Analysis and Insider Commentary

RIM BlackBerry Bold "9700:" T-Mobile USA's First 3G BlackBerry?

While Research In Motion (RIM) has not yet officially announced the successor to its BlackBerry Bold 9000 smartphone, the Bold "9700" or "Onyx/Driftwood," pre-release users continue to leak device information and pictures. Just yesterday, an image of the new Bold with T-Mobile branding popped up, suggesting that the Bold 9700/Onyx could be the first 3G BlackBerry to grace T-Mobile's U.S. network.

Why the Low-End BlackBerry Curve 8520 is First to Get RIM's New Trackpad

The new BlackBerry Curve 8520 hits T-Mobile USA stores today, along with a brand new BlackBerry "trackpad." CIO.com's Al Sacco calls shenanigans on RIM's "official" reason why the low-end, entry-level Curve is first get the BlackBerry trackpad and offers up his own possible explanation.

BlackBerry App World: Nine Must-Do Fixes for RIM's App Store

Ever since BlackBerry-maker Research In Motion (RIM) launched its BlackBerry App World mobile software store last spring, the on-device app-channel has received a flood of negative feedback from users and developers. Here's CIO.com's Al Sacco's opinion on nine key fixes RIM must make to revamp--and resuscitate--BlackBerry App World.

BlackBerry App World Icon

BlackBerry Desktop Software for Mac: Four Things You Didn't Know

Research In Motion (RIM) Product Manager Andrey Feldman offers up four previously unknown facts about the company's upcoming BlackBerry Desktop Software for Macintosh computer users. For example, there's a new feature built-in that makes it more difficult for users to load leaked or unofficial software.

The Mobile WorkHorse Blog

Al Sacco writes about (and drools over) anything and everything mobile or wireless as it applies to the global workforce--with a focus on BlackBerry smartphones. Follow this blog on Twitter: @MobileWorkHorse.

Best of WES 2009: The Top 10 BlackBerry Products and Services

Research In Motion (RIM) held its annual Wireless Enterprise Symposium (WES) this week in Orlando, Fla., and though there were countless BlackBerry products and services on display, ten of them really stood out from the crowd. Here are our favorite BlackBerry-related offerings from WES 2009.

BlackBerry at CTIA: Virtual Tour of RIM's BlackBerry Booth

Couldn't make it to Las Vegas for CTIA Wireless Spring 2009 and Research In Motion's BlackBerry App World announcement? No worries. We bring the show to you in this virtual tour of RIM's CTIA BlackBerry booth.

BlackBerry Milestones: Four Fun Facts You Didn't Know About RIM

Last year was a significant one for BlackBerry-maker Research In Motion (RIM), and if the company has its way, 2009 will be even more momentous. In 2008, RIM announced at least four brand new devices--the Pearl 8220, Bold, Storm and Curve 8900; it rolled out a plethora of new OS updates for version 4.5, 4.6 and 4.7; the company held its first BlackBerry Developer Conference; and even launched the on-device BlackBerry Application Center for Storm users. But you probably know all that. Here are four more little-known factoids about RIM.

BlackBerry Backdating: What RIM Execs' Settlement Means (Hint: Not Much)

Research In Motion (RIM) executives have ended an intensive, multiple-year investigation into the company's past stock-backdating practices by settling with Canada's Ontario Securities Commission (OSC) for US$62.5 million (C$77 million). The fines will be paid back to the company by RIM executives, one of whom will also be required to temporarily cede his post on its board of directors--though he'll stay on as co-CEO. While $62 million certainly is not chump change, and RIM's board probably isn't pleased with losing one of its own, the backdating scandal shouldn't have much of a lasting effect on the BlackBerry-maker, its products or its customer base. Here's why.

BlackBerry Storm: Hot, Hot or Tempest in a Tea Pot?

Since its release last month, users of Research In Motion's (RIM) BlackBerry Storm have had a bit of a love/hate relationship with the device. Early Storm adopters either saw promise in the smartphone immediately, despite the poor quality OS code Verizon Wireless sold it with. Or they blasted the BlackBerry maker and cursed the carrier for shipping a smartphone that simply wasn't ready for the masses. This week, conflicting news reports raise the question: Has the BlackBerry Storm been a success for RIM and Verizon or a slow failure?

BlackBerry Storm Blasted by David Pogue: Why NYT Storm Review is a "Dud"

The world's first touch screen BlackBerry, the Storm, landed in the United States late last month, and much to RIM's chagrin, the device has already been slammed by a number of high profile gadget reviewers, including the New York Times' David Pogue, who dubbed the Storm "the BlackBerry Dud." That's fine. Opinions are just that: opinions. We've all got 'em. The problem is that Pogue's review misrepresents the new BlackBerry, which, though far from perfect, shows some real potentialat least in my opinion. Here's why.

BlackBerry Storm vs. iPhone 3G: 8 Reasons to Pick the Storm

With the new BlackBerry Storm set to hit U.S shelves next week, many smartphone enthusiasts looking to go the touch screen route will soon have to make a decision between RIM's first touch device and the popular iPhone 3G. In this second installment of a two-part series we offer up eight reasons to embrace the Storm.

As RIM Seeks New Apps for BlackBerry Application Storefront, Memory Problem Looms

Research In Motion (RIM) this week distributed an e-mail to registered BlackBerry developers notifying them that they can now begin submitting mobile applications for possible inclusion in the company's upcoming mobile software distribution channel, the BlackBerry Application Storefront. That store's expected to open in March.

BlackBerry Curve 8900 (T-Mobile): How to Know if the New Curve is for You

Research in Motion (RIM) and T-Mobile USA on Tuesday announced the latest addition to the BlackBerry maker's U.S. lineup: The BlackBerry Curve 8900. With so many new BlackBerrys landing on the scene in recent months, including the touch screen Storm, consumer-oriented Pearl Flip and the high-end Bold, picking a new 'Berry can be a bit overwhelming. Here are a few reasons why the new Curve might be a good fit for you.

RIM BlackBerry Curve 8900

RIM: BlackBerry "Atomic" Trackball Rumors Untrue

A few months ago, shortly after images of a then-unidentified BlackBerry device with a darkly-colored trackball surfaced on the Web, a nasty rumor began circulating that suggested the trackball was not only a new color, but that it had also been modified and enhanced to better repel dirt, dust and other debris from the insides of handhelds. This black "atomic" trackball also supposedly made navigating the new device "silky smooth." So why's that so nasty, you ask? Well, because this trackball tale just isn't true.

BlackBerry Curve 8350i: Is Sprint Getting the Short End of RIM's Stick?

Sprint Nextel is now selling Research In Motion's (RIM) latest smartphone, the BlackBerry Curve 8350i, a revamped version of the Curve 8300 built specifically for the Nextel iDEN network and Sprint's push-to-talk service. While the device is impressive, it's no Storm, Bold or, some may argue, even a Pearl 8220 Flip. So with Verizon Wireless, AT&T and T-Mobile all getting first dibs on RIM's newest product lines, why is Sprint only just now getting a new version of the old Curve?

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