‘BlackBerry Love’ is a RIMgasmic Commercial (NSFW) (September,2012)

Research In Motion is betting big time on the loyalty of BlackBerry users. RIM is hoping their continued support will carry on into BlackBerry 10.One fan has put together a compelling video that expresses ‘BlackBerry Love’. Personally, I feel this video would certainly turn a lot of heads if it were aired on TV. Perhaps this type of catchy marketing is something RIM should utilize?Check out the video below and let us know if you think this commercial would be a good fit for national TV campaigns. On a BlackBerry? Click here for mobile YouTube videovia BerryReview

RIM Teams up with Marmalade Giving Developers Free SDKs and PlayBooks (September,2012)

Do you want Marmalade?  Not exactly the one you put on your toast, but the kind that helps you build cross-platform mobile games?   RIM and Marmalade are teaming up to give developers a taste of Marmalade (no pun intended) on the BlackBerry platform!  Qualified developers will receive a free indie licence of the Marmalade SDK and PlayBook as part of the deal.  This is part of RIM’s ongoing efforts to attract developers to the BlackBerry 10 platform.Alec Saunders, Vice President of Developer Relations and Ecosystem for Research and Motion states, “This offer showcases the power and flexibility of BlackBerry 10 for gaming. No other platform offers the same openness and flexibility as BlackBerry 10. Together with Marmalade, we’re working to make it as easy as possible for mobile developers to bring their apps to the BlackBerry platform.”The success of the BlackBerry platform will depend on the applications available to consumers at launch.  By attracting developers to create apps for BlackBerry 10, RIM is working towards securing a spot for BlackBerry 10 in the race for the growing smartphone market.Check out the press release below for more info. RIM and Marmalade to offer developers free SDK Licences and a BlackBerry PlayBook Tablet
Participants Eligible to Receive over $700 in Free Goods to Help with Application DevelopmentLONDON, 19 September 2012: BlackBerry-maker Research In Motion (RIM) (NASDAQ: RIMM; TSX: RIM) and Marmalade, makers of the world’s most powerful cross-platform SDK, today announced a special offer that reinforces RIM and Marmalade’s commitment to developers.The offer highlights BlackBerry® 10 as a powerful gaming platform as well as RIM’s dedication to open standards and platforms, and encourages Marmalade developers to bring their games and applications to the BlackBerry® PlayBook™ and BlackBerry 10 platform. The offer means that all eligible mobile developers can experience the benefits of mobile app development using the Marmalade SDK targeting the BlackBerry platform.Initially available for a limited period, qualified developers who register will receive a Marmalade SDK license for the BlackBerry platform as well as a BlackBerry PlayBook tablet. Once the developer has published their app on the BlackBerry App World™ storefront, they can unlock the full cross-platform power of the Marmalade SDK by upgrading to the Marmalade Indie licence for free*.Developers can leverage this offer to take advantage of the powerful gaming capabilities of the BlackBerry PlayBook as well as the first-to-market opportunity that the BlackBerry 10 platform presents. Then through the powerful Marmalade SDK developers can target other platforms. The Marmalade SDK also offers developers the option to develop natively with C/C++ or create hybrid apps in HTML5, targeting mobile devices as well as desktop and laptop computers.Harvey Elliott, Managing Director & COO, Marmalade said, “At Marmalade, we are thrilled to help developers discover the power and agility of the BlackBerry 10 platform. We passionately believe that more platforms mean more possibilities, and this fantastic offer really makes that a reality for all indie developers. Develop a brilliant app for BlackBerry and then target other platforms later on.”The offer is designed to attract world-class content to the BlackBerry 10 platform, while making it easy for developers to manage their content across multiple operating systems, and is expected to deliver thousands of new apps in the lead up to the launch of BlackBerry 10.Alec Saunders, Vice President of Developer Relations and Ecosystem at RIM said, “This offer showcases the power and flexibility of BlackBerry 10 for gaming. No other platform offers the same openness and flexibility as BlackBerry 10. Together with Marmalade, we’re working to make it as easy as possible for mobile developers to bring their apps to the BlackBerry platform.”BlackBerry App World is one of the most profitable mobile app stores for developers, with more than 6 million applications downloaded every day. According to market analysis and strategy firm Vision Mobile, BlackBerry developers generate, on average, 4 percent more revenue per app per month than iOS developers and almost 40 percent more than Android developers.Developers can sign up now at http://madewithmarmalade.com/blackberry.*Or up to two Marmalade Licences per organisation.  Offer subject to terms and conditions.

BlackBerry 10 L-Series Gets Early Teardown (September,2012)

Research In Motion’s BlackBerry 10 L-Series sure is getting the leak treat this month. So far we’ve seen some pretty compelling photos to know nearly everything about the device. Now, according to site BisVN, we get to see an early teardown of the L-Series. Here’s what they’ve said about it so far:Full capacitive touch-screen, we were informed that the keyboard version would most likely come out a month after.Dual core processor with an pristine ISP displayTwo colors: white + black. The white looks awesome, way better than the iPhone 5 which I am currently testing.Front camera with video chat feature like team view. Besides being able to see each other through the front camera, it can also show the screen of the person you are talking too.Camera with auto-focus can take pictures at the speed of 1shot/second, then you can choose the best one.Time view function. For 1 picture, it could save up to 10 facial expressions of any person, they you can scroll back and forth to view and choose the best one.There isn’t too much new information, but a more full teardown is said to happen soon. What else would you like to know about the internals of the BlackBerry 10 L-Series? Check out below for more photos.via CrackBerry 

Photo Share Social App for BlackBerry Released (September,2012)

S4BB has released an all new social application for BlackBerry Smartphones: Photo Share Social. Thanks to this handy application it’s now possible to share your favorite photos with friends on Facebook, Twitter & BBM with a single click.Photo Share Social is compatible with all BlackBerry Smartphones running OS 6.0 and up and available for free on BlackBerry App World here.

