How to Choose a Blackberry

Which Blackberry is right for me?  Which Blackberry should I get?  How do I choose the best Blackberry for me and my needs? These are some valid and common questions that are asked by many so I decided to list some of the most important things to consider when searching for a new Blackberry device.  And although this can be a very exciting decision it can also be a tough one, so hopefully this helps you decide on that new Curve, Tour, Pearl, Storm, Bold, or other Blackberry smartphone!

1. Make a list of the most important functions that you are looking for in a Blackberry smartphone.  For example, you may want a full qwerty keyboard, expandable memory, a flip style phone, or a GPS capable handset.  Also, make note of anything you do not like about certain blackberry’s and any price considerations if applicable.  Perhaps you do not want a touchscreen phone so immediately you can eliminate the Storm from your lineup.
2. Spend time reviewing the available options. Keep in mind, each wireless carrier such as T-Mobile, AT&T, and Verizon have their own specific lineups and use different technologies such as GSM or CDMA.  As a result, you can narrow your choices down by knowing which devices are compatible with your service.  The other option is to buy an unlocked Blackberry device that will work with any SIM card (if you use one).
3. Go to the website of the cell phone provider that you have or that you plan on signing up for. For example, if you have T-Mobile service visit their website at www.T-mobile.com.  Find the section on their website that lists the Blackberry phones that they offer.  From there, you can select any Blackberry model to view the specifications, to read reviews, and to learn about many specifics and available options.
4. Spend time on other websites and forums reading about reviews and to get feedback about certain Blackberry models.  This is a good way to get unbiased information that can help in your decision.  You can even visit sites such as YouTube in order to see the phone and to listen to reviews.  Lastly, you can go to an actual store such as Best Buy to pick up the phone and play with a live demo.  Most T-Mobile, Verizon, AT&T, and Sprint stores also have these available.
5. Make your decision based on your research and also your list of wants and needs (from step #1).  Once you decide on which Blackberry is best, you can also spend time comparing prices to save a bit of money.  You will find that prices vary between different retailers a direct vs. indirect wireless dealers.

Hopefully by now you are no longer asking “Should I get the Storm or Bold?”, “Tour 9630 or Curve 8900?”, or “Which Blackberry is best for what I need?”

Now that you picked the best Blackberry phone for you, take the time to read the user guides and check out the Blackberry tips and tricks on this site.  You should also review the different free apps that are available as well, which can be found on the home page.

Did this help you through the process of getting a new Blackberry?  If so, feel free to share it with others below!

How Do I Get a Blackberry Without a Plan?

I have been asked a number of times how and where to get a Blackberry without a plan or contract so I decided to add my own suggestions.  Having worked in the wireless field for years, I found that there are a number of ways to do this but the costs vary considerably.

Who Would Need a Blackberry Without a Plan or Contract?

This situation often occurs when someone already has service but is not eligible for an upgrade or renewal.  Others may just want to buy a new phone without extending his/her contract.  Lastly, some just really want a certain phone and want to buy it right away.

Buying a Blackberry device, or any cell phone for that matter, without a plan costs much more.  Why?  Well, to put it simply, the cell phone service providers such as Verizon, T-Mobile, Sprint, and AT&T make their money on the 1 or 2 year contracts and plans.  They also often sell their Blackberry models and other cell phones for less then they buy them for in order to earn the customers business because the money is in the plans and not the phones.

So, Where I Should Buy a Blackberry Without a Contract or Plan?

As mentioned earlier, prices can vary considerably depending on where you look to buy a cell phone or Blackberry outright.  Here are a list of places that you can find just the phone with no commitment to a plan or contract.  Just make sure the phone is either unlocked or is compatible with your service provider.  For example, a CDMA Blackberry would not work with a T-Mobile GSM customer’s SIM card.

1. Amazon.com-  Amazon has a huge selection of Blackberry phones including the Tour, Bold, Storm, Curve, and Pearl all without a plan.  They also offer a trusted and well known return/exchange policy which is extremely important for any online purchase.  Due to their size, they can usually offer a discounted price since they buy in such bulk.
2. eBay.com-  eBay has a great deal of handsets including many Blackberry models.  You can buy one immediately using the Buy Now feature or by bidding.  Pay close attention to the sellers ratings and return/exchange policy.  Also, make sure you are getting a NEW Blackberry and not a used or refurbished one.
3. BestBuy.com-  BestBuy has a pretty good selection of Blackberry phones without plans but I have found them to be a bit expensive.
4. Wireless Dealer Store-  Many companies such as T-Mobile, Verizon, and AT&T have stores in malls and other locations in many towns and cities.  Although they usually offer Blackberry phones without service, they always push to sell plans which usually keeps the pricing on the ones without plans on the high side.
5. Craigslist.com-  Craigslist or other similar sites can be a good place to find a Blackberry device.  Again, just make sure it is new and not refurbished and that you are buying exactly what is stated in the ad.

