RIM Plans to Cut 12% of its Workforce (May,2012)

Since Thorsten Heins became the new CEO, he has been very clear his plans to restructure RIM and practically start new, with new people and new ideas. We’ve seen how many high executives have already been replaced so it shouldn’t be a surprise for anyone to know that Research in Motion is planning a huge restructuring that may result in cutting 2,000 jobs, that’s 12% of the company’s workforce. These will be announced sometime around June 1st. As sad as it is to see people lose their jobs, we have to admit that it opens up new doors for RIM to reach those new goals they have established.via Business Insider

Talk Clock App Keeps Track of Talk Durations and More (May,2012)

If you’ve ever participated in a conference, whether you were invited to or part of the event, you probably know how sometimes it can be hard for the person speaking to keep track of time and make sure everything goes as scheduled. Talk Clock addresses this problem by helping you keep track of talk duration and more. These are some of the features:Timer: Keep track of the time left for each talkDisplay Messages: Show big messages to the speaker (e.g. “GO FASTER”)Raffler: Use this tool to do fun raffles, choosing a range and making the process more exciting with an animationTalk Clock is now available in the App World for only $1.99.

WebMobi Announces New Mobile HTML5 App Creation Platform for BlackBerry Devices (May,2012)

WebMobi has announced the release of their HTML5 App Creation Platform for BlackBerry devices. Developers can quickly create mobile apps for BlackBerry smartphones and BlackBerry PlayBook with these components, boosting their apps audience. These are some of the components:Pre-build components including RSS feeds, general, social media and more.Developer components, where the developer can create their own UI in HTML5, jQuery Mobile or Cordova.WYSIWYG Designer component to create custom HTML5 content.Importing Custom Themes built with JQuery Mobile Theme-roller.For more info check out the press release below.Press ReleasePalo Alto, CA (PRWEB) May 25, 2012WebMobi, a cloud-based HTML5 cross-platform mobile app creation company, today launched support for the BlackBerry® platform for business and enterprises users.WebMobi enables anyone to create mobile apps that are backed by cloud services. BlackBerry app developers can quickly create their mobile apps for BlackBerry® PlayBook™ tablets and BlackBerry® smartphones with WebMobi components, exposing their apps to an even bigger audience.As it becomes increasingly crucial that businesses establish an effective mobile presence in 2012, WebMobi strives to help businesses across all verticals to enhance their mobile experiences by offering a single cross-platform solution that enables users to create compelling mobile web and native apps that can be deployed across all major mobile devices rapidly, giving businesses full control over their mobile content.WebMobi offers developers and designers within enterprises and businesses the ability to rapidly create mobile apps. The following components are available in the most recent release of WebMobi.1) Pre-build components including RSS feeds, general, social media and more.
2) Developer components, where the developer can create their own UI in HTML5, jQuery Mobile or Cordova.
3) WYSIWYG Designer component to create custom HTML5 content.
4) Importing Custom Themes built with JQuery Mobile Theme-roller.About WebMobi
Founded in 2011, WebMobi is a cloud-based SaaS platform that aims to provide its users with a competitive advantage when enhancing mobile presence. With its scalable cross-platform application development and user-friendly interface, WebMobi provides a fully integrated single solution that allows both consumers and enterprises to easily create and deploy customized mobile applications to engage their audiences. For more information, visit www.webmobi.com.The BlackBerry and RIM families of related marks, images and symbols are the exclusive properties and trademarks of Research In Motion Limited.

RIM Patent Shows BlackBerry Pressure Sensitive Unlock Feature (May,2012)

Another patent filing from RIM has come to light. This one shows what seems to be a pressure sensitive touchscreen that could recognize certain patterns to unlock your device. We don’t know for sure what it really is, but we might end up seeing this when BB10 comes. What do you guys think? Let us know in the comments below!via Engadget

How to use BlackBerry Parental Controls (May,2012)

Originally appeared from Ty W. on BlackBerry Help Blog.It’s no secret that BlackBerry® smartphones are known for their security. It’s baked deep into our BlackBerry OS DNA, and many features of the BlackBerry smartphone experience can be customized and managed by BlackBerry® Enterprise Servers and their administrators.You might not think it obvious, but one segment of customers that can benefit from BlackBerry security are teens â€" they may even be children â€" with phones provided by their parents or guardian. You can see the parallels here with the Enterprise market â€" IT is now mom, and the Enterprise user is now little Jimmy.If you provide a BlackBerry smartphone to a teen or child, you may want to set limits on what features or services your child has access to. We see there’s an opportunity here for us to leverage our expertise in security and manageability to help parents.With this in mind, we developed Parental Controls, which is included in the BlackBerry® 7.1 OS that’s being rolled out with our new BlackBerry® Curveâ„¢ smartphones (9320 and 9220). Parental Controls is an integrated feature that provides parents and guardians simple options to help them protect their children by restricting access to specific functions, features and applications. A free download of Parental Controls will be made available for BlackBerry® 7.0 OS and BlackBerry® 6 OS next month; and for BlackBerry® Device Software 5.0 shortly after through the BlackBerry App Worldâ„¢ storefront.A couple examples of the restrictions you can set by going to Options -> Security -> Parental Controls are:Camera â€" A control to disable use of the camera for both still pictures and video. Upon attempting to launch the Camera application, the user would be provided with the message “Camera has been blocked.”Phone â€" Limit the phone to receive calls only from phone numbers that exist in the Contacts application. This feature will block incoming phone calls from unknown callers.For more information on all the available Parental Controls settings, check out the official user guide.Research In Motion® (RIM®) is active in a variety of international organizations dedicated to making the Internet a safer place for children. For additional tips to support your child on how to use their BlackBerry smartphone safely and responsibly, take a look at this guide from the UK Safer Internet Centre.In addition to Parental Controls, BlackBerry App World also offers content rating and filtering options for applications based on the CTIA Wireless Association’s “Guidelines for App Content Classification and Ratings”. To take advantage of this, download the latest version of BlackBerry App World.

