful of analysts and investors yesterday in Toronto, "I think [DRM is] just going to break down with the normal proliferation of the Internet," adding, "It's going to be tough. I think [content providers] are going to have to shift their business models. But they will go down swinging."

Balsillie also thinks the Blackberry is poised to become quite the stud among the newly developing mobile phone + mp3 player market. While I don't agree that RIM is in great position to take over a large chunk of mobile music market share, I do share one belief I'm sure hangs heavy in Balsillie's mind; Until DRM dies a quick ugly death and is mourned appropriately by the entertainment business, RIM's not going to stand much of a chance as a music player manufacturer.

Tags: anti DRM, AntiDrm, blackberry, DRM, music business, music downloads, MusicBusiness, MusicDownloads, RIM, wireless, wireless music downloads, WirelessMusicDownloads

Filed under: Internet, Utilities, Web services, Browser Tips

Opera releases new version of mobile browser

by Chris Gilmer Oct 25th 2006

Opera software released a new version of its mobile browser, Opera Mini, on Tuesday for use on Palm and RIM handhelds. This new version has "the Google" search engine as default. Since launching earlier this year, Opera Mini has received much fanfare and thanks from mobile users for bringing a fast and much better mobile browser to the marketplace. This new version enhances on image rendering and speed performance by condensing web pages, and decreasing the data size that is transferred. Not only is Opera free to download and use, but they have a contest running right now where Operaheads can win a free Palm Treo or Blackberry for coming up with a sales pitch to explain why Opera Mini would improve your on-the-go lifestyle. The deadline for the contest is November 30th.

Tags: blackberry, browser, handheld, mobile browser, MobileBrowser, opera, operamini, palm, rim, treo

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