Blackberry begins blocking porn websites in Indonesia

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Blackberry Torch 9800 in India at Rs.35,000

Blackberry has launched their latest Smartphone Blackberry Torch 9800 in India. Launched at a Whopping Price of Rs.35,000, Blackberry Torch features new Blackberry 6 Operating system, which provides faster and richer web browsing experience.It has a new Intuitive Fluid design and metallic finish. The Slider makes the looks more stunning. The features includes Rich multimedia functionality, 3G Support and 5MP Camera.

Features and Overview of Blackberry Torch 9800:

• New Blackberry 6 Operating System
• Universal Search Feature for better search on your smartphone as well as on web
• Enhanced Web Browing
• Intuitive Fluid Design
• Enhanced Multimedia Experience
• All In One Design: High Resolution Touchscreen, Slide Out QWERTY Keypad and also a Optical Trackpad
• 5 MP Camera with Flash and Auto Focus
• Blackberry Messenger
• Long Lasting Battery with 5.5 Hours of Talk Time
• Great Connectivity Features: 3G, Wi-Fi, GPS and Bluetooth
• Memorry of 8GB and Expandable up to 32GB
• Simultaneous voice and data
• Tethered modem

Technical Specifications:

Operating System	New Blackberry 6 OS
Network	Quad-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE networks: 850/900/1800/1900MHz Tri-band 3G UMTS networks: 2100/1900/850/800 MHz
Display	3.2” HVGA+ touch screen (480x360) Light-sensing and proximity detecting screen
Camera	5 MP camera Flash Auto Focus Image Stabilisation VGA ( 640 x 480) Video Recording
Battery	1300 mAh Li-Ion Battery Talk Time up to 5.5 Hours Stand By Time up to 18 Days Music Playback of 30 Hours Video Playback of 6 Hours
Memory	512 MB flash memory / 512 MB SDRAM 4 GB eMMC + 4 GB media card included Expandable memory – support for microSD card up to 32 GB
Connectivity	Wi-Fi  802.11 b/g/n Bluetooth V2.1 + EDR Built in GPS Functionality
Multimedia	3.5 mm audio jack Windows Media DRM 10 for music & video Video format support: MPEG4, H.263, H.264, WMV3 Audio format support: MP3, AMR-NB, AAC-LC, AAC+, eAAC+, WMA, WMV, Flac, Ogg Vorbis

Price and Availability in India:

Blackberry Torch 9800 Smartphone is now available in India at a Price of Rs.35,000

BlackBerry assures India on access to services

BlackBerry's Canadian maker will provide India with technical solutions next week to help read its encrypted data that New Delhi sees as a security threat, a senior government source has said.

The assurance raised hopes that India might withdraw its threat to ban messenger and encrypted email.

India has given Research In Motion, the maker of the popular BlackBerry smartphone, until August 31 to comply with a request to gain access to encrypted corporate email and messaging services or those services will be shut.

RIM is under pressure from governments around the world to give access to its codes. Other firms have also faced scrutiny since officials intensified their fight against Islamic militants misusing mobile devices.

"They have assured that they will come with some technical solution for messenger and enterprise mail next week," the government source said. "Our technical team will evaluate if it works."

The source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, also said the government had concerns over Internet telephony and would take it up with companies such as Skype.

Earlier in the day, BlackBerry officials met Indian authorities, now pledged to go after firms, including Google, to keep the world's fastest growing mobile phone market safe from militants and cyber spying.

After the meeting, Robert Crow, a vice president at BlackBerry, expressed optimism that the company would resolve India's worries. "It is a step in a long journey," he said.

Pakistani-based militants used mobile and satellite phones in the attacks on Mumbai in 2008, which killed 166 people. The militants were suspected of using Internet telephony, which is widely available.

The authorities have for more than a year been looking at Google's messaging, Skype and other providers of communication in India.

"Wherever there is a concern on grounds of national security the government will want access and every country has a right to lawful interference," a senior interior security official, who declined to be identified, told Reuters.