Official: BlackBerry Bold 9900 OS 7.1.0.437 from China Unicom (May,2012)

It was only a few days ago when we told you about a new OS for the Bold 9900, and yet here we are again! OS 7.1.0.437 is now available fordownload from China Unicom. No word on what’s new in this update. Nonetheless, let us know if you find anything nice in this build.Download BlackBerry Bold 9900 OS 7.1.0.437 from China UnicomMake sure you join our community to share your thoughts on this!How to: load an OS on your BlackBerry

All BlackBerry 7 Devices Gain U.S. Department of Defense Approval (May,2012)

RIM let us know that all BlackBerry 7 smartphones models running OS 7.0 and OS 7.1 have been approved for use on the United States Deparment of Defense networks. The approval’s timing has been perfect since it coincides with the BlackBerry Trade-up/Trade-in Program to help you updgrade from your old BlackBerry smartphone. For more info on the program visit the trade-up/trade-in program site.

BBM Challenge Council Tests Browser with Browser Speed Modulator (May,2012)

The guys from College Humor, Amir and Streeter, took on a challenge to prove wrong the myth that the BlackBerry browser is slow. BBM Challenge Council, along with the help of Dax Shepard, take on a the BlackBerry Bold 9900 browser through a series of tests using Browser Speed Modulator. The video is very entertaining and also kind of funny. Check out the video below and head over to the BBM Challenge website for more! On a BlackBerry? Click here for mobile video view

PictureWall: a new HTML5 sample on Github (May,2012)

A new HTML5 sample has been added to Github. PictureWall a BlackBerry WebWorks application that controls a “wall” tiled with BlackBerry PlayBook tablet. The application’s pictures are delivered from a server running nodeJS and pushed to the PlayBook using socket.io. Each tablet knows its position in the wall and it can be used to show a 3 x 3 wall of PlayBooks using 9 different images or a single image split into 9.You can get the sample from the BlackBerry Github repository. Play around with it and let us know, or better yet, show us what you make of it!via BB Dev Blog

RIM Halts ‘SMS 2.0′, Puts BBM on the Back-burner, says WSJ (May,2012)

Many of us rely on BBM to perform our daily tasks. From teenagers to security professinals, RIM’s very famous messaging client has been a very important way of communicating with others. But as RIM’s stock went down a while back with the 3 day outage, some of its users moved to other platforms and so the number of BBM users decreased. Some worry that the popularity of the popular messaging tool will fade away.For a while now we’ve been hearing rumors about BBM possibily coming to other platforms, we even reported on some leaked screenshots of BBM supposedly running on Android. The project was unofficially called by RIM as “SMS 2.0″. WSJ says:Executives came up with a specific BBM strategy that aimed to open up RIM’s proprietary network to other smartphone markers and carriers and license BBM as a service that could be used on a wide variety of devices including iPhones and Android phones, according to these people. The project was unofficially called “SMS 2.0″ within the company, these people said.While some people within the company said this could be a good idea that would drive more users into BlackBerry and help make the company stay relevant, others thought this might encourage BlackBerry users to move on to another platform. There haven’t been more news on this project since.We do know that BlackBerry Messenger is still part of their plans since they have already said BBM will be in the upcoming BB10 platform, and the new BlackBerry Curve 9320 and 9220 have their own BBM dedicated key, but we don’t know what RIM holds for BBM’s future. What would you like to see next in BBM? Let us know in the comments below!via WSJ

Twitter for BlackBerry Version 3.1 Now Available in Beta Zone (May,2012)

A new version of Twitter for BlackBerry has been released today in the BlackBerry Beta Zone. New features of Twitter for BlackBerry smartphones 3.1 include:Updated Tweet Details ScreenUndo RetweetRight to Left Language SupportAdditional Languages – Finnish, Arabic & HebrewIf you’re a member of the Beta Zone then click here to download Twitter for BlackBerry 3.1. Not a member yet? Then what are you waiting for! Head over to blackberry.com/beta to sign up.

Prank Cam – Wicked Camera App for BlackBerry (May,2012)

Want to take some fun pictures of your friends to share with them? PrankCam is the app for you! This app lets you take photos with your BlackBerry and add cool and funny artifacts to the photos. The application is BBM connected and you can also download additional artifact packs. Prank Cam is now available in App World and the best part is, it’s absolutely free.Download Prank Cam from App World >>

BlackBerry Social Media Monitoring and App Blocking Introduced in Mobile Spy v6.0 (May,2012)

