Tuesday, September 30, 2008

THINKING ABOUT UNLOCKING A BOLD AND USING IT ON YOUR NETWORK? READ THIS


If you are like me, you are considering purchasing a Bold and running it on your own network by unlocking it. Thats a great thought but I think you should read the following story posted on BlackBerry news today. Troy made some good points.
Read the full article here

Also we get alot of questions where to go to unlock your BlackBerry devices. These guys do a good job here. Reasonable prices too.

Thursday, September 25, 2008

RIM Officially Launches Operating System 4.5!

EMAIL RECEIVED FROM RIM:

Increase your worker's productivity by letting them do more with their BlackBerry® smartphone

The free upgrade to BlackBerry Device Software v4.5 provides new features for your end users to increase their productivity and connectivity.

BlackBerry Device Software v4.5 will be made available for download at BlackBerry.com.

Learn More about options for upgrading users and how BlackBerry Device Software v4.5 is being rolled out.

This BlackBerry Device Software v4.5 provides key new features
Here's what your users can expect:

  • HTML and Rich Text Email Rendering 1
  • Attachment Viewing and File Downloading and Editing 2
  • Free-Busy Calendar Lookup 2
  • Remote Search for Messages 2
  • Advanced Enterprise Instant Messaging and Presence 2
  • Over-the-Air Smartphone Software Upgrades 3
Want an easy way to deploy to all your users?
Use BlackBerry Web Desktop Manager

BlackBerry® Web Desktop Manager is a web-based version of the BlackBerry® Desktop Manager which IT Adminstrators can configure to enable users to upgrade to BlackBerry Device Software v4.5.

WEBSITE INFORMATION:

Features

Do more with the BlackBerry® smartphone you already own! BlackBerry® Device Software v4.5 is a free upgrade and offers a whole new world of fun and functionality.

Discover innovative ways to work and play with BlackBerry Device Software v4.5.

*Note: certain features require BlackBerry® Enterprise Server software and/or may not be available on every BlackBerry smartphone – please refer to the compatibility information.

User Interface

  • Refreshed Look Enjoy messages, address book entries and a calendar that make better use of colors and fonts. They’re also laid out to more closely match the programs you use on your computer.

Email

  • Improved Email Layout (Rich HTML Email) View tables, images and fonts with formatting that looks better than ever.1
  • Remote Search – Find emails that are stored on a BlackBerry® Enterprise Server.2,3

Attachments and Files

  • Edit Microsoft® Word and Microsoft® PowerPoint® Files – Just download the attachments and start typing!
  • Copy, paste, change font formatting and more.4
  • Download and Save – Grab a file on the Internet, and save it to your smartphone to view or edit later.

Suretype

  • Save Time as You Type Word completion for SureType keyboards will monitor what you type and present a list of options to scroll through so you don’t have to type the whole word.

Browser

  • Mobile Streaming – Access videos, music or even sports and news clips from websites with mobile streaming capabilities.5

BlackBerry® Maps

  • Local Search - Enter a search term like ‘pizza’ to view a list of places to grab a slice within a 30-km radius.6

Voice Notes

  • Send a Voice Note – Instead of typing an email, record a Voice Note and send it as an email attachment or Multimedia Message (MMS).
  • Stay on Top of Your Tasks – Record your thoughts and play them back when they’re needed.

Music

  • Improved Music Management – See all your music files, or filter them by artist, album or genre. You can even create and edit playlists.
  • Musical Multitasking – Open the BlackBerry menu and select “Now Playing” to access the name and artist for the song you’re listening to – even when using another application.
  • Bluetooth Compatible (A2DP) – Use wireless Bluetooth® headphones or speakers to enjoy your music wherever you are.7

Video

  • Video Recording – Take it all in with video camera capabilities.3,8,9
  • Full Screen Player – Watch videos in full-screen mode or stay in command with the media controls mode.

Calendar

  • Free/Busy Lookup – View your colleagues’ calendars on your smartphone2,3

Learn more


Compatibility

Select your BlackBerry® smartphone from the links above to see if it already includes some of the new features offered by BlackBerry® Device Software v4.5, or if it’s compatible with the new features.

yes check = Newly Supported in v4.5
AS = Already Supported in previous software version for this device model
N/A = Not Applicable
N/S = Not Supported

BlackBerry Curve 8300 Series Smartphones

Feature BlackBerry® Curve™ 8300 smartphone BlackBerry® Curve™ 8310 smartphone BlackBerry® Curve™ 8320 smartphone BlackBerry® Curve™ 8330 smartphone
Email
Improved Email Layout Yes Yes Yes Yes
Remote Search Yes Yes Yes Yes
Calendar
Free/Busy Lookup Yes Yes Yes Yes
Attachments
Edit Microsoft® Word and Microsoft® PowerPoint® Files Yes Yes Yes Yes
Download and Save Yes Yes Yes Yes
User Interface
Updated User Interface Yes Yes Yes AS
Consistent Media Experience AS AS AS AS
SureType® Improvements
Word Completion N/A N/A N/A N/A
BlackBerry® Maps
Local Search Yes Yes Yes AS
Voice Notes
Voice Notes Yes Yes Yes AS
Music
Improved Music Management AS AS AS AS
Musical Multitasking Yes Yes Yes Yes
Bluetooth® Compatible (A2DP) AS AS AS AS
Create and Edit Playlists Yes Yes Yes AS
Video
Video Recorder Yes Yes Yes AS
Full Screen Mode AS AS AS AS
Enables Wireless Software Upgrades
Control Yes Yes Yes Yes
Stay Productive Yes Yes Yes Yes
Simple Download Yes Yes Yes Yes
Activation Maintained Yes Yes Yes Yes