STRICT IMPORT RULES

India has already forced mobile phone operators, including leading Bharti Airtel, to follow strict import rules when buying telecoms network equipment.

Chinese manufacturers Huawei Technologies and ZTE Corp have been temporarily prevented from shipping network equipment for fears of embedded spyware.

"We have concerns regarding these (Google and Skype) services on grounds of national security and all those services which cannot be put to lawful interference," the same source said.

India's demands follow a deal with Saudi Arabia, where a source said RIM agreed to give authorities codes for BlackBerry Messenger users. The United Arab Emirates, Lebanon and Algeria also seek access.

How much brinkmanship is involved remains to be seen. Not one country recently threatening to ban BlackBerry corporate email or messaging services has carried through with the threat.

"We don't expect a ban actually. There will be some solution before the deadline," said a senior official with a mobile phone operator in India, who did not want to be identified.

Officials say RIM had for a time proposed tracking emails without sharing encryption details, but that was not enough.

India, like other countries, has been criticised for seeking blanket restrictions while mobile phone operators say they have to offer consumers privacy and secure communications.

India is also keen to retain its position as one of the world's fastest growing IT nations.

Competitors have eaten into RIM's once-dominant share of the North American smartphone market, pushing the company to look to places like India and Saudi Arabia for growth.

A shutdown would hit one million users in India out of the smartphone's 41 million users, allowing them to use the devices only for calls and Internet browing.

Saudi Blackberry service resumes

Blackberry services have been restored in Saudi Arabia, reports say.

A ban on the use of the device for sending and receiving messages was due to have come into force.

And locals said the handsets had stopped working for four hours.

But there is no sign yet that the ban has been lifted. Earlier reports that Blackberry manufacturers RIM (Research in Motion) had found a solution to security issues raised by local authorities cannot be confirmed.

The authorities object to the devices because they operate an encrypted message service meaning that communication from Blackberry devices cannot be monitored.

The BBC's Ben Thompson, in Dubai, said that there are conflicting reports about why the handsets are currently working again.

"Services are up and running again across the country," he confirmed.

"But inevitably, that raises more questions than it answers. If RIM did grant Saudi Arabia access to its security codes, other countries in the region would now expect the same.

"The UAE - which is threatening its own ban by October alongside Algeria, Indonesia and India would all be expecting similar deals."

Dubai-based British businessman Nazar Musa said that had been a lot of local interest in the issue.

"There's been an awful lot of discussion and debate about the Blackberry issue," he told BBC News.

"Clearly as a centre of regional business and with links and ties to the rest of the world the use of Blackberry services is vital."

He added that there had been "limited concern" expressed on chat rooms about the desire of the authorities to access the data itself.

RIM has been contacted by the BBC.

In a statement earlier this week a spokesperson for the company said that the devices were deliberately designed to prevent anybody from accessing individual message data, which is stored on servers in Canada.

"RIM cannot accommodate any request for a copy of a customer's encryption key, since at no time does RIM, or any wireless network operator or any third party, ever possess a copy of the key."

Source

Blackberry Torch announced with BB OS 6

RIM and AT&T have taken the wraps off of the latest Blackberry device to hit the market, the Torch. The device represents a new look for RIM who is debuting a new slider format for its popular Blackberry OS.

The Torch, aka 9800, is now live on AT&T’s website and allows you to sign up notifications for when the device will become available. The device will feature a full QWERTY Keyboard, 802.11n support, 4GB of onboard storage, 512MB of RAM and ROM, quad band 3G radio, touch screen 480 x 360 display, WiFi, GPS, (unnamed)624 Mhz processor and BB OS 6. The debut of BB OS 6 represents the newest platform that offers modest upgrades to help it better compete with Android and iOS 4.

Blackberry is known for its rock solid platforms and its unrivaled email support. It is used in big businesses across the world but has recently begun moving into the consumer market. Among other features on the device, BB OS 6 will finally bring a new webkit browser to replace the archaic blackberry browser.

The device will retail for $199.99 on a two year contract.   