Retina-X Studios have announced their Mobile Spy v6.0 monitoring software for BlackBerry smartphones. This system silently records smartphone user activity, which you can use with your children or employees. Activity logs can be viewed real time online, and some other features include:Monitoring SMS text messagesActual GPS locationsCall informationPhotos taken with phoneAbility to view 9 types of social media messengers such as Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp, BBM, Gtalk, Twitter and more.This app lets you have full access to what your children or employees are doing with their BlackBerry smartphone. For more info on the new version of Mobile Spy for BlackBerry head over to mobile-spy.com.Press ReleaseJACKSONVILLE, Fla., May 23, 2012 — Continuing its efforts to keep children safe on their computers, tablets and smartphones, Retina-X Studios® announced today the sixth generation of Mobile Spy® monitoring software for BlackBerry smartphones. The award-winning system has been fully overhauled to include many new social media recording features and application blocking.Mobile Spy, available across five different smartphone platforms, silently records smartphone user activity of children or employees. Logs are viewable online in real time. Standard features include monitoring of entire SMS text messages, actual GPS locations, call information and photos taken on the phone. Logs can be reviewed from any web browser inside a secure online control panel.Adding the ability to view nine types of Social Media messengers allows the user to view conversations which happen in Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp Messenger, BlackBerry Messenger, BlackBerry PIN Messenger, GTalk, Twitter and others. This gives the user the ability to make sure their employees are not sharing confidential material or that their children aren\’t communicating with forbidden individuals using the BlackBerry.Users can now view a list of applications installed to the BlackBerry and forcibly block any app remotely. Gmail App email messages and YouTube videos played are also now recorded. Another new feature is the Phone Usage logs, which show how much time the child or employee spends on each activity they perform. The software can also be uninstalled remotely.Mobile Spy offers the industry\’s only LIVE Control Panel, which allows the user to instantly view the BlackBerry phone\’s screen and a map of the current GPS location. This optional feature also allows users to perform administration commands instantly such as having logs emailed to their email address, initiating a silent call or SMS from the device or putting the device in lockdown.When interviewed by the South Florida Sun-Sentinel, Mae Belgrave, a Mobile Spy user, stated \”You think you know your kids, but they are totally different people when they\’re around their friends. So, you just worry about them, and the cell phone gives them so much freedom these days.\” Belgrave said. \”She\’s responsible. We just wanted to take that extra precaution.\”James Johns, CEO of Retina-X Studios, had this to say: \”Technology can be dangerous in the hands of a teenager. What if a stranger is trying to take advantage of them on Facebook? Are they sending naughty photos and deleting them afterward? The advantages of knowing the answers are far better than the damages which can be caused by not knowing at all.\”Mobile Spy runs on all modern smartphones, including Android, iPhone, BlackBerry, Symbian and Windows Mobile operating systems. The new version of Mobile Spy can be found at http://www.mobile-spy.com.About Retina-X Studios, LLC: RXS designs and develops tools that let users monitor their computers, tablets and smartphones. Mobile Spy has been mentioned by numerous media outlets worldwide. Media Contact: Craig Thompson at 888-475-5345 or 904-696-1438.###

RIM’s Head of Global Sales Resigns (May,2012)

Another high loss for BlackBerry maker today. Research in Motion’s Head of Global Sales, Patrick Spence, has resigned from the company to work in a different industry. Spence started working for RIM in 1998, that’s 14 years ago and was one of the most important, high-profile roles in the company. A RIM spokesperson confirmed this and said:“I can confirm that Patrick Spence, Head of Global Sales for Research In Motion, has resigned following 14 years of service. Patrick will be taking on a leadership position in a different industry. The sales function will report directly into Kristian Tear, our newly appointed COO when he starts this summer. In the interim, the sales function will report to [CEO] Thorsten Heins.”Though it’s a loss, we can’t help but think that this could turn out to be good for RIM and the new road they are now taking. What do you guys think?via WSJ

BlackBerry 10 Jam World Tour Registrations Open (May,2012)

If you didn’t get a chance to get a Dev Alpha device at BlackBerry 10 Jam, then this is your chance! Registrations for BlackBerry 10 Jam World Tour are now open for North America and Europe, dates for Latin American haven’t been announced yet and Asia dates are up, but registration isn’t open. If you’re a developer you will get a chance to get your Dev Alpha to test your apps on, but remember there’s a limited supply and only dev’s will get one.Those of you planning to attend to the event can visit blackberryjamworldtour.com/register to register!

Facebook for BlackBerry Version 3.1.0.11 Now Available in Beta Zone (May,2012)

A new version of Facebook for BlackBerry has been released in the BlackBerry Beta Zone and is now available for download. The following issues have been fixed and implemented in Facebok for BlackBerry smartphones version 3.1.0.11:Delete Prior Messages in Inbox leads to uncaught exceptionUnable to views commentsWith Wi-Fi only connection on BIS SN devices user should be able to view photosLikes count incorrect in Likes list if launched from stagnant comment screenCan not cancel selection via the ‘back’ buttonUser photos mixed in FB message viewGroup name appears in the group wallGroup Support : refresh of group wall is missing refresh animationBad error message when posting on a Group without permissionGroups are not translated in HindiFinnish -Some missed translations on the Groups pagesAccessibility: Status updates are not being readWiLAN event is not being processed correctly when radio is low or changedRemoval of phone number request featureUpdate help URLs for Facebook 3.1Parser Error when I create comment with many returns between linesRemove welcome notification and messageNo ID for all the buttons in FacebookGCM icons are cutoff on low res devicesIf you’re a member of the Beta Zone click here to download Facebook 3.1.0.11. Not a member yet? Head over to blackberrycom/beta and sign up!

BlackBerry Sales in Indonesia Not Slowing Down (May,2012)

Indonesia’s love for BlackBerry is not slowing down! BlackBerry users have only been increasing and they are expected to rise with operators competition and deals. Telkomsel, the biggest mobile phone operator in Indonesia, had 3.5 million BlackBerry users and is aiming for 5 million this year, said Head of Corporate Communications Ricardo Indra. The country’s second-biggest operator, Indosat, has 1.5 million BlackBerry users.Operators are competing and launching deals and bargains to make BlackBerrys affordable and more accesible to their customers. “We hope with this affordable rate, more people will enjoy Indosat’s BlackBerry services,” said Andrini Novie Hastuti, head of marketing at the Indosat.RIM predicts that by the year 2015 Indonesia would have 9.1 million BlackBerry users. Analysts expect that the release of the new Curve 9220 will help boost the actual sales.via Jakarta Globe

