Apparently there was supposed to be a free Trackball replacement program launched on February 15th by T-Mobile, but that date is now getting pushed back to February 24th. The cause of this delay is some changes made to the Trackball replacement kits being provided to T-Mobile by RIM as well as the replacement training for Tmo reps being suspended until February 8th.

The tweezers that were originally part of the kit will be replaced with a tool called a  spudger:

The term spudger (sometimes called spludger) describes a general class of wiring tools used for poking or adjusting small wires or components, generally in the electronics or telecommunications industries.

The good news: Free trackball replacements for BlackBerry Pearl 8100/8120 and Curve 8320 customers with T-Mobile! I’m sure you won’t mind waiting the extra week if it means cleaner, faster and better navigation with your BlackBerry for the cost of nothing.

via TmoNews

It seems like everyone else is going to integrate LinkedIn into their software before an official LinkedIn BlackBerry app gets released. The guys over at WorldMate have updated their BlackBerry travel app to include some useful features for anyone who is traveling and wants to easily connect with their LinkedIn business colleagues on the go.

With this new offering, members can share their travel and meeting itineraries, notify their business contacts when they arrive in their destination city, search for contacts by city, and quickly access professional profiles of their colleagues before walking into their next meeting. This LinkedIn functionality is immediately available to all WorldMate users.

“This WorldMate integration is a perfect synchronization of our two companies’ strengths and goals,” said Adam Nash, Vice President of Search & Platform Products at LinkedIn. “LinkedIn’s mission is to connect the world’s professionals to make them more productive and successful. The Worldmate integration extends our mission by allowing members to access their professional networks when they’re on-the-go. WorldMate has taken an innovative approach to our APIs, extending and tying together the LinkedIn experience to both web and mobile.”

New LinkedIn management tools for the WorldMate app include:

• Quick view of nearby LinkedIn Connections within the WorldMate itinerary
• A mobile pop-up displaying which LinkedIn Connections are in town upon arrival
• The ability to scan for and connect with colleagues in the same town

A free, trimmed down version of WorldMate is also available. For more info visit worldmate.com/blackberry or for a OTA download visit m.worldmate.com from your BlackBerry Browser. The full WorldMate press release about this update is available after the jump.

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The team over at Cellcrypt let me know that they have launched a WiFi version of their secure voice calling app for BlackBerry with a free, 90-day trial.

Cellcrypt Mobile provides end-to-end voice encryption on BlackBerry smartphones, ensuring that important mobile phone conversations remain confidential. Utilising the IP data channel it supports cellular (2.5G, 3G, 3.5G), Wi-Fi and satellite networks and delivers government-grade security in an easy-to-use application that makes highly secure calling as easy as making a normal phone call. It is compliant with FIPS 140-2 when used on a FIPS validated BlackBerry smartphone and configuration.

The free for 90 days offer is available for up to 10 handsets per company for use over Wi-Fi, using a Wi-Fi-enabled BlackBerry smartphone. A full Cellcrypt Mobile licence can be purchased at anytime which also includes secure calling over cellular networks (including 2.5G, 3G and 3.5G).

If you’re someone who’s worried about how secure your phone conversations are, or you’re looking for more security because you’re a corporate or government employee, Cellcrypt is something you may want to look in to. Supported BlackBerry devices include the Pearl 8120, Curve 8320, 8520 and 8900, Bold 9000 and 9700.

For more info check out the press release after the jump or visit cellcrypt.com/promolanding.aspx. You can also find info in this Cellcrypt datasheet PDF for the BlackBerry version.

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Wakady, member of the xda-developers forum, has posted info about a leaked version of the BlackBerry Application Suite (BAS) for Windows Mobile. It’s been about a entire year since we last heard about BAS making an appearance at the 2009 Mobile World Congress and before that in December 2008 we got some leaked details about it.

As a reminder, the BAS basically lets you run the BlackBerry OS on a Windows Mobile device. According to the discussion going on in the xda-dev forums you need to be on BES to successfully install the BlackBerry Application Suite. If you’re not on BES you can still get it loaded but you won’t be able to get past the registration screen. As always with any leaked software, install at your own risk.

• Download via MediaFire: BlackBerry Application Suite Professional

For more info be sure to follow the discussion in the xda-developers forum.

Thanks Kyle!

Software For BlackBerry® Bold (TM) 9000 smartphone
BlackBerry Handheld Software v5.0.0.771 (Multilanguage)

Package Version: 5.0.0.771
Consisting of:

• Applications: 5.0.0.464
• Software Platform: 5.2.0.41
• File name: 9000M_PBr5.0.0_rel771_PL5.2.0.41_A5.0.0.464_Zain_Kuwait.exe
• File size: 119.27MB

Note: The Software Platform and Applications version numbers can be found under Options-About screen on the handheld.

• Download: OS 5.0.0.464 for the BlackBerry Bold 9000 from Zain Kuwait
• How To:
  • Backup And Restore Your BlackBerry
  • Upgrade your BlackBerry Operating System (OS)

Please report any feedback/findings in the comments.

