Type Device PIN and/or Model and OS Version With Six Quick Clicks

Unless you've memorized your BlackBerry PIN number--which, we might add, is not a bad idea--you need to visit your BlackBerry Help Me! or Status screen every time you want to share those PIN digits. There's a shortcut to access the Help Me! screen--just click ALT, Shift and the letter H--but you need to close out of or save any messages you might be working on in order to employ that home screen shortcut.

However, there are also shortcuts--really they're built-in functions of BlackBerry AutoText--that allow you to find and enter your BlackBerry PIN, as well as your device model and handheld operating system (OS) version, without ever leaving a message.

To automatically enter in your BlackBerry PIN while in an SMS test or e-mail message, simply type MYPIN and hit the Space key. To auto-enter your device model and handheld OS version, just type MYVER--as in "My Version"--and again click the Space button.

Browse BlackBerry Address Book Contacts While on a Call

We've all been there before: You're on the phone and need to get a phone number or e-mail address, but don't want to have to hang up and interrupt the conversation to get the contact information. No worries. This shortcut will ensure you're ready next time.

There are a few ways to access your BlackBerry address book while on the phone, but none quicker than this shortcut. While on a call, simply click the green Send key to open up the phone application and call log. When your call log is on screen, hold down Send again for a couple of seconds until the address book information appears.

After opening the address book, you can choose to put the current call on hold and dial an additional number or you can copy various address information for later use. (Note: BlackBerrys operating on GSM/EDGE/GPRS cellular networks cannot simultaneously send and receive voice and data, so users won't be able to, say, send an e-mail while on a phone call. Though, RIM's new 3G BlackBerry Bold device, which runs on GSM/HSDPA/UMTS networks, will be able to transfer voice and data the same time.)

Add Extensions to Phone Numbers via BlackBerry

If you're a business BlackBerry user, there's a good chance that many of the phone numbers you're dialing on a regular basis also require you to enter an extension to reach the appropriate party. Even if you use you BlackBerry as a personal device, you're no doubt calling office or corporate phone numbers on occasion. Thanks to this shortcut, saving and dialing phone numbers with extensions is just as simple as dialing straight-forward digits.

To automatically add an extension to a phone number, type in the appropriate ten digits and then hit the ALT and X keys, followed by the numbers in the extension. Then click the Send button and your BlackBerry will dial the phone number that you entered. When the call is connected, you device will wait a few seconds and then automatically enter in the extension.

You can also save phone extensions within your address book. To do so, simply open your Address Book application, scroll to the entry you wish to edit, click your BlackBerry Menu key and hit Edit. Once you've opened an address book entry, scroll to the end of the number for which you want to add an extension, and follow the process described above.