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Tag: blackberry

  • Adobe Facilitated Android, iOS and BlackBerry with its Updates for Flash Builder and Flex

    Adobe today released much awaited updates to its Flex 4.5 and Flash Builder 4.5 software. The new release enables developers to create cross-platform apps successfully for iOS, Android and BlackBerry.

    This release will facilitate functionality of the adobe Framework, which was released in this year April. In fact, Adobe framework support was extended alone for Android from the day of its launch and these latest updates enabled this facility for rest of the operating systems as promised by adobe earlier.

    Adobe introduced several other applications along with these updates that were built through their latest software and informed that these applications will be available soon for the three app stores Itunes, BlackBerry App World and Android Market. There are few games in this list to be introduced such as Mr. Mixit and Pyramix, Conqu-a task management tool, Muni Tracker for San Francisco’s Public transport system and Netflix Queue Manager by UnitedMindset.

    The announced updates are credited successfully with many productivity improvements according to the Adobe. Also, it is informed that these updates will enable Flash Builder 4.5 with the best practice code templates for developers along with code completion and code generation features. These additions will definitely create significant acceleration for the Flex and some more Action script applications. These things will deployed by adobe through Adobe AIR. It is expected that this AIR will support more than 200 million platforms by this year ending.

    This latest updates release from Adobe got significant influence over the Apple. Earlier Apple imposed a ban over the usage of the third-party development tools and that left many developers away from the Adobe’s Flash, Sun’s Java and Microsoft Silverlight and some more. Now, the latest updates from Adobe in the favor of iOS is lifted another special environment for developers to develop apps with more ease and comfort.

  • Nokia, At the Lowest Rate in 14 Years, on a Growing Market

    Nokia mobile phone market share dropped from 30.6% to 25.1%, reaching its lowest level since 1997, selling in the first quarter of 2011 107.6 million units, according to a study made by the research firm Gartner.

    At the same time, Samsung’s sales increased from 64.9 to 68.8 million units, and the producer has a market share of 16.1%.

    The list is completed by LG, which has sold in the first quarter of 2011 27.2 million mobile phones, representing 7.6% of market.

    Apple is ranked four in the mobile phones top, but also in the operating system top, with 16.9 million iPhones sold worldwide, double value than in the first quarter of last year. The company’s market share, both in smartphones and operating systems, increased from 2.3% to 3.9%.

    The sales of the Canadians from Research In Motion, the Blackberry manufacturer, have increased in the same period from 10.8 to 13 million units, the company having a market share of 3%.

    In the operating systems, Android has become the most popular platform in the world, increasing its last year market share from 9.6% to 36%.

    The market share of Symbian, at which Nokia will renounce in favor of Windows Mobile, has decreased in the last year from 44.2% to 27.4%.

    In total, in the first quarter of 2011 were sold 427.9 million mobile phones, an increase with 19% over the number recorded in the first three months of 2010. Gartner says that, despite this 19-percent increase in sales, would have been sold even more smartphones, but several companies have announced the launch of new terminals for the current quarter, and many customers have waited them and haven’t bought any phone in the first three months of the year.

    Smartphone sales have doubled up in the period mentioned, to 100.8 million units, according to the source.

  • RIM Recalls 1,000 Playbooks for Repairs

    Research In Motion (RIM), the manufacturer of the popular Blackberry phones, has recalled from the market 1,000 copies of the new-released tablet, PlaybBook, because of problems with the operating system that could pose difficulties in the initial installation of the gadget, writes Reuters, citing overseas media.

    Even if it didn’t pass so much time from the launching of the BlackBerry tablet, it seems that they have been a little rushed. Although sales were not great in the first days or the PlayBook was not a revelation to most users, the gadget is now available worldwide.

    The problem is as follows: RIM factory called back about 1,000 tablets that would have some problems that cannot be solved with a simple firmware update. Through a press release in which are filled the series of all the 935 damaged BlackBerry PlayBook, RIM has defined very well the extent of the problem.

    Even so, BlackBerry phone manufacturer announced in a statement posted on CrackBerry.com that the most affected devices were in stores and have not yet reached the customers. "The company is working to remedy the defects," said RIM.

    According to information published in the weekend by Engadget, the damaged tablets were distributed through the network of Staples stores.

    RIM is facing major challenges to maintain its market share, after the strong competition from Apple and Android devices. The new PlayBook tablet would have to alleviate the competitive pressure, but the gadget has been coolly received by the analysts in this field.

  • Opera Launches the Opera Mobile Store

    Opera Software has just announced that the Opera Mobile Store is now open and available at mobilestore.opera.com. The Opera Mobile Store has been built and delivered through a partnership with Appia and offers both free and paid applications for virtually any mobile platform and device.