BlackBerry Curve 9220 and 9320 Launched in Philippines (May,2012)

The new and latest BlackBerry Curve devices have been launched in Philippines. Globe Telecom announced that they launched the new BlackBerry Curve 9220 and 9320. Both devices are now available under their “My Super Plan”. The Curve 9320 and 9220 are social-centric smartphones that have a dedicated BBM button to quick access to BlackBerry Messenger. Check out the press release below for more info.Press ReleaseMANILA, Philippines – Research In Motion (RIM) and Globe Telecom formally launched last night the latest BlackBerry smartphones â€" the BlackBerry Curve 9220 and the BlackBerry Curve 9320.The new smartphones will be available from Globe under its My Super Plan.RIM said the new smartphones offer BlackBerry messaging and social-centric features and apps meant to allow users to share life as it happens.Hastings Singh, managing director of RIM in South Asia, said the new BlackBerry Curve smartphones are a great choice for customers who are upgrading to a smartphone for the first time as well as existing Curve customers who are looking for a step up in speed and functionality.“They provide an amazing user experience with all the unique social networking benefits needed to help Philippine customers ‘join the conversation’ and stay connected to the people and information that matter most throughout the day,”Singh said.Meanwhile, Peter Bithos, Senior Advisor for Consumer Business at Globe, said they are excited to partner with RIM anew as Globe is the first Philippine telco to bring the BlackBerry Curve 9220 and 9320 to the Philippines.The BlackBerry Curve 9220 and the BlackBerry Curve 9320 feature a new, dedicated BBM key that brings the power of RIM’s popular mobile social network up in an instant, making it easy to share experiences on BBM.The Facebook for BlackBerry and Twitter for BlackBerry apps are included, as well as Social Feeds 2.0, which allows users to post updates to multiple social applications simultaneously and capture updates from news sources (RSS), social apps and instant messaging apps all in one consolidated view.

Vodafone Ghana Launches New BlackBerry Campaign (May,2012)

Vodafone Ghana has introduced a new ‘Life Is For Connecting’ BlackBerry campaign wih a wide range of BlackBerry packages to suit all customers, among these is Ghana’s first and only ‘pay as you go’ BlackBerry service.‘Vodafone is the only network that offers a ‘pay as you go’ option on BlackBerry and offers the most exciting premium, complete and social packages at competitive prices. Having the widest range of BlackBerry handsets and packages also means that we have a service to suit everyone, so we are encouraging our BlackBerry customers to recommend our service to their family and friends, so they can share the superior experience of BlackBerry service from Vodafone.’ says Carme Bruce-Annan, Head of Corporate CommunicationsYou can find more details of this campaing in the press release below or in Vodafone retail stores.Press ReleaseGhana, Accra 20th May 2012: In a unique demonstration of customer obsession, Vodafone Ghana has introduced the widest range of BlackBerry packages to suit every customer, including Ghana’s first and only ‘pay as you go’ BlackBerry service. The ‘Life Is For Connecting’ campaign is in response to the fact that although Ghanaians use the internet in different ways, they still expect the best value.Carmen Bruce-Annan, the Head of Corporate Communications at Vodafone Ghana’s explained why customers get the best BlackBerry deals at Vodafone. ‘Vodafone is the only network that offers a ‘pay as you go’ option on BlackBerry and offers the most exciting premium, complete and social packages at competitive prices. Having the widest range of BlackBerry handsets and packages also means that we have a service to suit everyone, so we are encouraging our BlackBerry customers to recommend our service to their family and friends, so they can share the superior experience of BlackBerry service from Vodafone.’Earlier this year, Vodafone launched an internet campaign with the objective of educating Ghanaians on how the internet can empower them and transform their everyday lives. The BlackBerry campaign is the next phase in encouraging Ghanaians to connect to the internet so they can experience the benefits of the internet.Carmen Bruce-Annan explains further. ‘For our customers who use a BlackBerry, it very quickly becomes an invaluable part of their everyday life because the power of the internet keeps them constantly connected to the things that matter most to them, whether it’s work, career or family. In addition, it’s a phone that is so simple to use, so we are encouraging Vodafone customers to be a part of our internet revolution, which is all about giving Ghanaians an affordable opportunity to be all they can be through the power of the internet’. Vodafone customers can access information on the full range of BlackBerry services by dialling *500# from their handset. The Vodafone BlackBerry is competitively priced and available at all Vodafone retail shops.-Ends-For further information, please contact the Vodafone Ghana Press Information Line on 020 340 1313. You can also connect with Vodafone Ghana at: www.facebook.com/vodafoneghana or through our BB pin 2827653D.About Vodafone Ghana Vodafone Ghana is an operating company of Vodafone Group Plc., the number one telecoms brand in the world and one of the most valuable global brands with a significant presence in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia Pacific and the United States.Vodafone Ghana is a total communications solutions provider – mobile, fixed lines, internet, voice and data – and is currently unmatched in providing fixed line and internet services – the leader and the first choice for Ghanaians.