Leaked: BlackBerry Torch 9860 OS 7.1.0.714 (September,2012)

BlackBerry Torch 9860 users are getting some love today. OS 7.1.0.714 has leaked out today for the Torch 9860. We’re unsure as to what might be different in this OS, so you’ll have to let us know what you might find. As with any leaked OS, be sure to backup your BlackBerry before installing.Download Torch 9860 OS 7.1.0.714Make sure you join our community to share your thoughts on this!*DISCLAIMER* â€" This is an unofficial RIM software release. If you choose to install, do so at your own risk! N4BB.COM is not responsible for any malfunctions or abnormalities that may occur. If you have never loaded a leaked OS before, we highly recommend you read the tutorial listed below:How to: load an OS on your BlackBerry

N4BB Audio Show #14: BlackBerry Evangelist Patrick Mollins Talks BlackBerry Jam Americas (September,2012)

Subscribe to N4BB Audio Show podcast RSS Feed directly or in iTunesFor episode 14 of the N4BB Audio Show we had a very special guest, BlackBerry Evangeist Patrick Mollins, to talk about BlackBerry Jam Americas. Patrick discusses the cool hackathons they’ll have aboard BlackBerry Jam Buses in California.Patrick talks about the excitement that developers are starting to have for BlackBerry 10. Have a listen and let us know if you’re excited for BlackBerry Jam Americas.

How to Submit a Review to BlackBerry App World (September,2012)

Have you ever downloaded an app that was so incredibly crappy you wished you had never come across it? Or maybe the app was so amazing you wished you had known about it sooner. Maybe if other users left reviews for each app/game they downloaded it would be much easier for all of us to find good apps and skip the bad ones. Here’s how you can submit a review of an app or game to App World:Note: To submit a review, you must have first downloaded the app at least once on your phone. It doesn’t have to be installed.1. Open BlackBerry App World and go to My World.2. You will see a list of your installed apps. Pick the one you would like to review. You can also pick one of the unistalled apps by tapping the Installed button at the top and selecting Uninstalled from the drop down list.3. Once you’ve choosen the app you would like to review, swipe to the side until you get to the Review panel. Tap the Add a Review button at the top of the panel. If you have never installed the app, you will NOT see the Add a Review button.4. Enter a short review title on the first text box, write your review on the second and select the amount of stars you’d like to give to the app/game.5. Once you’re done writing, hit the Submit button to submit the review to App World.And you’re done! Your review and rating will affect the app’s overall rating. Always try to write good, helpful reviews with information you would’ve liked to know before downloading a certain app or game. Remember to leave any questions or suggestions in the comments below!

Animated Weather HD: Cloudy with a Chance of Awesome! (September,2012)

The BlackBerry PlayBook comes pre-loaded with a nice weather app, but there are other even better ones out there.  One of my favourites is Animated Weather HD.  It’s got more features than pretty much every other weather app you’ve seenâ€"and more.  Why settle for a base toyota, when you can have a fully loaded S-Class of an app, right?  From the same developer as StereoTube, it would be an understatement to say it looks good.
The developer, Andrei Avram, guarantees your satisfaction with the app or your money back, just like Sterotube.  Missing a feature you want (doubtful, but its possible), he’ll do his best to get it to you.  It is admirable to see such dedication to customers and the app.  With frequent updates bringing in new requested features, it’s hard to go wrong.  Even check out some of the latest reviews below.You can add as many cities as you can find on the map, check the radar data, and even have the weather read to you by voice!For $2.99, you can pick up this app in the PlayBook’s App World, which giving you free updates for life.Check out the app’s page here or read the description below.App Description——————————————————————————————————————————————–Animated Weather HD provides you with a stunning HD interface for checking weather on your BlackBerry® PlayBookâ„¢.- You can add an unlimited number of cities- Very good international and USA locations support because it uses 3 different location providers simultaneously- Local Radar (available ANYWHERE in the world, to enable it go to Maps and select Animated Radar)- Weather maps for any country(International support) including clouds layer, temperature maps- You can add your own URL to display such as webcam, other maps, etc.- This is the only app for PlayBookâ„¢ that has international weather map support!- UNIQUE feature:  Weather Voice! – the application reads to you the weather, temperature and current condition! The quality of voice, pronunciation is like SIRI assistant on Iphoneâ„¢.- How it feels temperature(RealFeel)- Hourly Forecast- 7 days forecast- Humidity- Ultraviolet index and skin cancer risk meter(like “High risk”,”No risk” etc.)- Wind Speed and Direction- Probability of Rain- Fahrenheit / Celsius scales (metric/imperial units)- Beautiful HD background slideshow with pictures that change according to current weather conditions (HD Videos are coming in next update)- Manual refresh button- Offline Mode(It will still display the last retrieved weather even if you don’t have an Internet connection at some times)- Swipe from top bezel to enter settings, swipe towards top bezel to close the settings page- Weather forecast refreshes automatically (15 min – 3 hour)- If you have any problem at all using it, or you would like a feature that is missing just send an email at animated.weather.hd@gmail.com and your problem/request will be solved or you will be REFUNDED.- Please be supportive towards PlayBookâ„¢ app development and don’t leave a bad review before sending an email at animated.weather.hd@gmail.com. THANKS!This app is committed to become the best weather app for PlayBookâ„¢ and every buyer will have FREE updates for life!UPDATES:4.8.0(16 July) – added Hourly forecast4.5.3(4 July) – added a weather map gallery(temperature map,radar, satellite), and details for every forecasted day; added ultraviolet index4.0.0(31 May) – added 7-day forecast and other weather details RealFeel temperature, observation date, humidity, wind speed and direction, probability of rain, Offline mode3.5.1(7 May) – added Spoken weather, the application tells (speaks)  the weather!3.0.0(20 April) – added weather maps from Google® including clouds layer, ability to close any window by swiping up2.5.0 – major user interface redesign,faster weather update, better locations support2.0.0: – added WeatherBug® as location provider so now, you should see the all your favorite cities when you search.Keywords: weather animated slideshow nature temps spoke voice forecast hourly meteo 

BlackBerry 10 L-Series Render Shows Black and White Device (September,2012)

We’re unsure whether or not this render of the BlackBerry 10 L-Series comes from RIM. What we do know is the L-Series looks pretty damn sexy, even in white.There have been a few hints that RIM would be making a white variant of the L-Series. We saw a white BlackBerry 10 Dev Alpha sneak out in pictures. There was even that interesting ‘London’ photo too, but it’s debatable if that was white or silver.Which color would you choose if there were a black and white option at the launch of the L-Series? It would be a tough choice for me, but I’d likely stick with classic black. Sound off in the comments with your choice.via @GustavittThanks JamezAlexander!

