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Tag: rim

  • Blackberry Offered As Pay-As-You-Go


    Orange UK is to offer a pay-as-you-go Blackberry – the first carrier in Europe to launch a PAYG RIM device.

    The move underlines RIM’s intention to re-position itself as a provider of handsets that appeal to the consumer market as well as its traditional enterprise stronghold.

    The smartphone will be an exclusive indigo-colored BlackBerry 8120 that will cost £145.

    An estimated two-thirds of UK mobile customers use PAYG.

    To take up the Orange offer customers must take out one of the operator’s existing PAYG Animal packages before taking a PAYG BlackBerry Internet Service for just £5 per month, on a monthly rolling subscription.

    This will give them access to email, messaging and the web.

    An Orange statement said the new offering was a result of the growing demand for a BlackBerry smartphone with PAYG service.

    The BlackBerry Pearl 8120 has a 2 megapixel camera with LED flash, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and media player.

  • RIM now taking BlackBerry Application Store submissions


    RIM’s rival to Apple’s App Store has moved a step closer to fruition.

    The Canadian company has sent a message to all registered BlackBerry developers calling for application submissions for its application storefront.

    RIM tells potential developers that a spring launch is on the cards – so there’s a good chance that come opening day, the "shelves" will be well stocked with software.

    Below is the full note to developers:

    BlackBerry Application Storefront



    Bring us your innovative genius:



    BlackBerry application storefront now accepting submissions



    Be first in line to submit applications you’ve designed for BlackBerry smartphones to the new BlackBerry application storefront. We’re counting down to a spring launch and we’re accepting submissions right now. Find out how to submit an application to the BlackBerry application storefront.



    The storefront will be an ideal spot for developers to bring their applications—whether they are consumer-focused or targeted to business users1.



    Why Submit an Application?



    The market for BlackBerry applications is growing at a phenomenal rate and the application storefront will offer you the exciting opportunity to showcase your applications to millions of BlackBerry smartphone users. It will provide consumers with greater choice, and enhanced application discovery.

    Who Can Submit?



    Developers across the globe are invited to submit their applications for consideration in the BlackBerry application storefront.



    Thank you for considering submitting your application and we look forward to working with you on the launch of the BlackBerry application storefront.



    Learn more about the BlackBerry storefront application submission process.

  • Keyboard and Touchscreen For Palm's New Handset


    Details are emerging about Palm’s expected launch of its latest smartphone and operating system at this week’s Consumer Electronics Show.

    The new handset is to have a full QWERTY keyboard that will slide down under a portrait-oriented touchscreen.

    This, and the new Nova operating system, are to be launched Thursday, according to CrunchGear.

    Faced with mounting losses and weak smartphone sales, the success of the new phone and Linux-based operating system could very well decide the company’s fate.

    It should be clearer by the end of the week whether Palm’s offerings will enable it to succeed with its plan to position itself somewhere between RIM’s BlackBerry and Apple’s iPhone.

  • Palm Gets $100m Lifeline Ahead Of Nova Launch


    Palm has secured a USD $100 million equity lifeline from Elevation Partners just a few weeks before it unveils its new Nova operating system.

    Faced with mounting losses and weak smartphone sales, the success of the new operating system could very well decide the company’s fate.

    The equity investment by Elevation Partners, which already holds a large stake in the handset maker, will help underwrite the cost of launching Nova and the first line of products to run on it.

    Palm has revealed little about the new operating system but reports suggest it will be pitched between RIM’s enterprise-oriented Blackberrys and Apple’s more multi-media iPhones.

    Palm just posted a loss of USD $506 million in its fiscal second quarter and saw both its revenues and the number of smartphones sold drop.

    Earlier this month, Palm announced that Douglas C. Jeffries had been appointed as the company’s Chief Financial Officer.

    Previously chief accounting officer at eBay, Jeffries will join Palm in January as replacement for Andy Brown.

    Roger McNamee, co-founder of Elevation Partners, which also counts rock star Bono among its investment team, was in no doubt about the potential for Palm.

    "We believe that Palm is in a position to transform the cell phone industry, and we are pleased to have the opportunity to make this additional investment in the company," he said.

    There are many who seriously doubt that.

  • Vyke Launches Mobile VoIP For Blackberry


    Vyke has released a beta version of its Mobile VoIP software and service for Blackberry devices using RIM software.

