Wow, our boy Ronen is just killing it with all this BlackBerry Application Suite info right now. First screenshots, then video, and now a cheat sheet/features list.
Basic BlackBerry Application Suite Information
* Its a application that runs on Windows Mobile 6 devices
* It can startup when the device boots
* Features almost exactly the same as RIMs native OS including email & maps support
* Supports IT policies inside the application along with BlackBerry MDS
* It is based on OS 4.2.1 but that will change soon
* Navigation is through a Touchscreen, Dpad, or keyboard
* WM can connect to a separate APN, simultaneous APN connections are supported (You can connect to a carrier APN via WinMo and Blackberry APN via BAS) This is a HUGE improvement over BlackBerry connect.
There’s a bunch more information after the jump too! Make sure to check out the BlackBerry Application Suite’s Feature and Limitations list.
For those of you that thought yesterdays photos of a virtual BlackBerry OS running on a Windows Mobile HTC Touch Pro were fake, the video above should put you at ease. As someone that has been using the BlackBerry Storm for awhile, the concept of navigating the BlackBerry OS with a stylus doesn’t seem too weird. Of course, the whole WinMo thing makes me feel dizzier than Jimmy Stewart in Vertigo. Keep up the good work, Ronen!
Now isn’t this something interesting. Our boy Ronen over at BerryReview has snagged screenshots of a Windows Mobile HTC Touch Pro running a virtual BlackBerry OS. Apparently, RIM is calling this OS virtualization application the BlackBerry Application Suite, which contains BlackBerry OS 4.2 functionality with a OS 4.6 styling.
The BlackBerry Application suite is an obvious replacement to the oft-forgotten BlackBerry Connect service, but here’s the important question: how much more readily would you buy a non-BlackBerry device if it could run the BlackBerry OS?
Best Buy Canada has placed a flyer on their website advertising the Telus BlackBerry Storm for $250 on a 3-year plan with a launch date of December 8th (Monday!). Continuing with the checkout process changes the estimated release date to December 31st, and tacks on another $50 to the purchase, but I’ll chalk this up to sales information that is not fully updated pre-launch.
You can pre-order the Telus BlackBerry Storm from Best Buy’s online site, but purchases appear to be available in-store only. Click the link below for more information. Regardless of whether or not December 8th is the launch date, I’d recommend that all Canadian Storm Chasers pay special attention to BlackBerry Cool on the 8th for the latest word.
UPDATE: I’ve just successfully downloaded OS 4.7.0.75 using Verizon’s desktop download link. It now appears as though the OTA update will happen at 9:30 pm PST. Keep your fingers crossed or run to the nearest PC.
Forget the email notification Verizon sent out earlier this week, word is spreading fast around the Internets that Verizon is set for a massive official OS 4.7 update for the BlackBerry Storm. Here’s what we ‘know’ so far:
Verizon should be rolling out an OTA update around 12 noon (EST or PST? Good question.) PLEASE NOTE that an OTA upgrade will only work for BIS users as this feature is not BES supported.
Our boy Kevin has nabbed some “official sounding verbiage” regarding issues that the OS update will clean up on the Verizon BlackBerry Storm. You can find that info after the jump. The Storm Hunt continues!
The droogs over at BlackBerry News have published the BlackBerry Curve 8900’s spec sheet. Remember the BlackBerry Curve 8900, formerly known as the BlackBerry Javelin? You can’t be blamed if you don’t, with all the recent BlackBerry Storm hoopla. However, after a bunch of BlackBerry Curve 8900 hands on reviews, we haven’t heard much else, as Rogers appears to be soft launching the device, and AT&T has kept mum.
BlackBerry News says that Rogers may begin shipping the BlackBerry Curve 8900 to corporate customers as early as tomorrow, which coincides with what we’ve been hearing. The rest of us hoi polloi will have to wait, possibly until Monday, December 8th. We’ve posted the Curve 8900’s specs and possible Rogers pricing after the jump. Anyone have a good idea why Rogers is doing nothing to promote the device for the holidays?
Our boy Kevin over at CrackBerry just received this email:
I just received this email from no-reply@upgrade.blackberry.com:
Bundle An upgrade of BlackBerry® Device Software version 4.7 is available. This upgrade includes optimizations and enhancements approved by your wireless service provider.
Note: If your device is associated with an email account that uses a BlackBerry® Enterprise Server, contact your administrator for more information about upgrading. is available for your device.
We’re away from our office, and thus from a version of Internet Explorer needed to download the upgrade (where’s that Mac compliance, RIM?). PC users, quickly, hit the link above and let us know if BlackBerry Storm users have an updated OS 4.7!
After Telus announced their pricing for the BlackBerry Storm yesterday, most Canadians turned their eyes to Bell to see if their Storm pricing would be bettER. While there is nothing official yet, we do have some (speculative) information to give you. The Boy Genius is reporting that Bell is looking to be highly competitive with Telus, and is shifting back and forth between a $199, $249, and $299 price for the Storm on a 3-year contract.
On the other end of the spectrum, a helpful BlackBerry Cool reader just sent us what appears to be the Bell BlackBerry Storm pricing from smartphone retailer Baka Wireless (an authorized Bell dealer). Their prices for the Storm range from $479 on a 3-year contract, $529 on a 2-year contract and $629 on a 1-year contract and $699 straight up.
Now, the price differential between Baka and Bell ranges between $200-250, placing the potential Bell BlackBerry Storm price at $229-279 on a 3-year contract. Until official word is released from Bell, however, we’ll just have to wait and see if our sleuthing rings true.
Well, this is a bit of a surprise. It seems as though Rogers is very quietly rolling out the BlackBerry Curve 8900 to subscribers, with no notification being given to the press or sales employees. This seems a little strange, considering that a properly hyped Curve 8900 release could steal some of the consumer thunder (sorry, bad pun) from the upcoming Telus and Bell BlackBerry Storm releases. Here’s what’s known so far:
Soon Canadians will be able to exchange a cool $179.99 and 3-years of their life (with voice and data) to have the latest UMA-enabled BlackBerry. We’ve been told that those who don’t want a 3-year commitment will be able to get the 8900 for $499.99 on 2-year with voice and data and $549 month-to-month. Other than that we know jack all because there has yet to be a press release nor has there been any internal communication to management or employees.
Here’s the deal, it looks like the brand new Curve is out-of-stock for new activations. However, we have confirmed that those who are due for a Hardware upgrade have purchased the device already for $179.00. Rogers couldn’t tell me when they’ll have more 8900’s in stock for us regular folks, but if you’re due for an upgrade give them a call and let us know how it went below. We were told 3-5 shipping days.
Hello, fellow Canucks. I come to you blogging from the Mid-Western United States, stuffed with turkey and ready to bring those above the 49th parallel the latest in BlackBerry news.
Following yesterday’s appearance of the Telus BlackBerry Storm on Future Shop’s site for $649.99, our friends at MobileSyrup got their hands on a Best Buy Canada banner ad promoting the Storm for $299.99 on a 3-year contract, with a supposed December 18th release date.
The Best Buy link is now dead, so hopefully someone is knocking an extra $100 off the price before putting it back up.
While your waiting for the BlackBerry Storm to drop in Canada, make sure to check out our hands-on impressions.