    The Opera Mobile Store is available to Opera users and users of other mobile browsers, on almost all mobile phone platforms in more than 200 countries. According to the company, the Store uses Appia’s storefront commerce technology and leverages a wide catalog of applications for phones with Java, Symbian, BlackBerry and Android operating systems. The storefront experience is customized to each user’s phone, providing a tailored catalog based on the phone’s operating system, local language and currency.

    "The launch of the Opera Mobile Store supports Opera’s core belief in an open, cross-platform mobile Internet experience by providing Opera users with an integrated storefront of mobile applications," said Mahi de Silva, EVP, Consumer Mobile, Opera Software. "Our partnership with Appia delivers to all Opera Mobile and Opera Mini users easy access to a wide variety of great content, on any device, all over the world."

    To support the Opera Mobile Store, Opera Software has also launched the Opera Publisher Portal, providing developers with an easy way to get their applications onto the Opera Mobile Store. In its pre-launch state, the Opera Mobile Store attracted more than 15 million users in February, from 200 countries, achieving more than 700,000 downloads per day. These metrics establish the Opera Mobile Store as a top 10 mobile application store around the world.

    "The Opera Mobile Store presents a remarkable opportunity for mobile application developers to distribute localized content through a single, far-reaching marketplace," said Jud Bowman, CEO of Appia. "Appia is thrilled to partner with Opera to deliver an incredible storefront of applications to Opera users and beyond."

  • Privus Mobile Debuts Real-Time Caller ID and Text ID for BlackBerry

    Privus Mobile, the Caller ID solution for BlackBerry smartphones, has released new features for its smartphone Caller ID application delivering real-time caller and text identification.

    Through this feature Privus Mobile announces the name of the incoming call or text for true hands-free operations regardless of whether the person is in the user’s contact list or not.

    While there are a few applications offering Caller ID, they are all forced to show the Caller ID after the call is coming in due to BlackBerry programming restrictions as well as lack of support for simultaneous data and voice.

    According to Privus, this is the first time BlackBerry users have been able to receive true Caller ID on their phone when the call is coming in as well as the name associated with incoming text messages from people not in a phone’s contact list.

    Privus was able to get around notification limitations by leveraging its new Voice Cue functionality in the 4.0 update. Now, users will be notified of the name of the incoming caller via a voice announce feature. “Not only does this allow users to hear the name of the incoming call as it’s coming in and decide whether it’s worth the effort to get off the couch and answer the phone, but it enables true hands-free operation when they are driving,” as the company said.

    Privus Mobile for BlackBerry Version 4.0 features:

    •Caller ID – Enables users to see the name associated with any incoming call on their BlackBerry smartphone – not just those already in the contact list
    •Text ID – Displays the name associated with incoming text messages – not just those already in the contact list
    •Voice Cue – Announces the name of callers from the user’s contact list and from Privus Mobile’s real-time Caller ID for callers not already in the contact list to allow for true hands-free operation
    •Caller Name Look-up – Enables users to look up the name associated with any telephone number through one of the world’s most comprehensive caller information databases from Accudata Technologies.

    “The days of scrambling to find your phone so you can see, or guess, who’s calling are over. No longer will you have to fumble around the passenger seat in the car to find your phone so you can see who’s calling even if you’re already wearing a Bluetooth headset,” said Greg Smith, president of Privus Mobile. “Now you can see and hear the name behind the number for incoming calls or texts on your BlackBerry. It’s the perfect combination of true functionality and convenience in a smartphone application.”

    The application is compatible with all BlackBerry devices including the newly-released BlackBerry Torch, BlackBerry Tour, BlackBerry Curve and BlackBerry Bold.

    Related news
    Real Caller ID for Your Mobile Phone: Interview with Greg Smith, CEO of Accudata Technologies
    Winner of the Biz-News.com "Product of the Year Award 2009” Announced

  • BlackBerry Bold 9650 Coming to Verizon

    Verizon announced that the BlackBerry Bold 9650 will be available for online ordering from Verizon beginning June 3 and in Verizon stores beginning June 10.

    The new BlackBerry Bold is the first global phone from Verizon to support GlobalAccess Connect, allowing customers to tether their BlackBerry Bold to a notebook or netbook and use it as a modem for wireless internet access.