    The addition of the Blackberry software now means Vyke’s VoIP solution is available on the three most used mobile operating systems in the enterprise market – Symbian, Windows Mobile and RIM.

    Vyke says its Blackberry solution is unique as it uses a variation of VoIP which enables users to make VoIP calls over the Vyke network at any time their phone has GSM coverage, not only when the phone is in range of Wi-Fi or 3G mobile data coverage.

    The software supports most Blackberry devices dating back as far as 2003.

  • Nokia Remains Dominant As Smartphone Market Slows


    Growth in the global smartphone market dipped to 11.5 per cent in the third quarter year-on-year, the slowest rate of growth since it started tracking smartphone sales, according to research firm Gartner.

    Some 36.5 million smartphones were sold globally in the July-September quarter.

    Despite all vendors seeking a larger slice of the smartphone market, the growth rate is expected to continue slowing.

    Gartner also painted a fairly gloomy picture for the handset market generally, something announcements by the likes of Nokia and RIM over the past few days have done nothing to dispel.

    Not surprisingly, it blamed the current economic climate for "negatively impacting" on sales of high-end devices.

    Nokia maintained its No.1 position with 42.4 per cent market share in the third quarter of 2008, but for the first time it recorded a decline in sales of 3 per cent year-on-year.
    Gartner attributed the drop to increased competition in the consumer smartphone market.

    Sales of Research In Motion’s BlackBerry smartphones increased 81.7 per cent in the third quarter of 2008.

    Apple regained its No.3 position in the global smartphone market and improved its market share to 12.9 per cent in the third quarter of 2008.

  • Inventory Problems Cloud Storm's Launch


    Whether the long, cold waits – and, for many, ultimately empty-handed departures – were down to a security issue or general inventory problems is still not clear.

    What’s certain is that the Blackberry Storm’s US launch didn’t go as either exclusive operator Verizon or maker Research In Motion would have wished.

    Lines of people formed outside Verizon Wireless stores on Friday to buy the Storm, the first touch-screen phone from RIM that aims to compete with Apple’s iPhone.

    Today, Verizon has placed a notice on its online ordering page stating that: "Due to limited availability of the BlackBerry Storm 9530 smartphone, orders will ship by 12/15".

    While Verizon has declined to give specifics on inventory levels, the shipping delays are being attributed in some quarters to a last-minute security glitch.

    The Storm was to have launched with OS version 4.7.0.82, but because of the security issue every handset had to be downgraded to .65.

    This time-consuming task is the most likely reason why so many fewer handsets arrived in-store and online for release.

    Just to make matters worse, some of those who did manage to buy a Storm were met with activation issues as Verizon’s servers seemingly met the same fate as AT&T’s and Apple’s on iPhone 3G launch day.

  • Firmware Update May Limit Blackberry Storms


    A security issue could lead to shortages of Verizon’s Blackberry Storm on its US launch day today.

    The last minute hitch has forced both maker RIM and exclusive operator Verizon to update the firmware and reduce supplies of phones, according to a report on BGR.

    It says that one Verizon store due to receive 100 units is now to get only 40.

    While supplies are expected to be distributed nationwide, there will be less of them and shortages are expected in some areas.

    Third-party retailers, such as Best Buy, are now being given second priority and could have their in-store dates pushed back to reduce shortage problems at carrier stores.

    The hitch is hardly the start RIM would have wanted for its first touchscreen Blackberry – and now main rival contender to Apple’s iPhone.

    Apple racked up a million sales if its 3G handset worldwide in its first weekend alone.

    Aside from supply difficulties, advance reviews of the Storm have generally been very favorable.

    Aspects where the handset has advantages over the iPhone include features such cut-and-paste text, a "clickable" capacitive touchscreen, full turn-by-turn GPS navigation and removables such as the battery and microSDHC memory cards.

    The lack of WiFi is seen as a big disadvantage, as is the dearth of apps available compared to what is offered by Apple’s App Store.

    With both smartphones priced similarly – around USD $200 and USD $70 per month for service – price isn’t going to be a determining factor.

    If you’re heading out today to get your hands on a Bold, please let us know of any shortages you come across.

  • Truphone announces VoIP app for BlackBerry


    The VoIP mobile software developer Truphone has launched a beta version of its iPhone app for RIM’s BlackBerry 8801 and Curve devices.

