Pandora for BlackBerry: Free Internet Radio on Your RIM Smartphone

During the past few months, a number of Internet Radio applications for BlackBerry smartphones hit the Web. The most popular of the lot, Slacker Radio for BlackBerry, made one of my previous sets of BlackBerry app recommendations. And though I haven't yet reviewed any of the others, such as iHeart Radio and Nobex Radio Companion, they're both viable options, as well.

Pandora for BlackBerry

However, it's the brand new, free Pandora for BlackBerry app that really stands out in the crowd. And it's currently vying for space on my device with Slacker Radio. That because I've been using Pandora for months on my iPhone and loving it. (The app's also available for Windows Mobile devices.)

My favorite thing about Pandora? If you've ever used the service and created an account, the BlackBerry app brings in your previously saved stations and settings. Even if you're a first time Pandora user, employing the new BlackBerry app is as simple as creating an account--so your stations are saved--downloading the app and signing in.

To create new stations, you simply enter in an artist, song name, classical composer etc., and the application generates a station of "similar" music. Pandora for BlackBerry also has a cool "QuickMix" station-creation-option, which pulls songs from all of your saved stations, not unlike the iTunes Party Shuffle feature.

Pandora for BlackBerry Stations Screen

And like the free version of Slacker Radio, Pandora for BlackBerry is advertisement- supported, which means that ads are frequently displayed alongside album art work, though you can always opt to hide them after they appear. And you can skip up to six songs, per station, per hour, just like Slacker.

And like most BlackBerry apps, it supports multitasking, so you can, say, play a game of Texas Hold'em King 3 while bumping the latest U2 tune on Pandora.

Visit Pandora's site to see if your device is supported or download the app OTA via BlackBerry browser. The app's not yet available for T-Mobile BlackBerry users, according to Pandora.com, but recent reports suggest the latest update added support for T-Mobile Curve 8900 owners.

Qsms: Create New SMS Text Messages with a Single Click

The BlackBerry operating system is packed with valuable keyboard shortcuts that let you perform certain actions with a minimal amount of button- or trackball-clicks. For example, you can hit the C key within your messages inbox to open up a new blank e-mail message. And you can click your U button in the messages app to navigate to your last unread message. (For more on beginner and advanced keyboard shortcuts, read, "Best BlackBerry Shortcuts: Aflac's Mobile Guru Shares Tips."

Qsms for BlackBerry Icon

A shortcut that's glaringly absent: One that lets you create new SMS text messages without navigating to a specific contact or locating a previous message so you can distribute a new text to the sender.

In comes Qsms, which turns your BlackBerry device's Q key into a Compose New SMS Text shortcut.

After installing Qsms, you should open up your Phone Options menu. To do so, hit the green Send key to the left of your trackball to bring up your phone log. Next, hit the BlackBerry Menu key--also to the left of your trackball--then scroll down and choose Options. On the following screen, pick General Options and ensure that the Dial From Home Screen option is set to No. Finally, hit your Escape key to exit General Options and save your changes when prompted by the on-screen pop-up box.

BlackBerry Phone General Options

Voila. You've got a new SMS text shortcut. Simply hit Q while on your BlackBerry home or applications screen and a new text message form appears. I wish the shortcut also worked within the Messages inbox, but it's certainly better than no new SMS shortcut at all. (Note: the Qsms keyboard shortcut won't work on BlackBerry Pearl devices.)

Download Qsms OTA via BlackBerry browser.