How To Update BlackBerry Device Software

Microsoft has posted step by step instructions on how you can upgrade your BlackBerry SmartPhone that has version 4.3 of the device software to a later version.

These are instructions to update a BlackBerry Smartphone containing device software version 4.3 to a later version. In order to upgrade the Smartphone in an enterprise setting, you will need to do so from your desktop PC running the BlackBerry Desktop Software, have Microsoft Outlook running, and connect the Smartphone to your PC via the USB cable. You cannot do the upgrade using Exchange Outlook Web Access (OWA) from your PC browser.

System Requirements

• Supported Operating Systems: Windows 7; Windows Mobile 5.0 software for Smartphone; Windows Mobile 6; Windows Vista; Windows XP

The file is a Microsoft Word document. Users who do not have Microsoft Word can view this document through the downloadable Word Viewer.

I tried to do some research and figure out why Microsoft has this particular device and software version singled out on their download site with step by step instructions but have drawn a complete blank.  Any chance one of you know why they have this available? Maybe there was some specific issue between Windows and this software that was causing problems?

Please comment if you have an idea about this. I have never owned a BlackBerry so I am really unfamiliar with the software.

BlackBerry 4.3 Upgrade Instructions

iPhone apps way more popular than Blackberry apps

In the smartphone market RIM's Blackberry is number one with Apple's iPhone in a distant second place. But in the app world Apple is leading the way. Currently the iPhone app store gets 10 to 20 times more downloads per day over the Blackberry app store.

Business Insider says that the Blackberry App World has 20 million registered users and nearly 1 million apps downloaded daily according to RIM co-CEO Jim Balsillie. Where Apple has anywhere between 10 to 20 million app downloads per day.

Currently the top free app in the Blackberry App World is RIM's own Blackberry Messenger followed by a text to speech application that can read your text messages and emails. Where the top free apps right now in iTunes are Spill Da' Milk and Little Metal Ball. The top two Blackberry apps are boring but the top iPhone apps are fun and interactive. If RIM wants to gain shares in their app store they need to make the Blackberry more accessible to gaming which seems to be what users want.

New Blackberry Bold 9650 and Pearl 3G announced early

According to Engadget, Research in Motion (RIM) was set to announce two new phones today. The two handsets were supposed to be the big announcement WES 2010, RIM's Blackberry expo.

The two leaked handsets are the Blackberry Bold 9650 and the Blackberry Pearl 3G. The Bold has 802.11 b/g WIFI capabilities, a 3.2 megapixel camera and operates on CDMA networks in the US with capabilities to work on UMTS/HSPDA while abroad. The Pearl has a 3.2 megapixel camera, 802.11n WIFI, GPS and triband HSDPA data with quadband GSM / EDGE.

The Bold looks to be replacing the Tour line of phones which allowed you to use your phone outside of the United States. They've also eliminated the trackball on their phones which seems to be the trend on the new Blackberry devices.

BlackBerry Storm2 Launched

Research In Motion (RIM) has announced the launch of the BlackBerry Storm2 smartphone with BlackBerry OS 5 in India.

“Powered with the latest SurePress technology and BlackBerry OS 5,  the new BlackBerry Storm2 offers customers a powerful and unique mix of advanced communications and multimedia features in a smoothly designed smartphone that will appeal to both consumers and business professionals,” said Frenny Bawa, Managing Director, India, Research In Motion.

The BlackBerry Storm2 smartphone introduces a new SurePress technology based on an electronic system that provides the user with tactile feedback when the touch-screen is pressed. The new system responds equally to gentle pressure applied anywhere on the surface of the screen and makes clicking the display practically effortless. Typing on the smartphone's virtual keyboards is easier, more comfortable and more accurate. The new SurePress technology also allows the user to type a letter with one thumb even while their other thumb may still be touching or resting on another letter, enabling faster typing and multi-key actions such as Shift or Alt -key combinations.