Over the years I have bought a few Blackberry devices without a contract from Amazon and decided to list some of the most popular models here.  These are all priced without a contract or plan and can be purchased by clicking on any of the links below.  Please check the link for pricing accuracy, as this can change quickly without notice.  This is also a small list, if you don’t see the model or company you are looking for, just click the link and use the search to find it.

BlackBerry Tour 9630 (Verizon) $499.99

BlackBerry Storm 9530 (Verizon) $499.99

BlackBerry Bold 9000 (AT&T) $499.99

BlackBerry Curve 8900 (T-Mobile) $399.99

BlackBerry Pearl 8100 Black (T-Mobile) $288.96

Blackberry 8830 Phone (Sprint) $445.74

For many Blackberry users, Bplay offers some great options for themes and games.  In order to find a specific theme for your Blackberry device, you need to visit their website and choose the phone model.  For new Blackberry Tour 9630 users, this option was not available until a few days ago.

The list of available themes include iBerry themes, Beaches of the World, Saltwater, Fireplace, and Cities of the World.  This list will continue to expand but at least there are now some great options!

Blackberry App World lists both their top free apps and top paid apps based on downloads.  Each month the Top 10 Free Apps according to them will be listed here.  Here are the results for July:

Top 10 Blackberry App World Free Apps

1. WHERE-  GPS
2. Pandora-  Music
3. Ka-Glom-  Game
4. Slacker-  Music
5. Facebook- Social Networking
6. WeatherEye-  Weather
7. Viigo-  Multiple applications in one
8. Blocked Traffic Free-  Game
9. QuickPull v2-  Memory tool
10. Snake Deluxe -  Game

To learn more about any free app and to read reviews, go to your Blackberry App World and search for the app.

Blackberry Video Reviews

Blackberry video reviews can be helpful to anyone that is looking to get a new Blackberry device or is looking to learn about different models.  This page will offer short and helpful videos on some of the latest and most popular models that are available.  This includes the Blackberry Tour, Bold, Storm, and Curve models.

Blackberry Tour

Blackberry Bold

Blackberry Storm

Blackberry Curve 8520

Blackberry Curve 8900

Blackberry to Release Desktop Manager for Macs!

According to the Blackberry website, “With BlackBerry Desktop Software you’ll be able sync your iTunes playlists and personal information like contacts, tasks and appointments; install new software, games, and more. BlackBerry Desktop Software will offer the best of both worlds by allowing you to manage aspects of your BlackBerry smartphone from your Mac.”

The official release date is scheduled for September 2009.  If you would like to receive updates on this story, visit the official Blackberry website to register for them.

Top BlackBerry Accessories

BlackBerry accessories can add some personalization and protection to your Tour, Bold, Curve, Storm, Pearl, or whichever device you use.  The most popular Blackberry accessories are skins and cases, bluetooth headsets, batteries, and car or home chargers.

I have tried many different accessories over the years and have found a few that are must haves!  Here are links and notes about each, just click the link to learn more about the accessory or to purchase it.  Also check out more great Blackberry accessories below!

Top 5 Must Have Blackberry Accessories

Simply click the link for pricing info, reviews, pictures, and more!

1. Case-Mate BlackBerry Smart Skin-  The Case-Mate Smart Skin protects your phone but also offers access to all ports and buttons.  Although more expensive then many skins on the market, they provide a higher quality product.
2. Aliph Jawbone II Bluetooth Headset -  The Jawbone 2 bluetooth headset has military-grade noise elimination technology and a patented Voice Activity Sensor that feels your speech.  Put simply, this bluetooth is advanced and it works great, especially for reducing background noise!
3. BlackBerry Extended Battery -  The extended Blackberry battery offers more talk time for all of the addicts out there.  Having a back up battery is a necessity for users that continuously deal with low battery and constant charging issues.
4. BlackBerry Mini-USB Car Charger-  We have all needed an extra power boost for our Blackberry phones.  The car charger is a cheap solution to staying charged at all times.
5. BlackBerry Charging Pod -  Although this may not be a necessity, it is one of my favorite Blackberry accessories.  It allows you to display, sync, and recharge your BlackBerry in the office or at home. It also allows you to conveniently position your handheld for speakerphone calls, watching movies, or listening to music.

Tip:  Accessories are inexpensive and get marked up considerably, especially by brick and mortar retailers.  Over the years I have found the best deals, by far, online.  Compare and contrast the prices for the same products and you will likely see the same.

Additional Blackberry Accessories

Listed below are more popular Blackberry accessories, choose the one that fits your model.  If you don’t see your model, click on any link and you can quickly find it with a search.