RIM Announces BlackBerry 10 Jam Sessions Bus Tour and Hackathon (September,2012)

Research In Motion has announced that 100 lucky BlackBerry Jam Americas attendees will be able to attend one of their most unique sessions. The selected attendees will be able to board a bus and pitch hackathon ideas. Here’s the official details on the matter:Research In Motion is running a special program to generate excitement around the BlackBerry 10 platform and BlackBerry Jam Americas. We are offering developers the opportunity to participate in a pre-conference super hackathon â€" this BlackBerry Jam Session will be held on Monday September 24. This is an intense 10 hour coding day where developers can turn their app ideas into reality all in an exciting and supportive environment. BlackBerry technical experts will be on hand to provide guidance, share ideas and support developers as they bring their apps to life. Developers will get a chance to present their apps to a panel of judges for a chance to win incredible prizes.We want to help you get there……that is why we are getting over 100 people from two cities on buses to San Jose! The experience starts on the bus where a BlackBerry Evangelist team member will get developers pumped for the Jam Session and the conference. The bus ride will give developers a head start by forming teams, mapping out app ideas, asking questions and get tools ready for Monday.What’s included? You will get a free ride to and from San Jose, snacks, beverages, wifi, power, and a free pass to the three day BlackBerry Jam Americas conference following the Jam Session.The space is limited as there will only be three buses leaving from Los Angeles and San Diego, California to travel to BlackBerry Jam Americas in San Jose. If you’re interested in registering, you must contact Patrick Mollins at pmollins @ RIM .com and follow him on Twitter @party_pat.

BlackBerry User on Virgin Mobile? Beware of This Security Hole (September,2012)

A developer at Twilio, which helps developers add calls and text messages to their applications, claims he’s found a security hole in Virgin Mobile phones. The security hole could allow hackers to intercept calls and text messages, lock users out of their accounts and buy a new phone with their credit card.The developer, Kevin Burke, in a blog post said the vulnerability stems from the fact that the wireless carrier requires subscribers to use their phone numbers as their username and a 6-digit number as their password.“Pretty much anyone can log into your Virgin Mobile account and wreak havoc, as long as they know your phone number,” he said, adding “there is no way to defend against this attack.”Burke says Virgin Mobile’s setup for subscribers is “horribly insecure” compared with a randomly generated 8-letter password containing uppercase letters, lowercase letters, and digits. He warned a hacker could determine a Virgin Mobile subscriber’s PIN “inside of one day.”So far, Virgin Mobile has not responded to Burke’s findings. If you’re a BlackBerry user on Virgin Mobile, perhaps reach out and let them know you’d like a more secure password and/or username.via Huffington Post

Mobilicity Offering 50% Off All Plans for Limited Time (September,2012)

Mobilicity Canada is offering 50% off all regular rate plans, until September 30th. Take advantage of this HUGE SALE before it’s too late. It might be worth your while to get an extra line just for BBM.Unlimited Starter – NOW $12.50/month (was $25) Includes:Unlimited Province Wide TalkUnlimited North American Text & Picture MessagingCaller ID and Call FeaturesUnlimited Plus – NOW $17.50/month (was $35) Includes:Unlimited Light Data (Social Networking + Email or BBM + Email)Unlimited Canada Wide TalkUnlimited Global Text15 Minutes North American Voice RoamingVoicemail, Caller ID and Call FeaturesUnlimited Value – NOW $22.50/month (was $45) Includes:Unlimited DataUnlimited North American TalkUnlimited Global Text30 Minutes North American Voice RoamingVoicemail, Caller ID and Call FeaturesUnlimited Everything – NOW $27.50/month (was $55) Includes:Unlimited DataUnlimited North American TalkUnlimited Global Text60 Minutes North American Voice RoamingPhone Protection PlanVoicemail, Caller ID and Call FeaturesCheck out full details on the Mobilicity 50% off sale here.Thanks Nick!

ECBC Unveils B7 Line of Rugged Ballistic Bags (September,2012)