RIM Starting Worldwide First NFC Trial in Toulouse Airport (May,2012)

Press ReleaseFrance - Toulouse-Blagnac airport has worked in collaboration with Research In Motion, Orange and SITA to reach new heights in innovative customer service. The airport is launching a Near Field Communication (NFC) trial that enables passengers to pass seamlessly through the airport using just their mobile phones. In a worldwide first for an airport, using a SIM card-based safety protocol, 50 frequent flyers will take part in a trial at Toulouse airport this summer, to test the new service on their BlackBerry® smartphones.NFC technology allows easy access to a wide range of useful services. Using a wireless short-range connection a simple tap of the mobile device can validate a flight ticket, pay for goods or receive information about, for example, departure gates, flight changes and other relevant information.Arriving at T-B airport, the passenger’s mobile phone will now act as their security pass for a dedicated, priority path through the airport. Passengers on the trial will be able to access the P1 car park using their smartphone, which will hold details on the parking lot in the memory. Then, without delay, they will be granted access to Departures via the Premium Access Zone. Thereafter, they’ll be able to enjoy the comforts of the “La Croix du Sud” private lounge  without needing to
Present additional credentials. En route through the airport, passengers on the trial will receive real-time information related to their flight (schedule, departure hall, boarding gate, etc.).Using NFC technology offers many advantages: it is extremely secure; it works even when the mobile is powered off; it does not require any specific application to be loaded on to it; it is not affected by reading problems due to a scratched or dirty screen surface. Passengers using NFC can now be handled more promptly and efficiently than with any of the current boarding processes available.“With NFC technology, the mobile phone simplifies the passenger’s journey through the airport, says Jean-Michel Vernhes, CEO of Toulouse-Blagnac airport. It now becomes a personalized tool displaying the right information at the right time. It also enables passengers to better manage their journey, so they can choose how they spend their time at the airport. For T-B airport, the approach is to give to flyers access to leading-edge technologies that enhance and facilitate their experience at the airport in providing new Premium services.”Through this partnership with Research In Motion, Orange and SITA, Toulouse-Blagnac airport looks towards the future, implementing functionalities that will be displayed in the new smartphone application planned for 2013-2014.David Derrida, Director of Carrier Product Management Research In Motion:« NFC technology opens up numerous exciting possibilities for BlackBerry smartphone users. We are actively working with partners around the world to advance the development of value-added, NFC-based services and we are very excited to be involved in this trial. This new technology is already available on several BlackBerry smartphones and we expect it to revolutionize the experience of passengers at the Toulouse-Blagnac airport. »Didier Durand, Director of Contactless Mobile Services:“We are happy that our collaboration with Toulouse-Blagnac airport enables us to deploy a pragmatic and secure offer, which will soon be available for Orange customers travelling through the airport.In collaboration with Toulouse airport and an airline, our aim is to offer a complete service that includes the ticket. These contactless mobile services, which are based on the AFSCM and GSMA standards, will simplify peoples’ lives in a number of ways. Orange is working with partners in sectors such as transport, entertainment, banks, shopkeepers and service operators to create an ecosystem that will allow these services to take-off on a large scale.”Renaud Irminger, Director of SITA Lab, SITA:
“SITA, the world’s leading specialist in air transport communications and IT solutions, is actively working on the development of new technologies that have the potential to improve the passenger experience, like NFC. In 2011, SITA Lab demonstrated through a demonstration room, that NFC could dramatically improve the passenger experience by, for example, using NFC-enabled phones as a boarding pass to open security, airline lounge and boarding gates automatically, and could also increase the penetration of mobile phone usage for air travel. We are delighted that this technology is now becoming a reality with the world’s first trial at Toulouse-Blagnac”.About Toulouse-Blagnac Airport
Toulouse-Blagnac airport is the fourth French regional platform, with 7 million passengers in 2011. The airport consists of four halls, with a total area of 100,000 m² on two floors. In 2012, the airport hosted the regional bases of Air France and easyJet. Program for Summer 2012, the Toulouse-Blagnac airport offers 42 international destinations and 17 domestic destinations regularly. 46 charter destinations are in the catalog. For summer 2012, 35 new routes were opened from Toulouse. Toulouse-Blagnac airport is a qualified Qualicert services for its four halls. The certification by the agency SGS, the world leader in this field, is evidence of a consistent quality of service for passengers, and people looking for a traveler.About Research In Motion
Research In Motion (RIM), a global leader in wireless innovation, revolutionized the mobile industry with the introduction of the BlackBerry® solution in 1999. Today, BlackBerry products and services are used by millions of customers around the world to stay connected to the people and content that matter most throughout their day. Founded in 1984 and based in Waterloo, Ontario, RIM operates offices in North America, Europe, Asia Pacific and Latin America. RIM is listed on the NASDAQ Stock Market (NASDAQ: RIMM) and the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX: RIM). For more information, visit www.rim.com or www.blackberry.com.About Orange
France Telecom-Orange is one of the world’s leading telecommunications operators with 171,000 employees worldwide, including 105,000 employees in France, and sales of 10.9 billion euros in the first three months of 2012. Present in 33 countries, the Group had a customer base of 225 million customers at 31 March 2012, including 181 million customers under the Orange brand, the Group’s single brand for internet, television and mobile services in the majority of countries where the company operates. At 31 March 2012, the Group had 166 million mobile customers and 15 million broadband internet (ADSL, fibre) customers worldwide. Orange is one of the main European operators for mobile and broadband internet services and, under the brand Orange Business Services, is one of the world leaders in providing telecommunication services to multinational companies.With its industrial project, “conquests 2015″, Orange is simultaneously addressing its employees, customers and shareholders, as well as the society in which the company operates, through a concrete set of action plans. These commitments are expressed through a new vision of human resources for employees; through the deployment of a network infrastructure upon which the Group will build its future growth; through the Group’s ambition to offer a superior customer experience thanks in particular to improved quality of service; and through the acceleration of international development.France Telecom (NYSE:FTE) is listed on Euronext Paris (compartment A) and on the New York Stock Exchange.For more information (on the internet and on your mobile): www.orange.com, www.orange-business.com,www.orange-innovation.tv or to follow us on Twitter: @presseorange.Orange and any other Orange product or service names included in this material are trade marks of Orange Brand Services Limited, Orange France or France Telecom.The BlackBerry and RIM families of related marks, images and symbols are the exclusive properties and trademarks of Research In Motion Limited.  RIM, Research In Motion and BlackBerry are registered with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and may be pending or registered in other countries. All other brands, product names, company names, trademarks and service marks are the properties of their respective owners. RIM assumes no obligations or liability and makes no representation, warranty, endorsement or guarantee in relation to any aspect of any third party products or services.