    Key features:

    • Optical trackpad for easy and fluid navigation
    • Built-in Wi-Fi (802.11 b/g)
    • Push to Talk feature – allows customers to leverage Verizon’s 3G network for instant two-way communication with up to 50 people
    • VZ Navigator version 6 – gives customers access to free mapping and integration with Bing to sort searches by relevance and a new option to choose day, week or monthly subscriptions
    • VZ Navigator Global capabilities – Provides turn-by-turn directions and maps in English while navigating through more than 20 destinations

    Additional specifications:

    • Mobile e-mail and messaging capabilities
    • 2.45" high-resolution display (480 x 360 resolution at 245 ppi)
    • 3.2 megapixel camera with flash, variable zoom, image stabilization, autofocus and video recording
    • support for the Bluetooth Stereo Audio Profile (A2DP/AVCRP)
    • BlackBerry Media Sync
    • Support for BlackBerry App World
    • 512 MB Flash memory and an expandable memory card slot that supports up to 16 GB microSD HC cards (a 2 GB card is pre-installed)
    • Full HTML Web browser, streaming audio and video via RTSP
    • Built-in GPS with support for location-based applications and services as well as geotagging
    • Support for high-speed EV-DO Rev. A networks in North America as well as single band UMTS/HSPA (2100 MHz) and quad-band EDGE/GPRS/GSM networks abroad
    • 1400 mAhr battery

    The BlackBerry Bold 9650 will be available for order for $149.99 after a $100 mail-in rebate with a new two-year customer agreement. A non-camera version of the phone will also be available for order online beginning June 3.

    GlobalAccess Connect plans are available for $65 monthly access for 5 GB allowance in the US and Canada ($0.05/MB overage) and 100 MB allowance in select countries ($5.12/MB overage). There is also a $155 monthly access option that offers 5 GB allowance in the United States and Canada and 200 MB allowance in select countries, with the same overage rates as the $65 monthly option.

  • RIM Announces BlackBerry MVS 5 with Voice over Wi-Fi Calling

    RIM announced BlackBerry Mobile Voice System 5 with voice over Wi-Fi calling. It works with Cisco UC Manager and enables a business user to use their regular desk phone number and extension from their BlackBerry smartphone.

    According to RIM, with the new version 5, an employee will be able to use a single work phone number shared between their desk phone and BlackBerry smartphone and make and receive enterprise calls on their BlackBerry over a Wi-Fi connection, adding to the existing capability available over cellular networks.

    Calls made through BlackBerry MVS 5 are routed through the corporate phone system/PBX, which helps with adherence to company policies and enables potential savings on long-distance and international roaming charges. It’s easy to use since incoming calls ring simultaneously on the employee’s desk phone and BlackBerry and employees access BlackBerry MVS using the same phone interface that they are already familiar with on their BlackBerry.

    RIM and Cisco have worked closely to integrate BlackBerry MVS 5 with Cisco UC Manager. The solution has been tested for interoperability and will be supported by both RIM and Cisco.

    RIM claims that advanced IT features built into BlackBerry MVS 5 will help to provide “controlled, managed and secure” use of BlackBerry smartphones with the corporate phone system.

    Key features include:
    • Wi-Fi network access controls to set which Wi-Fi networks employees can access
    • Network preference settings with the option of prioritizing the use of Wi-Fi or cellular for making phone calls
    • Authentication to help ensure that only authorized BlackBerry smartphones have access to the corporate phone system
    • Incoming call filtering based on allowed and blocked caller lists

    The company informed that they are working with other companies to make BlackBerry MVS available for a range of PBX systems.

    BlackBerry MVS 5 is expected to be available later this year.

  • RIM Introduces BlackBerry Bold 9650 and Pearl 3G

    RIM today announced two new BlackBerry phones: Bold 9650 – “a global smartphone for CDMA customers” and Pearl 3G – the smallest BlackBerry smartphone yet.

    Bold 9650 supports 3G (EVDO) networks in North America and (HSPA/UMTS) abroad and has a full-QWERTY keyboard, optical trackpad and built-in Wi-Fi (802.11 b/g). It also includes 512 MB Flash memory and an expandable memory card slot that supports up to 32 GB microSDHC cards, with a 2 GB card included.

    It comes with 2.44" 480 x 360 display, 3.2 MP camera (with flash, variable zoom, image stabilization, autofocus and video recording), built-in GPS with support for geotagging, a 3.5 mm stereo headset jack and support for the Bluetooth Stereo Audio Profile (A2DP/AVCRP), support for BlackBerry App World, full HTML web browser, streaming audio and video via RTSP, and 1400 mAhr battery (approx. 5 hours of CDMA talk time).

    Pearl 3G is as powerful as it is compact. Measuring less than two inches wide (50 mm) and weighing only 3.3 ounces (93g), it still manages to pack in support for high-speed 3G (UMTS/HSDPA) networks, Wi-Fi (b/g/n) and GPS along with a 624 Mhz processor with 256 MB Flash memory.