ECBC, a new division of a leading multi-million dollar packaging company, is proud to introduce its B7 Series of bags made of rugged High Density (HD) Ballistic Nylon.  The uncompromising line of backpacks, messenger bags and tote bags combine a sleek, yet rugged exterior with a double diamond rip stop lined interior.  Each member of the B7 series is thoughtfully designed with an emphasis on quality and functionality.“We are excited to announce the B7 series to the consumer,” says ECBC’s V.P of Sales and Marketing Brett Reznichek. “When creating this line of bags we made sure not to cut any corners and make the quality the best in the business.”B7 BackpacksAll laptop backpacks are not created equal. Your digital gear will be highly protected and conveniently organized in the B7 series laptop backpack.  Available in three sizes and multiple colors, all B7 backpacks protect up to a 17 inch laptop in a high density foam compartment, feature dual zip-away water bottle pockets, water resistant YKK zippers, foam-padded shoulder straps and top handles.
Harpoon Daypack- $99.99
Don’t let its compact exterior fool you, the Harpoon Daypack offers a huge storage capacity and multiple organization options.  The sleek bag features a large main document compartment for large files or notebooks and multiple interior accessory pockets for keeping external hard drives, cables and other small items safe.Javelin Daypack- $129.99
Designed to help travelers speed through airport security lines, the Javelin features the TSA compliant ECBC FastPass system. Simply unzip the padded laptop compartment of your Javelin and lay it flat on the conveyor belt. Your notebook will remain safe and sound in its padded compartment as it passes through scanners at airport security checkpointsLance Daypack- $149.99
Offering the most interior storage space of any of the B7 Backpacks, the Lance features the TSA-compliant FastPass laptop compartment and a multitude pockets for all your personal and work related gear.  The spacious bag is the only one in the line to offer dual ‘hide away’ zippered beverage/utility pockets. The Lance’s ergonomically designed shoulder strap system with multiple adjustment points and breathable padding design insures a comfortable experience.  A super soft neoprene phone pocket keeps your smartphone safe and accessible at all times.B7 Messenger BagsConstructed with the toughest Ballistic Nylon featuring double diamond rip stop, the B7 Messenger Bags are available in several styles and colors.  These durable, yet trendy, messenger bags also feature the YKK RC zipper for extra safety and security for all your belongings.Trident Messenger Bag- $119.99 
The roomy Trident messenger bag protects up to a 15 inch laptop and a tablet simultaneously.  Equipped with a foldout FastPass laptop compartment, the Trident enables speedy security checks and features a luggage trolley pass-through handle, top zipper for quick access and a front ticket/passport pocket for maximum convenienceTomahawk Messenger Bag- $139.99
The larger Tomahawk messenger bag fits most 17 inch laptops, a tablet and still has room for your peripherals and accessories. Equipped with the convenient FastPass system as well as and adjustable padded shoulder strap, makes traveling easy and comfortable. Its high quality ballistic nylon exterior with water repellent coating performs flawlessly in all climates, providing the ultimate in protection and security.B7 Tote BagsB7 Totes protect your laptop and provide ample space for power adapters, personal accessories, documents and more. Available in 13 inch and 17 inch models, the B7 Tote interiors are equipped with durable YKK zippers and padded, fleece-lined laptop compartments.Dart Laptop Tote- $79.99
The compact Dart Laptop Tote protects up to a 13 inch laptop and tablet with accessories.  Available in black or grey ballistic nylon with a repellent coating, the Dart also sports the luggage trolley handle pass-through feature and an adjustable padded shoulder strap.Spear Laptop Tote- $99.99
The larger Spear features a designed tablet pocket and a main compartment sized to fit most 17 inch laptops including a 15 or 17 inch Macbook Pro.  The heavy duty bag also offers the comfort and convenience of a padded shoulder strap and exterior ticket pocket respectively.
AvailabilityThe B7 Series line of bags ships today and is available at www.ec-bc.comTo request additional information about EB-BC please contact PR Representative Andrew Felix at305-374-4404 ext. 136 or by e-mail at andrewfelix@maxborgesagency. com .About ECBC:Simplicity. Quality. Functionality.
ECBC is an uncompromising line of bags and cases based in Southern California.  Our focus is on giving people a more functional, comfortable and stylish way of transporting their laptops, ipads, tablets and other essentials.ECBC is a new division of an established multi-million dollar packaging company with over a decade of experience in manufacturing.  Our bag and case designers are industry veterans who took their many years of experience and built the ECBC line with the features that people want the most.A sleek and classy looking exterior constructed of high-density material combined with thoughtful, detailed organization on the interior are only the beginning of what sets ECBC apart from the rest!To learn more about ECBC, go to www.ec-bc.com

BlackBerry Bold 9900′s Affected in T-Mobile Service Disruption (September,2012)

T-Mobile USA customers who use the BlackBerry Bold 9900 seem to be experiencing a service disruption. The problem, limited only to customers with the Bold 9900, seems to be affecting email and internet connection.The partial service disruptio does not affect phone call services and text messaging, says T-Mobile. The company said it is working with RIM to restore service as quickly as possible, but did not mention what the cause of the problem could be.Are you still experiencing issues? No other carriers are said to be experiencing these problems, it is isolated only to T-Mobile Bold 9900 users.via Reuters

T-Mobile BlackBerry Bold 9900 FREE from Sept 21–30 (September,2012)

T-Mobile let us know that they’re helping customers “fall into savings”  with their fifth “Magenta Deal Days” promotion, ‘Zero Down.’ From Sept. 21â€"30, new and existing T-Mobile customers can purchase any device for $0.00 down payment on qualifying Unlimited Valueâ„¢ and Unlimited Nationwide 4G Data plans after mail-in rebate card.Check out the press release below for full details of the promotion:Press ReleaseT-Mobile Helps Customers Fall Into Savings From Sept. 21â€"30, get any device, including the Samsung Galaxy S® III, for $0.00 down BELLEVUE, Wash. â€" Sept. 18, 2012 â€" Prices are falling at T-Mobile® this September during the “Magenta Deal Days” Zero Down promotion, making staying in touch more affordable than ever. Starting Sept. 21, customers can purchase any device, including the Samsung Galaxy S® III, for $0.00 down payment on qualifying Unlimited ValueTM and Unlimited Nationwide 4G Data plans after mail-in rebate card.“Our customers continue to appreciate our ‘Magenta Deal Days’ offerings because they showcase our commitment to giving all our customers the best 4G experiences,” said Andrew Sherrard, senior vice president of marketing, T-Mobile USA. “With back to school in full swing, we’re glad to offer another great deal to keep families in touch.”The Samsung Galaxy S III is one of T-Mobile’s fastest 4G (HSPA+ 42 technology) smartphones. With an intuitive design, the Galaxy S III enables customers to effortlessly share photos, videos and more to a compatible TV or other Galaxy S III devices. Featuring a beautiful 4.8-inch HD Super AMOLEDâ„¢ screen, the Galaxy S III packs a powerful entertainment experience, which allows customers to watch HD movies and TV shows, download apps, and securely browse the Web.New customers will be eligible for this deal when they sign a two-year agreement on any qualifying Unlimited Value and Unlimited Nationwide 4G Data plan (Unlimited, 5GB or 10GB). Existing customers also can take advantage of this offer.1Data-hungry smartphone customers can choose the ultimate worry-free experience with T-Mobile’s new Unlimited Nationwide 4G Data plan, featuring no data caps, no speed limits and no overages, as well as fast, dependable nationwide 4G coverage. For more details about T-Mobile’s Unlimited Nationwide 4G Data plan, visithttp://www.T-Mobile.com/ unlimited-data-plan .The following is a sample of device pricing and EIP payments included in the “Magenta Deal Days” offer with a qualifying Unlimited Value plan:Device (Unlimited Value Plan)EIP Monthly Payment2Retail PriceOut-of-Pocket Down PaymentMail-In Rebate CardNet Down Payment (After Rebate)Samsung Galaxy S III$20.00$549.99$149.99$150.00$0.00HTC® One Sâ„¢$20.00$449.99$49.99$50.00$0.00T-Mobile® myTouch® Q$15.00$349.99$49.99$50.00$0.00Samsung Galaxy S Relay 4G$15.00$349.99$99.99$100.00$0.00BlackBerry® Boldâ„¢ 9900$20.00$499.99$99.99$100.00$0.00Samsung Galaxy Note$20.00$499.99$99.99$100.00$0.00 The “Magenta Deal Days” promotion will be available at participating T-Mobile retail stores nationwide. For more information about T-Mobile’s “Magenta Deal Days” promotion and details about qualifying plans and services, visit http://bit.ly/NldCS8.1 Standard migration fees will apply for existing Classic customers who switch to a Value plan and have less than 18 months of contract tenure.2 Equipment installment plans: On approved credit and 0 percent APR. Down payment and unfinanced portion required at purchase. Remaining balance paid in 20 monthly installments.About T-Mobile USA, Inc.Based in Bellevue, Wash., T-Mobile USA, Inc. is the U.S. wireless operation of Deutsche Telekom AG (OTCQX: DTEGY). By the end of the second quarter of 2012, approximately 130 million mobile customers were served by the mobile communication segments of the Deutsche Telekom group â€" 33.2 million by T-Mobile USA â€" all via a common technology platform based on GSM and UMTS and additionally HSPA+ 21/HSPA+ 42. T-Mobile USA’s innovative wireless products and services help empower people to connect to those who matter most. Multiple independent research studies continue to rank T-Mobile USA among the highest in numerous regions throughout the U.S. in wireless customer care and call quality. For more information, please visit http://www.T-Mobile.com.          T-Mobile is a federally registered trademark of Deutsche Telekom AG. For further information on Deutsche Telekom, please visithttp://www.telekom.de/ investor-relations .  # # #