REMEMBER: It is recommended that you make a backup before attempting to upgrade your BlackBerry just in case something goes wrong during the upgrade process. *

Thanks Thomas!

While browsing through the updated software page in the BBRocks! Store I came to an app called Unread that stuck out to me, particularly because I’ve been looking for an app with its features. Unread is an unofficial, premium Google Reader application for BlackBerry devices.

Unread is the first true Google Reader application for BlackBerry devices. Simply enter your Google Reader account details, login, and have access to all your feeds. With a simple and uncluttered design, checking your news has never been so easy. Simply load up your feeds and start browsing. Items are marked as read and statuses are changed in real time. Need more specific information? Choose to load the subscription list and go through your feeds one at a time. Never be without your articles and information again!

Features:

• Real-time status changes
• Subscription list support
• Full HTML Support
• Complete Google Reader Integration
• Refresh Feeds in the Background
• Change Font Size
• WiFi (Compatible Devices Only)

Indeed, this app is the first BlackBerry Google Reader app I’ve seen so far but I’d really like to see an official app from Google soon since it will probably have better integration than a third-party client. Not to mention it will most likely be free just like all their other mobile products. For those who can’t wait though, Unread is available for $4.99 with a free trial in the store and will work with BlackBerry devices running OS 5.0 and higher. Check it out and let me know what you think!

By the way, if you’re a Google Reader fan make sure you stop by their product ideas page and vote for a BlackBerry app to be made.

The guys over at Gym Technik let me know that they have updated their NextGen BlackBerry application with support for OS 5.0 as well as a few feature additions. The standard features of the NextGen app include:

• Visual and descriptive workout guidance
• Workout and body stats tracking
• Routine scheduling
• Before/After photo uploads
• Sync capabilities to safely back up your data online
• Offline access with or without cell coverage

New features in the updated version:

• Two Workout Preview Modes
  You can now view workouts online in the Expanded View. Toggle from the Concise View to the Expanded View to see the motions of the exercises in the workout without switching screens.
• Exercise library quick search
  Need to quickly find a certain exercise, or looking for any dumbbell exercises? Just switch the exercise search to By Name, and start typing. The Exercise Library will quickly pull up all matching exercises.
• Enhanced tracking sheet (Premium Feature)
  Don’t have a Smartphone? Premium members can now have more options to customize their print outs to include the instructions, exercises, descriptions, exercise images, or the tracking table. Don’t want to waste ink? Turn off images in the print out.
• Move workouts
  Missed a scheduled workout? Gym Technik now allows you to move this scheduled workout to another day on the calendar with just one click.

I’ve been waiting for this application to support OS 5.0 since I mentioned its initial release back in November so I can’t wait to try it out. The NextGen app is premium and available for $5/month for three months or $4/month for a year. The first 100 users to upgrade to a premium account can get 10% off by using the coupon code feb10upgrade until February 12th. For more info visit www.gymtechnik.com/blackberry.

Craigslist Mobile for BlackBerry is now available in the App World courtesy of Movela, a software developer powered by the Pyxis Mobile Application Studio. While the app has a $4.99 price tag, regular craigslist users would find it useful since it offers a faster and more efficient browsing experience.

craigslist mobile by Movela is a full featured client application for BlackBerry® devices that allows users to browse and search craigslist postings, bookmark and reply to posts, save searches and more. Supports all categories and all countries supported by the www.craigslist.org website. craigslist mobile by Movela is the official craigslist application for BlackBerry devices.

While I don’t agree with the price of this app I’m sure many of you hardcore craigslist users won’t mind, especially if you’re already profiting from your listings. For more info check out the craigslist app in the BlackBerry App World.

What appears to be a complete PDF with information about BlackBerry Internet Service 3.0 has leaked online and is available for download. This PDF includes a BIS 3.0 product overview, complete list of new features and details about training and support documentation.

Among the new features in BIS 3.0 are updates to the Google Mail plugin, additional language support, OpenOffice document support, Windows Media Audio (.wma) support and more. There is no mention of a release date but this info getting leaked can only mean a BIS update is most likely around the corner. For more info check out the PDF file.

• Download via MegaUpload: BlackBerry Internet Service 3.0 (PDF)

Software For BlackBerry® Curve(TM) 8530 smartphone
BlackBerry Handheld Software v5.0.0.756 (Multilanguage)

Package Version: 5.0.0.756
Consisting of:

• Applications: 5.0.0.459
• Software Platform: 4.2.0.201
• File name: 8530AMEA_PBr5.0.0_rel756_PL4.2.0.201_A5.0.0.459_Sprint_L.P.exe
• File size: 97.62MB

Note: The Software Platform and Applications version numbers can be found under Options-About screen on the handheld.

• Download: OS 5.0.0.459 for the BlackBerry Curve 8530 from Sprint
• How To:
  • Backup And Restore Your BlackBerry
  • Upgrade your BlackBerry Operating System (OS)

Please report any feedback/findings in the comments.

REMEMBER: It is recommended that you make a backup before attempting to upgrade your BlackBerry just in case something goes wrong during the upgrade process. *