Cases

Otterbox Blackberry Tour Defender Series Case

Case-Mate Smart Skin Case for BlackBerry Bold 9000 (Black)

Case-Mate Smart Skin Case for BlackBerry Curve 8900 (Black)

Case-Mate Smart Skin Case for BlackBerry Curve 8300 (Black)

Case-Mate Smart Skin Case for BlackBerry Storm (Black)

Case-Mate Smart Skin Case for BlackBerry Pearl 2 8130 (Silver)

Batteries

D-X1 Battery for BlackBerry Storm 9530

Standard Lithium-ion Battery for AT&T Bold 9000

BlackBerry Tour 9630 Standard Capacity Battery

C-X2 Battery for 8800, 8820, 8830

OEM Standard Lithium-Ion Battery CS-2 for 8330 8310 8320 8300

OEM 8100 8100c Pearl Series C-M2 Standard Battery

Charging Pods

Charging Pod for BlackBerry Tour 9630

Charging Pod for BlackBerry Bold

OEM Blackberry Storm 9530 Desktop Charging Pod

Charging Pod for BlackBerry 8300, 8310, 8320, 8330 Curve (Silver)

Curve 8900 Desktop Charger

Charging Pod for 8100, 8110, 8120, 8130 Pearl (Silver)

Bluetooth Headsets and Speakers

Blackberry HS-655+ Bluetooth Headset (Black)

BlackBerry VM605 Visor Mount Bluetooth Speakerphone

Plantronics Voyager 510 Bluetooth Headset

BlueAnt Supertooth 3 Bluetooth Speakerphone (Black)

Samsung WEP200 Bluetooth Wireless Headset (Black)

Car (Travel) Chargers

Mini-USB Car Charger for BlackBerry Curve, BlackBerry Pearl, and BlackBerry Bold

BlackBerry Micro USB Vehicle Charger for Tour 9630, Storm, Pearl Flip

OEM Car Charger 8100 8300 8700 8800 Curve

OEM 12V DC Car Charger for Blackberry 8220 8900 9500 9530 Storm

Car Mount Phone Holder for Curve 8300 8310 8320 8330 Nextel 8350i Javelin 8900 Curve

Free BlackBerry Twitter App Reviews

Which free Blackberry Twitter app is the best for me?  Which Twitter app do you use on your Blackberry?  I am often asked these and other questions about which Twitter apps are available for Blackberry devices.  I decided to list some of the most popular or most used FREE Twitter apps with notes on each, hopefully this helps some of you make that decision.

Remember, you can always delete an app and try a new one to see which one best fits your Twitter needs!  Please keep in mind that many Twitter apps are new or are being updated regularly.  You may experience bugs or issues depending on which Blackberry device and software you are using.

UberTwitter-  Full featured Twitter client that offers many features for Twitter users that have a Blackberry device.  These include:

- The ability to send pictures and videos in your tweets
- The ability to follow a thread of replies
- Automatic URL shortening, saved searches, and more

To try this Twitter app, visit www.ubertwitter.com/bb/download.php from your Blackberry.

TwitterBerry-  TwitterBerry is an easy to use Twitter application and is a popular choice.  You can quickly:

- Send tweets and pictures
- Receive direct messages and replies
- View friends timeline and the public timeline

To download TwitterBerry go to www.orangatame.com/ota/twitterberry/ on your BlackBerry browser.

Tiny Twitter-  Visit www.tinytwitter.com from your Blackberry and the site will recognize which device you are using so you get the correct version.  Some prefer TinyTwitter because of the settings and options that are available.  This includes:

- Sync, font, and user interface settings
- Tweet Ticker that runs along the bottom of the screen and shows your latest tweet.
- User specific timeline option

Snap2Twitter- This Twitter application is mostly used for instantly posting your photos.  You can also add text to the tweet before it is sent.  The reviews for this app have been mixed but if you are looking for a good photo posting app you may want to consider this one.  This free app can be found in the Blackberry App World.

Viigo- Viigo has recently added a Twitter and social networking category to its list of options.  The current Twitter app is in beta but allows you to:

- Send tweets, direct messages, retweet, and follow
- Customize options such as the channels that you would like to display

Viigo has been a popular all in one app and is looking to add and compete in the social networking arena.  This app can be found for free in the Blackberry App World.

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Blackberry Curve 8520 t-mobile.com

It looks like T-Mobile will be launching the new Blackberry Curve 8520 very soon! The latest news that I read suggest a release date of August 5th. So, what does the new 8520 offer? Here are some basics features about this latest release:

Price: $130 with a 2 year plan (subject to change)

Colors: Black and Frost (white)

- Dedicated media keys on top of the handset

- Touch sensitive track pad replaces the familiar track ball

- 2 megapixel camera

- Mac compatible

- Built in WiFi capabilities

- Quad band phone

- Bluetooth 2.0

Although there are not as many features as the Blackberry Tour, Bold, or Curve 8900, the new 8520 seems like a great fit for first time Blackberry users or anyone else that wants the basic Blackberry options as well as some cool advanced features.