RIM Closing Tungle.me; Team Will Focus on BlackBerry 10 (September,2012)

Research In Motion hired Tungle.me not to long ago. The Tungle team has mostly focused on a calendar for the BlackBerry PlayBook. The team noted it’s also “driving innovation in Messaging (email), Contacts, Notes and Memos apps.”Due to the shift in focus to solely BlackBerry 10, Tungle.me will be closing its doors, much like Gist. Tungle.me will officially be shut down on December 3rd, 2012. Here’s an excerpt from the company blog post explaining the situation:Tungle began in 2006 to make finding times to meet with colleagues, clients and contacts as quick and easy as possible. In April of 2011, we were acquired by Research in Motion (RIM) with the goal of bringing the Tungle vision to millions of BlackBerry customers. After our acquisition we quickly went to work and built the BlackBerry Playbook Calendar app. Now, our team is creating the native Calendar app for the next generation platform, BlackBerry 10, and together with other key RIM employees, we are driving innovation in Messaging (email), Contacts, Notes and Memos apps.All of our new responsibilities within RIM are very exciting; however, it hasn’t left much time for innovation on the core Tungle product over the past year, as we’re sure you have noticed. To make the most of our new focus, we have sadly decided it is time to shut down the standalone Tungle service.As of Monday, December 3rd, 2012 we will shut down the standalone Tungle service. You will continue to be able to use your Tungle.me page until then to schedule meetings and share calendars. We know our dedicated members rely on Tungle every day to manage their calendars and we don’t want to leave you out to dry, so we suggest you check out Doodle to replace Tungle in December.via TechCrunch

RIM Signs Licensing Deal With Microsoft for exFAT (September,2012)

Research In Motion’s shares spiked today on word that Microsoft has entered into a licensing deal with RIM. However, it isn’t a licensing deal for BlackBerry 10.  Instead, it gives RIM broad access to the latest Extended File Allocation Table (exFAT) for certain BlackBerry devices.The licensing agreement gives RIM access to exFAT, which is a modern file system from Microsoft that facilitates large files for audiovisual media and enables seamless data portability and an easy interchange between desktop PCs and other electronic devices.Check out the press release below for further details on the licensing agreement.Press ReleaseREDMOND, Wash. â€" Sept. 18, 2012 â€" Microsoft Corp. announced today that Microsoft and Research In Motion (RIM) have signed a patent licensing agreement that gives RIM broad access to the latest Extended File Allocation Table (exFAT) for certain BlackBerry devices of RIM. exFAT is a modern file system from Microsoft that facilitates large files for audiovisual media and enables seamless data portability and an easy interchange between desktop PCs and other electronic devices.exFAT improves on its predecessor, the FAT system, and greatly expands the size of files that flash memory devices can handle by five times over previous FAT technology. It also increases the speed with which those files can be accessed. The exFAT file system not only facilitates large files for use of audiovisual media, it enables seamless data portability and an easy interchange between desktop PCs and a variety of electronic devices.“Today’s smartphones and tablets require the capacity to display richer images and data than traditional cellular phones,” said David Kaefer, general manager of Intellectual Property (IP) Licensing at Microsoft. “This agreement with RIM highlights how a modern file system, such as exFAT can help directly address the specific needs of customers in the mobile industry.”Microsoft’s Commitment to Intellectual Property CollaborationMicrosoft offers flexible IP licensing programs that give companies access to many of the foundational technologies in its own products, allowing those companies to build devices, applications and services that work seamlessly with each other.Since Microsoft launched its IP licensing program in December 2003, the company has entered into more than 1100 licensing agreements and continues to develop programs that make it possible for customers, partners and competitors to access its IP portfolio. The program was developed to open access to Microsoft’s significant R&D investments and its growing, broad patent and IP portfolio.Microsoft has entered into similar licensing agreements with several leading consumer electronics manufacturers through its IP licensing program, including Panasonic Corp., SANYO Electric Company Ltd., Sony Corp. and Canon Inc.More information on Microsoft’s IP licensing program is available athttp://www.microsoft.com/iplicensing, and information specifically related to Microsoft’s exFAT licensing program is available here.Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq “MSFT”) is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential.Note to editors: For more information, news and perspectives from Microsoft, please visit the Microsoft News Center at http://www.microsoft.com/news. Web links, telephone numbers and titles were correct at time of publication, but may have changed. For additional assistance, journalists and analysts may contact Microsoft’s Rapid Response Team or other appropriate contacts listed at http://www.microsoft.com/news/contactpr.mspx.