Features include:

• Smooth design and premium finish with sloped edges, chrome accents, glass lens and stainless steel backplate
• Large 3.25”, high resolution 360 x 480 display at 184 ppi
• Capacitive touch-screen with integrated functions (Send, End, Menu, Escape) and new SurePress technology that makes clicking the display practically effortless
• Global connectivity support: UMTS/HSPA (2100Mhz), quad-band EDGE/GPRS/GSM and Wi-Fi (802.11 b/g) networks
• 3.2 MP camera with variable zoom, autofocus, flash and video recording
• 2 GB of onboard memory storage and a microSD/SDHD memory card slot that supports up to 16 GB
• Background noise suppression technology
• Loud distortion-free speakerphone
• Face detection (proximity sensor)
• Media player for videos, pictures and music
• BlackBerry Desktop Manager for both PCs and Macs
• BlackBerry Media Sync for easily syncing iTunes and Windows Media Player music with the smartphone
• 3.5 mm stereo headset jack and dedicated volume controls
• Bluetooth (2.1) with support for Secure Simple Pairing, hands-free headsets, stereo headsets, car kits and other Bluetooth peripherals
• Built-in GPS for maps and other location-based applications, as well as photo geotagging
• Access to BlackBerry App World
• BlackBerry Internet Service and BlackBerry Enterprise Server support
• Removable, rechargeable 1400 mAhr battery
• BlackBerry Browser improved with faster JavaScript and CSS processing as well as support for Gears and BlackBerry Widgets

The BlackBerry Storm2 will be available in the Indian market for Rs. 31,990.

RIM buys out Viigo

Although the timing of the announcement is a bit of a surprise given that RIM’s Wireless Enterprise Symposium kicks off in one month’s time, Mark Ruddock, CEO of popular BlackBerry development firm Viigo, announced Friday afternoon that his firm has been acquired by BlackBerry maker Research In Motion. Viigo, whose self-titled application is easily one of the most popular applications for BlackBerry, started out life as an RSS reader but made big waves in 2008 when it began introducing new features to the application such as the ability to track sports scores, weather, movie times, stock performance, flight information and notifications, podcasts and more. Viigo has historically developed for Windows Mobile, although it is unclear whether or not this will continue in the wake of the acquisition. But if Ruddock’s failure in his note to mention any future plans for Windows Mobile is any sign of things to come, then things aren’t looking so rosy for any platform that isn’t in the best interest of BlackBerry.

BlackBerry Desktop Software 5.0.1 Available for Download

Research in Motion has recently updated the BlackBerry Desktop Software solution the owners of a BlackBerry device can use for connecting their handsets to a Windows-based computer. The application offers users a set of tools for syncing their smartphones with personal and enterprise email accounts, calendars and more, and now a series of enhancements are available for them.

The BlackBerry Desktop Software 5.0.1 release comes with various new features, including some related to synchronization, IP modem, application loader, user interface and more. The software comes with support for new languages, including Greek and Hebrew, as well as for the new Windows 7 OS from Microsoft, and for additional devices, including the BlackBerry Bold 9700, BlackBerry Storm2 9520 and the BlackBerry Storm2 9550.

The list of new features also includes:
· Support for new fields on the address book for your device
· Enhancements to the synchronization process for organizer data
· User interface for using your device as an IP modem
· Back up and restore secure services on your device while loading software
· Moved link to check for BlackBerry Desktop Manager updates to the Help menu

Some of the issues present in the previous release of the application have been resolved, including an error that occurred when one used the Application Loader from a remote machine, or a bug that prevented users from backing up their on-board device memory if there were no other computer databases, which was present in the Advanced section for Backup and Restore.

Among the other fixes that arrived with the new release, we can count one for the Bluetooth connection in Windows Vista, one that displayed the model number as 9550 when the BlackBerry Storm2 9520 Smartphone was connected, as well as a bug that prevented the synchronization of data in the Address Book for Microsoft Outlook for languages with accented characters or extended character sets, and other fixes more.

Amazon Releases "Kindle for BlackBerry"

Kindle for BlackBerry - Get the best reading experience available on your BlackBerry. 

No Kindle required!