    While Truphone Anywhere for Blackberry only works on WiFi enabled BlackBerrys at the moment it will be rolled out for 3G at some point.

    Offering similar services and features as found on Truphone’s Symbian S60 and Apple iPhone platforms, the free VoIP service provides discount calling around the world.

    Truphone doesn’t currently offer a Windows Mobile version but one is understood to be in development.

    The software can be downloaded via Blackberry’s built-in browser.

    It integrates with the handset’s address book and the newer version of the software routes calls via the cheapest network available to the handset, be it GSM or Truphone’s service over VOIP, but only if you select this manually.

    Geraldine Wilson, the new CEO of Truphone, said: "There’s no GSM business tariff that gets close to the prices we can offer BlackBerry users with Truphone for international calling."

  • Blackberry Storm's Clickable Touchscreen a Winner


    Whether the Blackberry Storm unveiled today lives up to its much-hyped “iPhone killer” title remains to be seen.

    What’s certain is that RIM – the champion of corporate emailers – appears to have delivered excellent new touchscreen technology in its first handset not equipped with a physical keyboard.

    The much-awaited Storm has a spring-loaded touchscreen that responds with a “click” like a physical keyboard.

    RIM is counting on the clickable tactile interface being a big factor in challenging Apple’s iPhone and its growing market share – both for business and consumer customers.

    The Storm will be available later this fall, exclusively to Verizon Wireless customers in the US and Vodafone customers in Europe, India, Australia and New Zealand.

    Consumers in RIM’s Canada are also to get the new handset via Telus.

    No price has been disclosed yet but reports suggest the Storm will carry a retail price of USD $199 when it goes on sale as early as November.

    The handset centers on a 3.25-inch, 480×360 display and an accelerometer switches the display from portrait to landscape.

    There is a 3.2MP camera, with video capture, and the phone supports a range of audio, still image and video formats, including MP3, JPEG and MPEG 4, respectively.

    Content is stored on Micro SD memory cards of up to 16GB.

    It’s the use of a touchscreen rather than a physical keyboard for the first time that really signals RIM’s determination to square up to the iPhone and respond to market demands – especially from non-business users.

    The Canadian phonemaker also appears to have listened to users who claim the iPhone’s glass screen is awkward to type on because its virtual buttons provide no tactile feedback.

    The Storm’s whole screen is backed by springs, and when pressed, it gives under the finger. This could give better typing accuracy compared to the iPhone.

    This enhanced typing feature – combined with BlackBerry push e-mail and tighter server integration – could make the Storm the first touchscreen smartphone truly usable for composing/sending frequent e-mail.

    The smartphone will work both on Verizon Wireless’ network and on Vodafone’s, even though they use incompatible technologies.

    This means the Storm will be equipped with radios to handle both networks, making international roaming a possibility.
    Verizon Wireless is the last of the four national US brands to unveil a flagship touch-screen model.

    AT&T has the iPhone, Sprint Nextel sells the Samsung Instinct, and T-Mobile USA just announced the G1.
    The BlackBerry Storm smartphone also includes the following features and functions:

    • BlackBerry Internet Service, BlackBerry Unite!, BlackBerry Professional Software and BlackBerry Enterprise Server support
    • Preloaded DataViz Documents to Go allows users to edit Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint files directly on the handset
    • Built-in GPS supports location-based applications and services, as well as geotagging of photos
    • Media player that can play movies smoothly in full-screen mode, display pictures and slideshows quickly and manage an entire music collection; playlists can be created directly on the handset and there’s an equalizer with 11 preset filters – including “Lounge,” “Jazz” and “Hip Hop” – for customized audio ranges when using wired headphones or external speaker
    • A 3.5 mm stereo headset jack, support for Bluetooth stereo audio profile (A2DP/AVRCP) and dedicated volume controls
    • Sleek, elegant design with contoured corners, stainless steel back and chrome accents surrounding its large (3.25″) glass lens; its exceptional 480 x 360 resolution at 184 ppi is crisp and bright with eye-pleasing clarity
    • An ambient light sensor that automatically adjusts backlighting for ideal screen viewing and an accelerometer that allows customers to view applications in either portrait or landscape mode by simply rotating the handset
    • Removable and rechargeable 1400 mAhr battery that provides approximately six hours of talk time on 3G networks and 15 days of standby time
    • Virtual keyboards are also available in AZERTY, QWERTZ and other configurations to support different language groups.