10 Day Case Giveaway before BlackBerry 10 from Amzer and N4BB! (September,2012)

Amzer and N4BB are teaming up to give you the chance to win one of 10 cases from Amzer’s range of cases for BlackBerry as a run up tribute to BlackBerry 10 – coinciding with BlackBerry Jam Americas!How do you enter? It’s simple, all you have to do is this:Like Amzer on Facebook.Follow @AmzerInc and retweet the competition entry tweet (clicktotweet)Leave a comment to this post stating why you need a caseDoing both will earn you two entries into the drawing and doing so multiple times will increase your chances of winning. This contest is available globally, and there is no limit on the number of times you can enter.The competition is open Today through September 28th 2012. Cutoff for entries are at 12-midnight PST on the 28th (8am BST).We will randomly select 10 winners to receive a case. Winners will be announced via a followup to this blog post and contacted on Twitter or Facebook.Following shall be Amzer’s terms and conditions:To enter this competition you must be 13 years old or over at the time of entry.The competition is open to ANYONE worldwide. Please note that Amzer will cover shipping costs ONLY to US, UK or India, winner if outside these countries will have to cover the shipping cost.The competition is not open to employees (or members of their immediate families) of Amzer or any associates.No purchase necessary.There is no limit on number of entries by a person.If you want to enter the contest – you must Like Amzer on Facebook (fb.me/Amzer) and leave a wall post saying why you want to win, or Follow Amzer on Twitter (@Amzerinc) and re-tweet the entry tweet. Doing both doubles your chances and doing it multiple number of times increases your chances.Winners will be picked in the end by Amzer, they will be notified via Social Media and Blog posts at the time of decision. All winners must contact Amzer via Facebook or Twitter to claim their prize.If you win a competition, we will notify you by Facebook / Twitter post. The judges’ decision will be final, and no correspondence will be entered into.By entering the competition the winner agrees to participate in such promotional activity and material as Amzer may require.The prize will not be transferable to another person.No part of a prize is exchangeable for cash or any other prize.If an advertised prize is not available, Amzer reserve the right to offer an alternative prize of equal or greater value.Incorrectly completed entries will be disqualified.This competition is being run and sponsored by Amzer.Amzer reserves the right to use the contest material at any time in the future, without any prior permissions.Amzer reserves the right to amend these rules at any time. Amzer may also create rules which will apply to a specific contest only. If we do this we will publish the amended competition rules and/or specific competition rules on the relevant contest page.Amzer will endeavour to send prizes within a month of the competition end date but cannot guarantee this delivery time. Products cannot be sent to P.O. BoxesAdditionally, by entering this giveaway, you agree to be bound by our giveaway terms and conditions found here.

WordPress for BlackBerry PlayBook Updated to 2.2.2 (September,2012)

The Automattic team is back at it with another update to the WordPress app for BlackBerry PlayBook. All you bloggers out there can now download version 2.2.2, which has the following changes:Featured image supportNew stats viewPerformance and reliability improvementsAdded Korean language supportUpdated Swedish, Hungarian and Catalan translationsFixed stats not connecting properly for certain self-hosted blog configurationsIf you’ve previously installed WordPress for PlayBook you should see the update. If not, you can download it directly from BlackBerry App World here.

Leaked: BlackBerry Curve 9220 OS 7.1.0.714 (September,2012)

BlackBerry Curve 9220 users are getting some love today. OS 7.1.0.714 has leaked out today for the Curve 9220. We’re unsure as to what might be different in this OS, so you’ll have to let us know what you might find. As with any leaked OS, be sure to backup your BlackBerry before installing.Download Curve 9220 OS 7.1.0.714Make sure you join our community to share your thoughts on this!*DISCLAIMER* â€" This is an unofficial RIM software release. If you choose to install, do so at your own risk! N4BB.COM is not responsible for any malfunctions or abnormalities that may occur. If you have never loaded a leaked OS before, we highly recommend you read the tutorial listed below:How to: load an OS on your BlackBerry

Two New BlackBerry 10 L-Series Photos (September,2012)

There has been nothing short of BlackBerry 10 L-Series photos surfacing this month. While we expect the L and N Series devices to be announced at BlackBerry Jam Americas, so far we’ve gotten a pretty good idea of how they’ll be.Check out the other photo below. What do you think of the overall design of the BlackBerry 10 L-Series? Personally, I like knowing that the removable battery door is of the entire backside of the device. Sound off in the comments!Thanks ADavidson! via BlackBerryItalia

AT&T Enhanced Push to talk Releasing in November for BlackBerry (September,2012)

AT&T is looking to release its enhanced Push-to-talk service this coming November. The PTT service will provide walkie talkie-like features on AT&T BlackBerry smartphones that support it. The service will utilize voice over IP (VoIP) technology and will allegedly cost about $30 per month.“AT&T Enhanced Push-to-Talk is a Voice-over-IP solution,” AT&T spokesperson Mari Melguizo toldFierceWireless. “Using AT&T’s IP data network as the backbone for the solution we’re trialing will provide faster connection times and better quality of service. Kodiak’s InstaPoC technology is an advanced PTT service that achieves sub-second call setup times without requiring customization on radio access networks (RANs) or underlying cellular networks.”via Fierce Wireless

MasterCard Releases NFC SDK with BlackBerry 7 Support (September,2012)

BlackBerry was the first to be approved for MasterCard mobile payments. You should listen to the interview we recently conducted with RIM’s Senior Product Manager of NFC. MasterCard has now released its PayPass Developer Toolkit with BlackBerry OS 7 support.The toolkit provides app libraries, guides, and sample apps to aid companies that want to develop their own mobile payment app. Rather than build an app from scratch, MasterCard has created an SDK for BlackBerry 7 devices that can support PayPass Tap-and-Go payments on NFC-capable phones.This should help speed up the process for developers who want to make their own custom branded mobile payments app, but work off of the PayPass back-end. MasterCard already has thousands of sales terminals that accept contactless payments through PayPass, so this encourages the many banks that have not yet become involved with mobile payments to extend support of that feature to customers.We can only hope that with the foundation blocks getting in place, NFC will become a strategic feature for BlackBerry. If you’re a developer interested in designing or adding mobile payment options to an app, you can download the MasterCard PayPass SDK for free here.via MobileBurn

Viira Outlook Suite 2.1 Released for BlackBerry (September,2012)