OnStar Releases RemoteLink App for BlackBerry Devices (May,2012)

OnStar has just announced the release of their RemoteLink app for BlackBerry devices. RemoteLink lets you perform remote commands, such as remote start and door lock/unlock, and check the status of the following on your vehicle:Fuel economyRemaining fuel rangeTire pressureOil levelThe app also has a navigation component that allows users to find a destination on their devices and send it to their vehicle. RemoteLink is now available in the BlackBerry App World for the Bold 9900 and 9930 devices.Download RemoteLink from App World >>

BlackBerry 10 vs Windows Phone 8: No Prize for Fourth Place? (May,2012)

The smartphone market is a big one, and growing fast.  This is an area where operating systems become ecosystems, and where ecosystems become synonymous with their respective companies.  Looking to the next few years, the most important mobile ecosystems will come from Apple with iOS, Google with Android, Research in Motion with BlackBerry, and Microsoft with Windows (Samsung has Bada, but who cares?).At the top, we have the Android.  By flooding the market with its “free-ness”, it has managed to secure the largest smartphone and tablet market share worldwide.  In second, we have iOS, making ridiculous amounts of money with only a few devices.  But in such a large, expanding market, even third is a lucrative position to be in.  Most analysts claim there is room for three mobile ecostems.  BlackBerry 10 or Windows 8, the leading non-androidian, non-pomaceous ecosystems are duking it out for that ever-so-decent third slice of the mobile pie.  Who shall emerge the victor?The case for BlackBerry 10The new BlackBerry 10 operating system is set to be released later this year and we’ve seen some demos and brief previews of what it offers.  The new swipe-based virtual keyboard is a truly innovative feature in itself, making single-handed typing less annoying on a touchscreen.  The time-adjustment camera  feature is nothing new, but its implementation creates a smartphone camera experience that is entirely better in every way to anything else we’ve come across.  The “flow” of BlackBerry 10 is efficient, impressive and well-designed.  The inclusion of a re-vamped BBM in BlackBerry 10 on a modern touch-screen OS is also sure to attract some users back to BlackBerry.In addition, I believe that developing for BlackBerry has improved by leaps and bounds over the past couple years, fostering a potentially great App World for BlackBerry 10 devices.  I’ve had first-hand experience with the BlackBerry developer tools, creating a few apps using the WebWorks SDK, Native C SDK, AIR SDK and the BlackBerry 10 SDK with Cascades.  My expeience has been great.  In fact, I already have a native BlackBerry 10 app ready to go by using the BlackBerry 10 Cascades tools!  The sample apps, documentation, and great native tools for the BlackBerry platform allows developers to create high quality apps that people will want.The case for Windows 8Microsoft’s Windows Phone 7 has been out for a while.  Windows 8 is supposed to unify the “Windows” experience across all devices, from desktops to smartphones.  The user interface for Windows 8 (presuming its similar to Windows Phone 7) is sleek and different.  I like it quite a bit.  It’s fast, fluid, and easy to use.The developer tools for Windows Phone 7 are good as well.  The tools are all there and allow you to quickly make a good app.  They shoud only get better for Windows 8.  With OEMs able manufacturing large volumes of these devices, the potential for Microsoft to enter to market as Android did is there.All this aside, let’s look at the larger picture. Looking at RIM’s position, they have about 80 million BlackBerry users, some cash, strong roots in the corporate market.  Not bad at all.  Microsoft’s is the opposite with much fewer users and wads of cash.  But what is more important for third place?Despite many open questions, I feel its safe to make a few predictions.  RIM is in third place and should remain there for the next couple years, thanks to its current large user base.  Frankly, Microsoft is too far behind to contend with RIM at this point.  Yet, the only thing that is certain about the mobile market is its uncertainty.  And the determination of these two companies to succeed in the mobile market is also quite certain.Over the next five years, I expect both BlackBerry and Windows 8 to slowly grow their market share at the expense of Android and iOS. I find it hard to believe that both Apple and Google will maintain such a large share in a market that is constantly changing and expanding.  With market shares of at least 5% each, RIM and Microsoft can both do well as the “alternative” ecosystems.Of course,  little will change over the next couple of years.  Apple and Google will still maintain their lead (and even grow it some more). A continued effort by both RIM and Microsoft with their newer ecosystems should increase their presence in the industry to profitable levels. Beyond that, who knows?  But I believe the bottom of the podium has enough room for two.  Microsoft and RIM would be wise to target the largest user bases of Google and Apple and not each other’s, where much more market share can be gained.

