My Techbox Online - 10 Things You Must Know about BlackBerry

My Techbox Online Market Intelligence Series

As My Techbox Online has been handling huge volume of tech market data that flows through its networks, it has decided to convert that raw data into useful information for all types of stakeholders – buyers, vendors, developers, business partners, general readers, and so on. To do this in an organized way, we’ve started a new service under the banner: My Techbox Online Market Intelligence Series. The focus of the first compilation is on BlackBerry Smartphone. Here it comes.

With over 21 million BlackBerry users on over 375 wireless networks in 140 countries, the smartphone has become a kind of body part for its owners. Most know that the device, developed by the Canadian company Research In Motion (RIM), gives mobile users access to email, phone, games, and the Internet. Also, enterprises as well as individual users are using BlackBerry for different apps. However, there are a few specifics in which you’d be interested. Here are those 10 things selected by My Techbox Online Market Intelligence section about the device:

1. For Small Businesses
The device is being offered as a complete mobile office to small business execs. A few months ago, for example, AT&T and RIM started offering BlackBerry Professional Software for AT&T’s small business customers who use BlackBerry smart phones. Supporting up to 30 wireless users, BlackBerry Professional Software solution features wireless communications and collaboration facility with advanced security designed specifically for small and midsize companies. You must not worry if your business grows beyond 30 mobile users, as this solution can be upgraded to BlackBerry Enterprise Server. So AT&T’s small business customers can use this BlackBerry software and AT&T’s wireless international connectivity with voice calling in over 200 countries, and wireless e-mail and Internet access in over 145.

2. Talking to your Own Phone
It’s believed that voice instructions to digital gadgets will soon gain preference over the touch- and type-based commands. So Tellme, which is a Microsoft subsidiary, has added local ‘on-the-go’ information to its voice portal for mobile phones. Now instead of typing in a request or scrolling through menus to find information, people can simply hold down the ‘talk’ button, say a keyword, and see the results on the phone’s screen. You can use the keywords to search information related to businesses, movies, weather, and traffic conditions. Plus, mobile users surfing for information while on-the-go no longer need to type their location or starting point; Tellme uses global positioning system (GPS) technology to deliver local information right to the phone’s screen. This new version of Tellme was initially made available on BlackBerry phones. Vlingo Corporation has also introduced a new version of Vlingo for BlackBerry. It adds the ability to speak Facebook and Twitter status updates, support for 10 new applications, full-text message read-back, "tell-a-friend" and SureType support.

3. Applications Push
Basically the range of applications make a device popular among the consumers. So, to give more impetus to the development of mobile applications and services, RIM and information service provider Thomson Reuters planned BlackBerry Partners Fund, a $150 million venture capital fund. The Fund will be used to develop mobile applications and services for BlackBerry and other mobile platforms.

4. Garmin Mobile for BlackBerry
Garmin International, a unit of Garmin Ltd., which is a leading player in satellite navigation, offered a one-time-purchase plan for Garmin Mobile for BlackBerry in North America. It aims to give customers unlimited use of Garmin Mobile’s turn-by-turn, voice prompted directions for the life of their specific BlackBerry. Users will also have unlimited access to Garmin Mobile’s dynamic content such as traffic, weather conditions and forecasts, fuel prices, and more. The one-time purchase Garmin Mobile for BlackBerry is designed to meet the navigation needs of customers who prefer a one-time purchase rather than continuous monthly payments. Since mapping data is stored online and not on the BlackBerry device itself, customers can get up-to-date mapping information available directly from Garmin.

5. Memory for BlackBerry
A global memory aid technology company reQall has released a beta version of its first memory aid made for BlackBerry users. The application aims to help users stay organized on the go by allowing them to create, edit, and share reminders from their device. Based on research into memory prostheses from MIT’s Media Lab, reQall enables users to simply say or text what they want to remember straight to their BlackBerry. It converts voice messages into text, sorts the messages into To-Dos, Notes and Shopping List items, and delivers reminders to the user at the right moment.

6. Mobile Convergence Support
Comdasys, which provides integrated mobile convergence solutions for enterprises and service providers, offers Mobile Convergence solution for BlackBerry devices. The Mobile Convergence is a PBX agnostic solution that can be integrated into existing PBX or IP-PBX deployments. The Mobile Convergence Controller and the MC Client work together to provide a single mobile device with the ability to communicate on both the local wireless LAN (WLAN, HotSpot) and on the public cellular network. The solution can be deployed as a dual-mode (Cellular - WLAN), a single mode (GSM, UMTS), or as a GSM-only solution.

7. Remote Testing Service for Developers
Nexperience, a provider of remote access and automated testing solutions for mobile handsets, planned a remote development and testing service for the BlackBerry developer community. The service will enable BlackBerry developers and testers to control via the Internet numerous remote BlackBerry devices, including the new BlackBerry Pearl 8220 flip smartphone and the BlackBerry Bold 9000.

8. Assistant for BlackBerry
Pageonce, a personal productivity assistant, has come for BlackBerry smartphone users. Among other services, it’ll assist them to manage their accounts and monitor against incorrect financial transactions. They can also know the bill due dates, etc. The application enables BlackBerry smartphone users to access their personal online accounts without having to enter their passwords each time they visit a site and works to simplify a user's Internet experience by delivering relevant and timely account alerts. It displays financial data and information in an optimal format for viewing on a mobile device, allowing users to get their financial account transaction history organized by date, including the purchase amount and merchant, summary views of credit card balances with available credit tracking and a financial balances summary page that allows them to view all their finances at a glance. So users can access thousands of providers from Pageonce in a single application. Accounts include: Chase, Citibank, Bank of America, Wells Fargo, Fidelity, United, Delta, Southwest, Comcast, AT&T, Amazon, eBay, Barnes & Noble, Blockbuster, and more.

9. Push-to-Talk
NII Holdings and RIM will enable you to that. NII subscribers using BlackBerry Curve 8350i will avail this service. The company will offer the service through Nextel Argentina, Nextel Brazil, Nextel Mexico, and Nextel Peru during the first quarter of 2009. The BlackBerry Curve 8350i will be the first smartphone in Latin America to offer the Push-to-Talk (PTT) service, International Direct Connect (IDC) and Wi-Fi capability, making it a flexible wireless solution for the mobile business user. The BlackBerry model and the PTT service will provide one-touch, instant communication between NII subscribers in their home markets and with over 10 million iDEN subscribers in North and South America.

10. Security Shield for BlackBerry
SMobile Systems, which provides security solutions for mobile phones, offers its Security Shield application for BlackBerry. It integrates its anti-virus solution, VirusGuard, with remote lock, wipe, backup, and restore functions for device protection. For over three years, says the company, SMobile VirusGuard for BlackBerry has been providing antivirus solution protecting BlackBerry devices from malware, spyware, and malicious cyber attacks. By coupling this product with remote lock, wipe, backup and restore functions, small businesses and consumers will have access to remote security functionality previously only available to users supported by large enterprise IT departments with a BlackBerry Enterprise Server (BES). The company believes that for millions of Blackberry users without the benefit of BES, sensitive data such as e-mail, contact lists and scheduling will now be safer with SMobile solution.

These 10 facts are indicative. Buyers are advised to take details from vendors in their areas before buying the product.