Karta Mobile let us know that the Viira Outlook Suite 2.1 is now available for download. The goal of this release is to provide support for more advanced aspects of GTD and personal organization like multiple contexts, next actions and an intuitive dashboard as well as to further refine the Outlook plugin to make it more intuitive, smart and effective.Here is what’s new in version 2.1 of the Viira Outlook Suite:Next Actions View. Next Actions are a core concept in Getting Things Done and you can now manage those with ease with the Viira Outlook Suite. The new Next Actions view (available on both the BlackBerry client and the Outlook Plugin) displays all tasks that have been marked as next actions.  To help you focus on what is actionable first, next actions also appear specially marked and are automatically displayed at the top of any list.Multiple contexs. Any task can now be tagged with multiple contexts from both the BlackBerry client and the Outlook plugin.  You can assign as many contexts as you want! This powerful feature will allow you to file and organize a task in multiple filing “buckets” and make it easier to find the task when it’s time to find the next action that needs to be completed.Dashboard. The new dashboard is your new organization control center and provides you with one-click access to the major areas from within the BlackBerry client. The dashboard is touch screen enabled making navigation on touchscreen models like the Bold 9900 or Torch 98xx series as easy as a tap on the screen.Hide Completed. Focus only on the things that are left uncompleted. Hide Completed is now available on both the Outlook plugin and the BlackBerry client.Enhanced Outlook plugin. We have made numerous improvements to the Outlook plugin to make it more intuitive, smarter and effective. We have added right-click menues to make performing common operations quicker and easier as well as improved the stability and overall performance.You can download the latest version from the Viira Outlook Suite download page. The Viira Outlook Suite 2.1 is a complimentary upgrade to all buyers of version 2.0. Buyers of the previous version of the Viira Outlook Suite or Viira (including older versions like the 2.0 and 3.0) are elligible to upgrade for a special low price.Version 2.1 requires BlackBerry OS 5 or better and Microsoft Outlook 2003 or better.

Yahoo!: You Can Choose Any Smartphone, Except a BlackBerry (September,2012)

Yahoo!’s new CEO, Marissa Mayer, has informed employees that they can choose a new smartphone of their choice and Yahoo! will even cover the monthly bill for voice and data. However, it seems Yahoo! is snubbing BlackBerry.Yahoo! employees in 22 countries can now choose a handset from Apple, HTC, Nokia or Samsung including the recently announced iPhone 5, the Galaxy S III, HTC’s One X or Evo 4G LTE or Nokia’s Lumia 920. The CEO says she wants her employees to have devices similar to their users so they can think and work as the majority of their customers do.However, absent from the list is any BlackBerry. Some have suggested that Mayer’s decision to move away from BlackBerry as their corporate phone could signify to the industry that she believes Research In Motion won’t have a miraculous comeback and is a dead company.It’s an ironic scenario given how many people believe Yahoo! to be a dead company. Nonetheless, it will be interesting to see how Yahoo! determines BlackBerry 10 receptiveness once on the market.via TechSpot

TIFF BlackBerry People’s Choice Awards go to… (September,2012)

The Toronto International Film Festival has announced the BlackBerry People’s Choice awards. The film, starring Bradley Cooper, Jennifer Lawrence and Robert De Niro, and directed by David O. Russell (“The Fighter”), won the BlackBerry People’s Choice Award.The BlackBerry People’s Choice first runner-up was Ben Affleck’s “Argo,” which is about an attempt to help Americans trapped in Tehran during the Iranian Revolution to escape while disguised as a film crew.Also, the BlackBerry People’s Choice Midnight Madness Award went to “Seven Psychopaths” by Martin McDonagh (“In Bruges”). First runner-up was Barry Levinson’s horror flick “The Bay.”via CBS

Leaked: BlackBerry Curve 9360 OS 7.1.0.714 (September,2012)

BlackBerry Curve 9360 users are getting some love today. OS 7.1.0.714 has leaked out today for the Curve 9360. We’re unsure as to what might be different in this OS, so you’ll have to let us know what you might find. As with any leaked OS, be sure to backup your BlackBerry before installing.Download Curve 9360 OS 7.1.0.714Make sure you join our community to share your thoughts on this!*DISCLAIMER* â€" This is an unofficial RIM software release. If you choose to install, do so at your own risk! N4BB.COM is not responsible for any malfunctions or abnormalities that may occur. If you have never loaded a leaked OS before, we highly recommend you read the tutorial listed below:How to: load an OS on your BlackBerry

Leaked: BlackBerry Bold 9790 OS 7.1.0.714 (September,2012)

BlackBerry Bold 9790 users are getting some love today. OS 7.1.0.714 has leaked out today for the Bold 9790. We’re unsure as to what might be different in this OS, so you’ll have to let us know what you might find. As with any leaked OS, be sure to backup your BlackBerry before installing.Download Bold 9790 OS 7.1.0.714Make sure you join our community to share your thoughts on this!*DISCLAIMER* â€" This is an unofficial RIM software release. If you choose to install, do so at your own risk! N4BB.COM is not responsible for any malfunctions or abnormalities that may occur. If you have never loaded a leaked OS before, we highly recommend you read the tutorial listed below:How to: load an OS on your BlackBerry

Interview: Senior Product Manager of NFC for RIM, Geoffrey MacGillvray (September,2012)