BlackBerry Pearl 8100 Series Smartphones

Feature BlackBerry® Pearl™ 8100 smartphone BlackBerry® Pearl™ 8110 smartphone BlackBerry® Pearl™ 8120 smartphone BlackBerry® Pearl™ 8130 smartphone
Email
Improved Email Layout Yes Yes Yes Yes
Remote Search Yes Yes Yes Yes
Calendar
Free/Busy Lookup Yes Yes Yes Yes
Attachments
Edit Microsoft® Word and Microsoft® PowerPoint® Files Yes Yes Yes Yes
Download and Save Yes Yes Yes Yes
User Interface
Updated User Interface Yes AS AS AS
Consistent Media Experience Yes AS AS AS
SureType® Improvements
Word Completion Yes AS AS AS
BlackBerry® Maps
Local Search Yes AS AS AS
Voice Notes
Voice Notes Yes AS AS AS
Music
Improved Music Management Yes AS AS AS
Musical Multitasking Yes Yes Yes Yes
Bluetooth® Compatible (A2DP) Yes AS AS AS
Create and Edit Playlists Yes AS AS AS
Video
Video Recorder N/S AS AS AS
Full Screen Mode Yes AS AS AS
Enables Wireless Software Upgrades
Control Yes Yes Yes Yes
Stay Productive Yes Yes Yes Yes
Simple Download Yes Yes Yes Yes
Activation Maintained Yes Yes Yes Yes

BlackBerry 8800 Series Smartphone

Feature BlackBerry® 8800 smartphone BlackBerry® 8820 smartphone BlackBerry® 8830 World Edition smartphone
Email
Improved Email Layout Yes Yes Yes
Remote Search Yes Yes Yes
Calendar
Free/Busy Lookup Yes Yes Yes
Attachments
Edit Microsoft® Word and Microsoft® PowerPoint® Files Yes Yes Yes
Download and Save Yes Yes Yes
User Interface
Updated User Interface Yes Yes Yes
Consistent Media Experience Yes AS AS
SureType® Improvements
Word Completion N/A N/A N/A
BlackBerry® Maps
Local Search Yes Yes Yes
Voice Notes
Voice Notes Yes Yes Yes
Music
Improved Music Management Yes AS AS
Musical Multitasking Yes Yes Yes
Bluetooth® Compatible (A2DP) Yes AS AS
Create and Edit Playlists Yes Yes Yes
Video
Video Recorder N/A N/A N/A
Full Screen Mode Yes AS AS
Enables Wireless Software Upgrades
Control Yes Yes Yes
Stay Productive Yes Yes Yes
Simple Download Yes Yes Yes
Activation Maintained Yes Yes Yes

BlackBerry 8700 Series Smartphones

Feature BlackBerry 8700
Series smartphones
Email
Improved Email Layout Yes
Remote Search Yes
Calendar
Free/Busy Lookup Yes
Attachments
Edit Microsoft® Word and
Microsoft® PowerPoint® Files
Yes
Download
and Save
Yes
User Interface
Updated User Interface Yes
Consistent Media Experience Yes, the BlackBerry 8700 smartphone does not support music or video
SureType® Improvements
Word
Completion
N/A
BlackBerry® Maps
Local Search Yes
Voice Notes
Voice Notes Yes
Music
Improved Music Management N/A*
Musical Multitasking N/A*
Bluetooth® Compatible (A2DP) N/A*
Create and Edit Playlists N/A*
Video
Video Recorder N/A
Full Screen Mode N/A*
Enables Wireless Software Upgrades
Control Yes
Stay Productive Yes
Simple Download Yes
Activation Maintained Yes

*The BlackBerry 8700 Series smartphones do not support music or video.



Upgrade

Upgrade to the latest BlackBerry® Device Software and unlock a whole new appreciation for your BlackBerry® smartphone.

For BlackBerry Enterprise Server and BlackBerry Professional Software Users

If your BlackBerry smartphone is integrated with a BlackBerry® Enterprise Server or BlackBerry® Professional Software, please contact your IT administrator to find out whether your organization supports BlackBerry Device Software v4.5.

Learn more about upgrading your BlackBerry smartphone software in an enterprise.

For All Other BlackBerry Smartphone Users

To download, simply connect your BlackBerry smartphone to your computer using your USB cable and then click the Upgrade button below*!

Note: You may need to download BlackBerry® Application Loader software to your desktop before the BlackBerry Device Software will begin downloading. If this is the case, you will be prompted to do so after clicking the Upgrade button. Click "Run", then follow the additional instructions in order to upgrade your smartphone’s software.