    It also features 360×400 display, a 3.2 MP camera with flash, built-in GPS, an optical trackpad, dedicated volume and media keys, support for tri-band UMTS/HSDPA and quad-band EDGE/GPRS/GSM networks, voice activated dialing, Bluetooth2.1 (with Bluetooth Message Access Profile standard support), microSD/SDHD memory card slot (support for up to 32 GB), and 1150 mAhr battery ( approx. 5.5 hours of talk time on 3G networks).

    Pearl 3G will be available in two models and several colors. The 9100 model features a 20-key condensed QWERTY keyboard and the 9105 model features a 14-key traditional phone keyboard. Both include SureType software that can complete words as the user types.

    Both Bold 9650 and Pearl 3G are expected to be available from “various carriers” in the U.S. beginning in May.

  • comScore: Motorola and RIM Lead U.S. Smartphone Market

    comScore, a firm that measures the digital world, released data from the comScore MobiLens service, reporting key trends in the U.S. mobile phone industry during the three month period between October 2009 and January 2010.

    The report found Motorola to be the top handset manufacturer overall with 22.9 percent market share, while RIM led among smartphone platforms with 43.0 percent market share.

    OEM Market Share

    In the 3 month average ending in January, 234 million Americans were mobile subscribers ages 13 and older, with device manufacturer Motorola ranking as the top OEM with 22.9 percent of U.S. mobile subscribers.

    LG ranked second with 21.7 percent share, followed by Samsung (21.1 percent share), Nokia (9.1 percent share) and RIM (7.8 percent share).

    Smartphone Platform Market Share

    According to the report, 42.7 million people in the U.S. owned smartphones in an average month during the November to January period, up 18 percent from the August through October period.

    RIM was the leading mobile smartphone platform in the U.S. with 43.0 percent share of U.S. smartphone subscribers, rising 1.7 percentage points versus three months earlier.

    Apple ranked second with 25.1 percent share (up 0.3 percentage points), followed by Microsoft at 15.7 percent, Google at 7.1 percent (up 4.3 percentage points), and Palm at 5.7 percent. Google’s Android platform continues to see rapid gains in market share.

    Mobile Content Usage

    In an average month during the measured period, 63.5 percent of U.S. mobile subscribers used text messaging on their mobile device, up 1.5 percentage points versus three months prior.

    Browsers were used by 28.6 percent of U.S. mobile subscribers (up 1.8 percentage points), while subscribers who played games made up 21.7 percent (up 0.4 percentage points).

    Access of social networking sites or blogs experienced strong gains in the past three months, growing 3.3 percentage points to 17.1 percent of mobile subscribers, as the report shows.

  • T-Mobile to Offer First 3G BlackBerry with Voice Calling over Wi-Fi

    RIM announced the upcoming availability of the BlackBerry Bold 9700 with Wi-Fi Calling from T-Mobile.

    It will be the first 3G-powered BlackBerry available through T-Mobile USA, and also the first smartphone from RIM that includes built-in support for both 3G connectivity and voice calls over Wi-Fi, according to T-Mobile.

    T-Mobile customers can continue to get mobile coverage and nationwide Wi-Fi calling with the company’s Unlimited HotSpot Calling service or, for business customers, the new Wi-Fi Calling with MobileOffice solution.

    Wi-Fi calling will require Unlimited HotSpot Calling mobile plan or Wi-Fi Calling with MobileOffice service, qualifying rate plan, broadband internet connection and wireless router.

    T-Mobile’s Unlimited HotSpot Calling is an add-on feature to qualifying mobile plan that enables unlimited nationwide calling over Wi-Fi from home and from all of US T-Mobile HotSpot locations across the country. It starts from $9.99. Regular plan minutes are used when call does not originate on Wi-Fi network.

    Rumored as the Onyx, Bold 9700 comes with new BlackBerry OS 5.0, 624 MHz processor, 2.44” light-sensing display, 256MB Flash memory, built-in GPS and Wi-Fi (802.11 b/g), 3.2 megapixel camera with autofocus, flash and video recording, full-QWERTY keyboard, touch-sensitive optical trackpad and micro SDHC 2GB card.

    It includes support for 3G HSDPA networks around the world and provides all well known RIM’s mobile e-mail and messaging solution, and access to social networking applications.

    Many applications from BlackBerry App World are readily available directly on the 9700, such as Slacker Radio (free music), TeleNav GPS Navigator (turn-by-turn directions), and visual voicemail.

    The new BlackBerry smartphone is expected to be available in November.

    By the end of the year T-Mobile’s 3G network is planned to be available to approximately 200 million people across the U.S.