BlackBerry

iPhone 3G: It’s here, it’s upgraded, and Apple has addressed nearly all the complaints and objections raised by business users about its do-it-all device over the last year. But while many ogle the iPhone’s faster data speeds and GPS features, it’s the 2.0 software that has some execs slobbering: The iPhone can now deliver push e-mail, calendar, and contacts from a Microsoft Exchange server at the office. All you have to do is get your IT department to open the door for you.

It’s a small-sounding advance, but it means everything to Apple. If the company hopes to meet its oft-published target of ten million iPhones sold by the end of the year, a heaping pile of orders are going to have to come from enterprise customers. The problem is that those customers are currently clutching their BlackBerrys with death grips.

Push support isn’t the only enterprise-friendly advance for iPhone 2.0 software. Other features include WPA2 support, device configuration options, identities, certificates, and remote- wiping capability. RIM’s recent problems with service outages might also lead BlackBerry users to eye greener pastures.

So should RIM be worried?

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As a tech writer covering the wireless beat, I often find myself spending time at parties sitting on a couch installing must-have applications on my friend’s new cell phones.

The situation usually unfolds like this: I walk into the room, say hello, then someone in the crowd excitedly shows me their new BlackBerry. Then they ask me to help them install Facebook and AIM while the rest of the folks play cards, watch TV, or leave for a night out on the town. Me? I’m stuck there beerless on the couch with someone’s new cherry-red Pearl or Curve installing applications because I’m “the only one that knows how.” Excuses.

Not anymore folks. I’ve decided to create a list of ten must-have BlackBerry apps so that anyone with a new handset can visit our site and install the applications we recommend.

My personal choice is Viigo, an impressive RSS reader. I love grabbing the latest headlines and blurbs from my favorite sites for free on the train every morning; but check out all the apps. Each is useful for ordinary tasks like uploading your pictures straight to your favorite social networks with ShoZu or voice-searching for your flight status with Yahoo OneSearch with Voice.

Don’t forget to check out the three free BlackBerry themes I came across the other day, too.

I was just surfing the Howard Forums checking for some hot tips when I stumbled across three free BlackBerry themes I thought were worth sharing. Apparently the company giving them away, eVeek, is celebrating its one-year anniversary of creating and selling themes, and three of them are available now over the air: iBerry makes your home screen look similar to the iPhone, Precision Zen looks like BB OS 4.6, and OS X looks like a typical OS X desktop. Typically, each costs $7.99 or so.

To install a theme, just visit the WAP site at elecite.eveek.com/wap on your BlackBerry browser. BlackBerry 8100, 8300, and 8800 devices are supported.

I played guinea pig and installed them all on my BlackBerry 8310. So far my favorite is Precision Zen because I can’t wait to get my hands on the real BB OS 4.6. So if you’re stuck using the same old roadside Zen theme on your BlackBerry, head on over and spice it up a bit.

Yesterday I wrote a post about Garmin’s $99 offer that will give BlackBerry users unlimited access to its GPS software for the lifetime of the device. One commenter asked if BlackBerrys from carriers such as Verizon Wireless that have locked down GPS software could still take advantage of Garmin’s offer.

There’s a two-part answer: you can, but it’ll cost you. Of course, Garmin isn’t the villain here. The carriers are trying to push their own navigation solutions (e.g., VZ Navigator) by locking down the GPS capabilities of phones including some versions of the Curve and phones in the 8800 series.

Here’s the official response from Garmin:

“Customers with locked-down GPS can still use Garmin Mobile, however it will require them to have an independent Bluetooth/GPS receiver, such as the GPS 10x. They can also use a third-party GPS/Bluetooth receiver with our maps. If their BlackBerry has a locked GPS, it’ll be slightly more than $99.99 because they’d have to buy the one-time-purchase $99.99 maps and a GPS/Bluetooth receiver (the GPS 10x is $99.99).”

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The Wall Street Journal this morning reported that Verizon Wireless and Vodafone could be the sole proprietors of a new BlackBerry Thunder touchscreen device from RIM.