Subscribe to N4BB Audio Show podcast RSS Feed directly or in iTunesYesterday, we had a very special guest on the N4BB Audio Show. Geoffrey MacGillvray, the Senior Product Manager of NFC for Research In Motion, was on the show to tell us about the future of Near Field Communications (NFC) on BlackBerry products.BlackBerry has already accomplished some superb goals with NFC. BlackBerry has been the first to be certified for both Visa and MasterCard mobile payments. Just recently, BlackBerry has been the first mobile device to receive certification for replacement of security access badges.Listen to the above interview with Geoff or read the transcription below. Let us know if you have any questions regarding NFC technology and tell us how you’d like to utilize it in your everyday usage.- Interview transcription -N4BB: “Welcome, everyone to another edition of the N4BB audio show. This is your host, Lucas Atkins. Niko and I have a very special guest today, Geoffrey MacGillvray. He is the Senior Product Manager for NFC at RIM. Geoffrey is here today to discuss Near Field Communications, otherwise known as NFC, and how RIM is utilizing the technology in the enterprise and consumer markets. How are you doing today sir?”Geoffrey MacGillvray: “Good, I’m really happy to be here. I’m looking forward to this discussion”N4BB: “Excellent. BB has been the first to be certified for VISA and Mastercard mobile payments. Now they are also the first for physical access badge replacement with HID Global. Can you tell us about that partnership?”Geoffrey MacGillvray: “ Sure, and I want to comment generally on NFC as well. Here at RIM we really view NFC as more than a technology by itself. You can put the NFC radio and functionality into the device, but it’s so important to engage industry partners to really enable an ecosystem so we can create NFC experiences for our consumers. You can see that in our work with payments. We think it’s very important within the enterprise space to provide further value to our customers. We think the partnership with HID is very important because it brings more functionality to the device and has expanded its reach beyond what’s on the device to include interacting with the physical world and integrating your access badges to the device.N4BB: “ How is RIM working to partner with the likes of McDonalds and Home Depot, who are already utilizing mobile payments through NFC?”Geoffrey MacGillvray: “Unfortunately I can’t comment too much on specific companies until they are public. What I can say is we are involved in the NFC industry to understand the needs and the involvement of those services within different segments and making sure that our handset has the capabilities. Were working with key partners to see how those solutions are evolving so that when solutions are brought to the market, they can brought to the market quickly, effectively and can provide a good user experience.”N4BB: “NFC is still in it’s infancy in terms of reception so far. What kind of features can we expect to see in the future with NFC?”Geoffrey MacGillvray: “ I think in terms of NFC , this goes back to my earlier comments about ecosystem and why I think it’s a great question. Were going to improve upon the features on the device and enhance them and improve the functionality, but where I really see the growth in NFC is around services that can be relative to the device. This means engagement of more partners. So you’ve seen the initial announcement that we’ve done and we’ve talked about in terms of certification stuff and payment schemes and HID. Expect more services to come onto the device and start using the NFC, and expansion of the capabilities that are already there, and utilizing them in services. Just as an example we’ve talked a lot about secure mode of NFC in terms of payments and physical access but there’s also a lot of potential for mobile marketing around NFC. You can embed an NFC tag in a poster or even in a product, and consumers can tap on that poster or product to get more information on it or to get offers or other types of information like that. So I think that when NFC really matures you’re going to see a rich set of services that are built around technology.N4BB: “We see that RIM has taken the lead in NFC technology. How does NFC on the BlackBerry differ from NFC on a rival platform, namely Android or Windows 7?”Geoffrey MacGillvray: ‘I think in terms of the differentiation that we’re looking for is we’re going for very much standard based interoperability in our pod forms so we’ve been very careful to implement NFC in a standard way and use standard technology and provide the API’s necessary for our partners to use it. So in terms of our approach, we want to make sure that we provide a solid platform for our partners to work with that is interoperable with our devices and also other devices as well.”N4BB: “ Will NFC mainly be BlackBerry to BlackBerry or will it also be open for cross platform compatibility?”Geoffrey MacGillvray: “Great question again.This is not just Blackberry to Blackberry device transmission. We think it’s critical that NFC work seamlessly with not just Blackberry to Blackberry devices but other mobile phones and also readers and tablets that are present in the industry. Certainly the design steps that we’ve taken and the implementation that we’ve done has been totally geared towards making sure they are as interoperable as possible. That means sticking to the standards to make sure the user experience or the customer experience is consistent no matter which mode of operation whether it’s tapping on tags, paying at a point of sale, or gaining access to the building, that technology works.”N4BB: “ Is RIM working on other specific NFC applications besides a mobile payment solution?”Geoffrey MacGillvray: “ I think our view at RIM is that certainly payment and NFC payment gets a lot of attention. We view NFC as much more than payment and you can see that extension moving into physical access. There’s a number of areas in NFC that we think are going to provide a lot of value to our consumers. There are use cases in mobile marketing,transit and ticketing. Now I can’t comment specifically on the areas that we are working with but what I can say is that we are looking at the broad spectrum of NFC opportunities to try and bring partners in line and make sure our devices are compatible with those use cases. Because, like I said earlier, it’s not just about payment and it’s not just about physical access. We want NFC to be part of someones daily use of their smartphone and that expands across a wide range of applications.N4BB: “Is RIM working directly with application developers to really push NFC?’Geoffrey MacGillvray: “Yes our application developer support team is actively working within that community to educate developers on the capabilities of NFC and certainly within BB10 to indicate that we really have NFC functionality inside and our developer relations team has done a great job in the Jam Sessions and other presentation materials showing developers what they can do and how they can develop within is.N4BB: “ The 4G playbook was supposed to be released with NFC but as we’ve seen with the test units we received it’s not available yet. Will that feature be opened up later on?”Geoffrey MacGillvray: “Yes, it will be opened up later on.”N4BB : “Now will this be though an OS update?”Geoffrey MacGillvray: ‘ Yes that is what we would be looking to do”N4BB: “Awesome. How is RIM working with the carriers to push NFC and make it a more viable product?”Geoffrey MacGillvray: “ That’s another good question. The carriers are a very key partner for us and NFC is certainly a new technology and an interesting one when it comes to carrier space. The carriers have a lot of incentive to bring services to the phone that are centered around the UAC and the payment initiatives that are going on around the world. So we want to make sure that we support them in those efforts and bring NFC together as a good solution for our consumers. That’s some of the certification work that we’ve undertaken making sure that the phone itself is able to support those features.N4BB: “ What is your personal opinion on the future of NFC?’Geoffrey MacGillvray: “I think NFC is going to be a part of everyone’s daily lives in a number of areas. If we look together at that horizon five to ten years out NFC really extends someones interaction with their phone to the physical world. We see lots of opportunities to remove little pieces of friction in everybody’s life to make things a little bit easier. Examples are tapping to accept rates, tapping to pay, tapping to get access to your building. All the components integrate with someone’s daily life and make it that much better. So in my opinion NFC is going to grow and grow in terms of uses that are alowed on a single device and it will become a really integral part of daily life.N4BB: “ Geoff, thank you very much for your time. We greatly appreciate having you on the show to talk about NFC and educate our readers on what it is and how it will be utilized in future BlackBerry products. Is there anything you’d like to say to our readers who might want to know more about NFC?”Geoffrey MacGillvray: “I really appreciate the time you’ve taken to speak with me as well, and to your readers stay tuned to NFC. There will be a lot more developments over the next six to twelve months in terms of services that are going to be available, so stay tuned to the NFC scene.N4BB: “Well thank you again for speaking with us and we hope to meet in the future”