• Access your Kindle books even if you don't have your Kindle with you

• Automatically synchronizes your last page read and annotations between devices with Whispersync

• Create bookmarks and view the annotations you created on your Kindle, computer, or other Kindle-compatible mobile device

Shop for Books in the Kindle Store:

• Search and browse more than 400,000 books, including 101 of 112 New York Times Best Sellers.

• Find New York Times Best Sellers and new releases for $9.99, unless marked otherwise

• Get free book samples - read the first chapter for free before you decide to buy

• Books you purchase can also be read on a Kindle, computer, or other Kindle-compatible mobile device

• Kindle newspapers, magazines, and blogs are not currently available for Kindle for BlackBerry

• Kindle for BlackBerry is available to U.S. customers only

Download --> Type "amazon.com/kindlebb" into your BlackBerry Browser

NOTE - Compatible Devices:

• Bold 9000  & 9700

• Curve 8520 & 8900

• Storm 9530 & 9550

• Tour 9630

BlackBerry Curve 8520

General

2G Network: GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
Announced: 2009, July
Status: Available. Released 2009, August

Size

Dimensions: 109 x 60 x 13.9 mm
Weight: 106 g

Display

Type: TFT, 65K colors
Size: 320 x 240 pixels, 2.46 inches
- Full QWERTY keyboard
- Touch-sensitive optical trackpad

Sound

Alert types: Vibration; Downloadable polyphonic, MP3 ringtones
Speakerphone: Yes
- Dedicated music keys
- 3.5 mm audio jack

Memory

Phonebook: Practically unlimited entries and fields, Photocall
Call records: Yes
Internal: 256 MB
Card slot: microSD, up to 32GB

Data

GPRS: Class 10 (4+1/3+2 slots), 32 – 48 kbps
EDGE: Class 10, 236.8 kbps
3G: No
WLAN: Wi-Fi 802.11b/g
Bluetooth: Yes, v2.0 with A2DP
Infrared port: No
USB: Yes, microUSB

Camera

Primary: 2 MP, 1600×1200 pixels
Video: Yes, QVGA
Secondary: No

Features

OS: BlackBerry OS
CPU: 512MHz processor
Messaging: SMS, MMS, Email, IM
Browser: HTML
Radio: No
Games: Yes + downloadable
Colors: Black
GPS: No
Java: Yes
- MP3/eAAC+/WMA/WAV player
- MP4/H.263/H.264/WMV player
- Organizer
- Voice memo/dial

Battery

Standard battery, Li-Ion 1150 mAh
Stand-by: Up to 408 h
Talk time: Up to 4 h 30 min

BlackBerry Tour 9630

General

2G Network: GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G Network: HSDPA 2100, CDMA/EVDO Rev A 800/1900
Announced: 2009, July
Status: Available. Released 2009, July

Size

Dimensions: 112 x 62 x 14.2 mm
Weight: 130 g

Display

Type: 65K colors
Size: 480 x 360 pixels, 2.4 inches
- QWERTY keyboard
- Trackball navigation

Sound

Alert types: Vibration, MP3 ringtones
Speakerphone: Yes
- 3.5 mm audio jack

Memory

Phonebook: Practically unlimited entries and fields, Photocall
Call records: Yes
Internal: 256 MB
Card slot: microSD (TransFlash) up to 8GB

Data

GPRS: Class 10 (4+1/3+2 slots), 32 – 48 kbps
EDGE: Class 10, 236.8 kbps
3G: HSDPA; HSUPA
WLAN: No
Bluetooth: Yes, v2.0 with A2DP
Infrared port: No
USB: Yes, microUSB v2.0

Camera

Primary: 3.15 MP, 2048×1536 pixels, autofocus, LED flash
Features: Geo-tagging
Video: Yes
Secondary: No

Features

OS: BlackBerry OS
Messaging: SMS, MMS, Email, IM
Browser: HTML
Radio: No
Games: Yes + downloadable
Colors: Black
GPS: Yes, with A-GPS support, BlackBerry Maps
Java: Yes
- BlackBerry maps
- Document editor (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, PDF)
- MP3/WMA/eAAC+/WAV player
- MP4/WMV/H.263/H.264 player
- Organizer
- Voice memo