Restart Me Free for BlackBerry – Reset Your Phone With Just 1 Click (May,2012)

S4BB Limited let us know that they have released the ultimate app that makes any future battery pull unnecessary: Restart Me for BlackBerry! The application lets you reset your phone with just one click. These are some of the features:Easy to Use: restarts your device with just a single click.No-Brainer: avoids complicated key combinations to restart your device.Quick Reset: you can auto-restart your device or do it manually.Free your Memory: kills all the unnecessary applications running in background freeing your RAM.Daily Restart Schedule: e.g. wake up with a freshly rebooted smartphone every morning at 7:00 a.m. (Only for Restart Me Pro)Restart Me free and Restart Me Pro are now available in the BlackBerry App World for all smartphones with OS 6 or higher.Download Restart Me Free >>Buy Restart Me Pro for $0.99 >>

Official: BlackBerry Bold 9900 OS 7.1.0.428 from SmarTone HK (May,2012)

BlackBerry Bold 9900 users are receiving an official update today. OS 7.1.0.428 is now available for download from SmarTone HK. No word on what’s new in this update. Nonetheless, let us know if you find anything nice in this build.Download BlackBerry Bold 9900 OS 7.1.0.428 from SmarTone HKMake sure you join our community to share your thoughts on this!How to: load an OS on your BlackBerry

Official: BlackBerry P’9981 OS 7.1.0.428 from SmarTone HK (May,2012)

BlackBerry P’9981 Porsche Design users are receiving an official update today. OS 7.1.0.428 is now available for download from SmarTone HK. No word on what’s new in this update. Nonetheless, let us know if you find anything nice in this build.Download Porsche P’9981 OS 7.1.0.428 from SmarTone HKMake sure you join our community to share your thoughts on this!How to: load an OS on your BlackBerry

BlackBerry App World Category Changes & New Additions (May,2012)

RIM has recently made some changes in the App World categories, which include modifying existing categories and adding new ones to help users navigate easily and find or discover apps faster. These are some of the main category changes and additions:News:  The News category has been expanded to include magazines.  This category is now calledNews and Magazines and includes Blogs as a subcategory.Beta:  The Beta category is discontinued.  The apps located the Beta category have been moved to relevant categories.Reference and eBooks & Education:  The Books and Reference category has been divided in to separate categories so that these are now individual categories respectively.  The Referencecategory includes Education.  This new category is Education & Reference.Shopping:  The Shopping category has been renamed Lifestyle.Maps & Navigation:  The Maps & Navigation category now includes Travel and has been renamedNavigation and Travel.Music Creation (*NEW*):  There is a new subcategory Music Creation available under the Music and Audio category.Children’s Categories (*NEW*):  There are two new children’s focused categories:New Children’s Games category within the Games ChannelNew Children’s Books subcategory within the Books categoryVendors should log in to their portal to review their existing applications and make any changes where necessary.

Gameloft Releases 9mm HD Shooter for the PlayBook (May,2012)

Gameloft has released 9mm, one of their most popular shooter, for the PlayBook! The game reminds me a little of GTA and Max Payne. 9mm has some very cool graphics and is said to be one of the largest games in App World at 850 MB acoording to BerryReview. You can buy this game from App World for only $0.99, which is a very good price for this game. Check out the trailer below! On a BlackBerry? Click here for mobile video viewBuy 9mm HD for $0.99 from App World>>

BlackBerry Tablet OS 2.0.1 Adds Features to Protect Apps from Piracy (May,2012)

RIM has added some new features to BlackBerry Tablet OS 2.0.1 to help improve and protect your applications from piracy. These are some of the things they improved:Backup Files Tied to a BlackBerry ID- Your backup files created with Desktop Manager are now tied to your BlackBerry ID to prevent users from sharing backup files between devices, but still be able to switch devices.Backup Files are Encrypted- Each user has a different encryption key for their backup file.You might be asking yourself what if I just stay at OS 2.0.0? In a month, App World Vendor Portal will let developers set a minimum tablet OS version required for their product, so if they want to protect their app from piracy they can set the minimum OS to 2.0.1, which includes all the new features. For more info check out BBDev Blog.

Ninety-two Percent of Youth Say Smartphones Keep Them Organized (May,2012)

Vision Critical conducted a survey on behalf of Research In Motion studying how smartphones helped youth between ages from 18-24 to keep them organized. Eighty (80) percent of the respondents said that they use their phones to keep track of their daily life and ninety-two (92) percent said their smartphone would help keep them organized in 2012. More details of the study:Sixty-seven (67) percent use calendars and scheduling apps to keep them on deadline,62 percent count on GPS tools to help navigate while travelling,53 percent rely on social media and instant messaging to connect with friends when arranging get-togethers.The study shows how youth uses and relies on their smartphones to stay organized on a daily basis. How do you use your BlackBerry to stay organized? Let us know in the comments below!

Kodak Loses Patent Lawsuit Against RIM (May,2012)

Press ReleaseKodak Receives Notice of Initial Determination in ITC Patent Infringement Action against Apple and Research In Motion
ROCHESTER, N.Y.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Eastman Kodak Company today announced that it has received notice of the Administrative Law Judge’s (ALJ) initial determination in the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) action brought by Kodak against Apple Inc. and Research In Motion Limited (RIM). The ALJ concluded that the Apple iPhone 3G and the accused RIM BlackBerry devices infringe Kodak’s patent, although his recommendation is that the patent claim is invalid.The patent at issue (US Patent No. 6,292,218) relates to a technology invented by Kodak for previewing images on a digital camera-enabled device that is fundamental to how those devices take pictures. In the face of two separate challenges, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office analyzed this particular Kodak patent and confirmed its validity in December 2010. The final decision of the ITC, based on the deliberation of the full Commission, is expected by September 21, 2012.“We are pleased the ALJ has concluded that Kodak’s patent is infringed by Apple and RIM. We expect to appeal to the full Commission his recommendation on validity. The ALJ’s recommendation represents a preliminary step in a process that we are confident will conclude in Kodak’s favor,” said Timothy Lynch, Kodak Vice President and Chief Intellectual Property Officer. “In a previous ITC investigation, a different ALJ found this same Kodak patent to be valid and infringed by Samsung, whose products are similar to those offered by Apple and RIM. Kodak has invested billions of dollars to develop its pioneering digital imaging technology, and we intend to protect these valuable assets.” The ’218 patent at issue in this case is one of 1,100 digital imaging patents in Kodak’s industry-leading patent portfolio. Kodak licenses its technology to numerous leading technology companies, including LG, Motorola, Nokia, and Samsung.