The Boy Genius Report, which the WSJ authors cite, has been reporting speculations on a touchscreen device from RIM since October 2007 and announced the news on May 13th. Since then, BGR learned that the device will have a full touchscreen display on the front with only 4 physical keys including the long-lived Berry Button, Back button, and Send/End buttons.

It’s hard to imagine what a BlackBerry without a keypad would be like, especially considering that most people turn to RIM for their near-perfect full QWERTY keyboards. If RIM managed to get its hands on a touchscreen version of the crystal-clear display found on the BlackBerry Bold, then color me interested. I’m just hoping RIM doesn’t take the same plastic touchscreen haptic feedback approach that LG and Samsung have chosen for their touch devices.

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Garmin today announced a new GPS plan for BlackBerry users called “Garmin Mobile for BlackBerry.” The software will allow customers with GPS-enabled BlackBerrys to use Garmin GPS software for a one-time $99.99 payment. If you don’t have a GPS-enabled BlackBerry, you can use an external device, such as the GPS 10x, a portable GPS sensor that will communicate location data to your BlackBerry via Bluetooth.

Garmin Mobile will provide BlackBerry users with voice-guided turn-by-turn directions, weather, traffic information, and gas prices. Users can also use the software to find points of interest during trips, including local restaurants or entertainment destinations such as bowling alleys and more. The software will also reroute you, should you miss an important turn while you’re driving, no thanks to the screaming kids in the back of your 1996 Chevy Astro.

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In today’s New York Times, Dan Hesse, CEO of Sprint, stated in regard to Sprint’s customer service problems, “The issues haven’t changed.” This statement came on the heels of the news that the carrier lost 1.09 million customers in the first quarter of 2008. Additionally, Bloomberg is reporting the Sprint may sell off some of its assets to make up for its $505 million net loss. However, it’s worth noting that Sprint also invested $236 million in WiMAX in the first quarter.

By comparison, T-Mobile announced last week that, according to a study by J.D. Power and Associates, it ranks highest in wireless retail customer satisfaction in the U.S. With rumors swirling that T-Mobile’s parent company, Deutsche Telekom, is interested in buying Sprint, the marriage would most likely improve Sprint’s customer service.

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This morning AT&T confirmed our sneaking suspicions that it would be the first U.S. carrier to sell the BlackBerry Bold, the latest handset from RIM that was announced this morning.

AT&T is touting itself as the first carrier to offer a BlackBerry with international 3G support, likely because the 3G Curves announced on Verizon Wireless and Sprint last week don’t support HSDPA data connections.

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RIM announced the new quad-band BlackBerry Bold bright and early this morning. Two words: it rocks.

Like the two latest 8330 Curves on Verizon Wireless and Sprint, it’s 3G. This time around, however, it’s an HSDPA 3G phone with built-in 802.11a/b/g support. AT&T fans can cheer now.

Suave Looks

The large full QWERTY keypad reminds us a lot of the 8800 series, with its ridged keys spaced closer together than on the Curve. Like its slick user-interface, the whole device has a black, red, and white theme. Pretty James-Bondish if you ask me. Most of the phone is black, including the keypad which has white lettering, and red lighted accents.

A silver border runs around the phone. The rear has an awesome fake leather surface to it (We originally thought it was real), and you can swap it out for different colored leathers. Mike Lazaridis, RIM CEO, told us that the “front is for business, and the back is for the evening.” Kind of like a mullet. We can’t help but agree, the Bold is straight up classy.

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All morning we’ve heard nothing but muffled growling from two fresh boxes that just landed in our office. The new BlackBerry 8330 Curves from Sprint ($179 with two-year contract and rebates) and Verizon Wireless ($169 with two-year contract and rebates) are finally here and they are eager to do battle.

Each 8330 has its own unique features, and both offer EV-DO connectivity and GPS, but only one will emerge as the winner. We’ll be bringing you our full reviews soon, but here are our first hands-on impressions of these eagerly awaited smart phones. Check out how the Curves fare, round by round…

Update: The full review of the Sprint Curve has been posted.

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