Battery

Standard battery, Li-Ion 1400 mAh
Stand-by: Up to 336 h
Talk time: Up to 5 h

BlackBerry Storm 2 9520

General

2G Network: GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G Network: HSDPA 2100
Announced: 2009, October
Status: Available. Released 2009, November

Size

Dimensions: 112.5 x 62.2 x 14 mm
Weight: 160 g

Display

Type: TFT capacitive touchscreen, 65K colors
Size: 480 x 360 pixels, 3.25 inches
- Accelerometer sensor for auto-rotate

Sound

Alert types: Vibration; MP3 ringtones
Speakerphone: Yes
- 3.5 mm audio jack

Memory

Phonebook: Practically unlimited entries and fields, Photocall
Call records: Yes
Internal: 2 GB
Card slot: microSD (TransFlash) up to 16GB

Data

GPRS: Class 10 (4+1/3+2 slots), 32 – 48 kbps
EDGE: Class 10, 236.8 kbps
3G: HSDPA, 7.2 Mbps; HSUPA
WLAN: Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g
Bluetooth: Yes, v2.1 with A2DP
Infrared port: No
USB: Yes, microUSB v2.0

Camera

Primary: 3.15 MP, 2048×1536 pixels, autofocus, LED flash
Features: Geo-tagging, image stabilization
Video: Yes

Features

OS: BlackBerry OS
Messaging: SMS, MMS, Email, IM
Browser: HTML
Radio: No
Games: Yes + downloadable
Colors: Black
GPS: Yes, with A-GPS support
Java: Yes
- BlackBerry maps
- Document editor (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, PDF)
- MP3/WMA/AAC+ player
- MP4/H.264/H.263/WMV player
- Organizer
- Voice memo/dial

Battery

Standard battery, Li-Ion 1400 mAh
Stand-by: Up to 305 h (2G) / Up to 280 h (3G)
Talk time: Up to 5 h (2G) / Up to 6 h (3G)

BlackBerry Bold 9700

 

General

2G Network: GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G Network: HSDPA 850 / 1900 / 2100, HSDPA 1700 / 2100 / 900
Announced: 2009, October
Status: Available. Released 2009, November

Size

Dimensions: 109 x 60 x 14 mm
Weight: 122 g

Display

Type: TFT, 65K colors
Size: 480 x 360 pixels, 2.44 inches
- Full QWERTY keyboard
- Touch-sensitive optical trackpad

Sound

Alert types: Vibration, MP3 ringtones
Speakerphone: Yes
- 3.5 mm audio jack

Memory

Phonebook: Practically unlimited entries and fields, Photocall
Call records: Yes
Internal: 256MB storage, 128 MB RAM
Card slot: microSD, up to 16GB, 2GB included

Data

GPRS: Class 10 (4+1/3+2 slots), 32 – 48 kbps
EDGE: Class 10, 236.8 kbps
3G: HSDPA, 3.6 Mbps
WLAN: Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g, UMA
Bluetooth: Yes, v2.1 with A2DP
Infrared port: No
USB: Yes, microUSB v2.0

Camera

Primary: 3.15 MP, 2048×1536 pixels, autofocus, LED flash
Features: Image stabilization
Video: Yes

Features

OS: BlackBerry OS; 5.0
CPU: 624 MHz processor
Messaging: SMS, MMS, Email, IM
Browser: HTML
Radio: No
Games: Yes + downloadable
Colors: Black
GPS: Yes, with A-GPS support
Java: Yes, MIDP 2.0
- BlackBerry maps
- Document editor (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, PDF)
- Media player MP3/WMA/AAC+
- Video player DivX/WMV/XviD/3gp
- Organizer
- Voice memo/dial

Battery

Standard battery, Li-Ion 1500 mAh
Stand-by: Up to 408 h
Talk time: Up to 6 h