RIM Releases Three New Commercials in the UK (May,2012)

Three new BlackBerry TV commercials have rolled out in the UK. The first ad is advertises the BlackBerry Bold 9900 smartphone browser and how fast it is, second ad show how easy it is to use NCF payments with a Bold 9790 and last, but not least, BBM Music on a Curve 9320. Check them out below and let us know what you think!
On a BlackBerry? Click here for mobile video view
On a BlackBerry? Click here for mobile video view
On a BlackBerry? Click here for mobile video view

Ingram Micro Announces Deal to Distribute PlayBook to Resellers (May,2012)

Ingram Micro announced today a new deal to distribute RIM’s BlackBerry PlayBook to resellers in the UK. Ingram Micro is an official distributor for BlackBerry devices, software and technical support. Here’s what RIM’s managing director in the UK said:“Our agreement with Ingram Micro will allow us to broaden and enhance our distribution of the BlackBerry PlayBook. We are leveraging our strengths in communications, social integration and productivity with their strengths in unified communications, software solutions and overall channel reach,”They also an exclusive distribution partnership with GPXS, an authorised supplier of BlackBerry training courses, targeting from users and support personnel, to administrators and application developers.via PCR

BlackBerry 7 and 7.1 Operating Systems Approved for Use by Australian and New Zealand Governments (May,2012)

Press ReleaseSydney, Australia - In conjunction with the release today of the BlackBerry® 7.1 Operating System in the Australian market, Research In Motion (RIM) announced that BlackBerry® smartphones running the BlackBerry® 7.0 and 7.1 Operating Systems (BlackBerry 7) have been successfully evaluated and approved for Government use by the Defence Signals Directorate (DSD) of the Australian Government. The certification from the DSD affirms that the BlackBerry 7 Operating System meets the Australian and New Zealand Government’s strict security standards for a wide range of the Governments’ information classifications, representing the majority of day-to-day operational communications.BlackBerry 7.0 and 7.1 Operating Systems, when used in accordance with Government guidance, can be used to secure information with a classification of up to and including PROTECTED for the Australian Government and up to and including RESTRICTED for the New Zealand Government.“With the DSD approval of BlackBerry 7, Research In Motion continues to lead the industry when it comes to meeting the security certification requirements of governments around the world,” said Scott Deacon, Manager, Security Certifications, Research In Motion.Tim Dillon, Associate Vice President Asia Pacific End User & Mobility Research, IDC Asia/Pacific, said, “As organisations continue to embrace mobility across all facets of their operations, the security risk escalates considerably. In today’s environment, mobile security is more than just device management. Organisations need an integrated capability that spans device, network, applications and data.”BlackBerry 7 powers the new generation of BlackBerry smartphones and includes significant performance enhancements as well as many new features and functionality including Liquid Graphicsâ„¢ technology, fast BlackBerry browsing and NFC technology. BlackBerry 7 continues to set the standard for information protection, with support for ECC (Elliptical Curve Cryptography), AES (Advanced Encryption Standard) and the ability to protect enterprise data transmitted between a BlackBerry smartphone and internal systems.To find out more about BlackBerry security certifications, please visit
www.blackberry.com/go/securityFor more information about the BlackBerry 7 Operating System, please visit
http://au.blackberry.com/services/blackberry7/
About Research In MotionResearch In Motion (RIM), a global leader in wireless innovation, revolutionized the mobile industry with the introduction of the BlackBerry® solution in 1999. Today, BlackBerry products and services are used by millions of customers around the world to stay connected to the people and content that matter most throughout their day. Founded in 1984 and based in Waterloo, Ontario, RIM operates offices in North America, Europe, Asia Pacific and Latin America. RIM is listed on the NASDAQ Stock Market (NASDAQ: RIMM) and the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX: RIM). For more information, visit www.rim.com or www.blackberry.com.Forward-looking statements in this news release are made pursuant to the “safe harbor” provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and applicable Canadian securities laws. When used herein, words such as “expect”, “anticipate”, “estimate”,  “may”,  “will”, “should”, “intend,” “believe”, and similar expressions, are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on estimates and assumptions made by RIM in light of its experience and its perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments, as well as other factors that RIM believes are appropriate in the circumstances. Many factors could cause RIM’s actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements, including those described in the “Risk Factors” section of RIM’s Annual Information Form, which is included in its Annual Report on Form 40-F (copies of which filings may be obtained at www.sedar.com or www.sec.gov). These factors should be considered carefully, and readers should not place undue reliance on RIM’s forward-looking statements. RIM has no intention and undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.The BlackBerry and RIM families of related marks, images and symbols are the exclusive properties and trademarks of Research In Motion Limited.  RIM, Research In Motion and BlackBerry are registered with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and may be pending or registered in other countries. All other brands, product names, company names, trademarks and service marks are the properties of their respective owners. RIM assumes no obligations or liability and makes no representation, warranty, endorsement or guarantee in relation to any aspect of any third party products or services.

BlackBerry DesktopBridge App to Bring BBM to Your Desktop (May,2012)

Want to use Bridge on your PC? The wait might be shorter than you think. There’s a new app coming up for the BlackBerry PlayBook called DesktopBridge by developer Xitij Ritesh Patel which will let you use Bridge on your desktop PC over SSL, allowing you to use BBM on your computer! DesktopBridge will let you wirelessly connect to the PlayBook and open all Bridge apps via a browser. The app is not yet available, but was just submitted to App World and is waiting for approval. If RIM approves the app, you’ll be able to buy it for $4.99. Keep it locked to N4BB and we will let you know when it’s out!