A few days ago I mentioned that the BeejiveIM Beta would be getting updated to support OS 5.0. Jim over at Beejive posted in their forums that beta version 1.9.7 is now available with some new features from the current production version:

• support for 5.0 OS
• file transfers via link, you can now transfer files to buddies on all IM accounts.
• email push when app running in background (see preferences in app).
• send voice notes
• send GPS location (if supported by phone)
• new chat styles & background images
• new buddy list layouts
• improved battery life
• overall UI redesign
• facebook IM
• various other bug fixes & enhancements

This beta version is only for BlackBerry devices running OS 4.2.1 and higher. As always, since this is a beta and not guaranteed to be stable, install at your own risk and make sure you backup your data first.

• Over the air (direct download to BB via web browser):
  • http://www.beejive.com/otabeta5.0storm (5.0 OS Storm & Storm 2 ONLY)
  • http://www.beejive.com/otabeta4.7storm (4.7 OS Storm ONLY)
  • http://www.beejive.com/otabeta5.(5.0 OS Tour, 9700 Bold)
  • http://www.beejive.com/otabeta4.6_vga (4.6 OS and higher, VGA screen: 9000 Bold, Tour, 8900 Curve)
  • http://www.beejive.com/otabeta4.6 (4.6 OS and higher, NON-VGA screen: 8220 Pearl Flip, 8350 Curve)
  • http://www.beejive.com/otabeta4.3 (4.3 OS and higher)
  • http://www.beejive.com/otabeta4.2.1 (4.2.1 OS and higher)
• Desktop Install:
  • http://www.beejive.com/beta5.0storm (5.0 OS Storm & Storm 2 ONLY)
  • http://www.beejive.com/beta4.7storm (4.7 OS Storm ONLY)
  • http://www.beejive.com/beta5.0 (5.0 OS Tour, 9700 Bold)
  • http://www.beejive.com/beta4.6_vga (4.6 OS and higher, VGA screen: 9000 Bold, Tour, 8900 Curve)
  • http://www.beejive.com/beta4.6 (4.6 OS and higher, NON-VGA screen: 8220 Pearl Flip, 8350 Curve)
  • http://www.beejive.com/beta4.3 (4.3 OS and higher)
  • http://www.beejive.com/beta4.2.1(4.2.1 OS and higher)
• How To:
  • Install applications and themes via OTA with or without using data
  • Install Applications and Themes via Desktop Manager

Thanks @sgtd!

The Facebook application for BlackBerry smartphones has been updated to version 1.7.0.22. There’s no changelog and I haven’t noticed anything new or different yet so if you find something let me know in the comments!

Go to blackberry.com/facebook from your BlackBerry Browser to download the updated version or check for the new version from within the Facebook application options.

This post will help me in a few ways, the most important one being the results of the poll above.

I am always looking for ways to help you (the readers) when it comes to browsing and connecting with BBRocks! I want to know if it would help you to know what the topic of a post is by including it in the post’s title. In this way you would know just from the title what you are reading about while at BBRocks.com or if you are viewing the BBRocks! Twitter account, Facebook page, LinkedIn Group or have subscribed to the BBRocks! RSS Feed.

The other way this post will help me is by testing the new polling system I have chosen to use, PollDaddy. A new category for all Polls on BBRocks! has been created and I plan to do polls more often to get your feedback on certain topics. You can also view all of the polls created here at answers.polldaddy.com/blackberryrocks.

Please cast your vote above and feel free to share your thoughts in the comments.

UPDATE It looks like this outage is occurring in many more areas than previously reported. Please refer to the comments of this post. *

I’ve received numerous reports from @DavePeckens, @BRSDiddy and a few others, letting me know that BlackBerry Internet Service (BIS) seems to be down for them. So far it looks like the areas being affected are California, Texas, Arkansas, Michigan and I can confirm that BIS is having trouble in New Jersey.

At first it seemed like only the BlackBerry Browser wasn’t working but it looks like third-party applications are also being affected, although some are having more luck connecting to the internet.

If you’re being affected by this data outage let me know what’s not working and where you are in the comments.

Loopt let me know that they have just released a major update for their BlackBerry client that adds a bunch of new features. Loopt mobile updates your location in real-time while it runs in the background so you can meet up with nearby friends, explore new places to grab food, and find local events wherever you are.

Here are some of the features:

• Discover the best places and events, including those rated highly by your friends on Pulse
• See where your friends are on maps – view their latest updates listed in real-time and comment on them
• Check-in to instantly share your updates with friends – easily update Facebook and Twitter with your photos and places in one Loopt check-in
• Browse and rate local places and events – peruse detailed information from Zagat, Citysearch, and the Loopt community
• Save money through special offers from nearby retailers with local coupons

I’m not sure how this application will affect battery life since it constantly updates in the background so if you try it out be sure to let me know how it worked for you in the comments.

Loopt is currently available in the BlackBerry App World as a free download for the BlackBerry Curve 8900 (T-Mobile, AT&T), BlackBerry Tour 9630 (Sprint, Verizon) and BlackBerry Bold 9000 (AT&T). For more info about this update check out the press release after the jump.

CONTINUE READING »

A few days ago I told you about the free Vodafone Update client for BlackBerry that allows you to update your Twitter and Facebook statuses. Widgetlabs left a comment letting me know that they have released Vodafone Update v2.0.1 with the following features:

• Copy&Paste
• AutoText
• BIS Connections

Vodafone Update is currently available for the BlackBerry Curve 8900 and Bold 9000. Visit vodafone.de/update from your BlackBerry Browser to download this app OTA.

Vodafone has released Vodafone Update, a social network BlackBerry application that allows you to update your Twitter and Facebook profiles.

Features:

• See status updates from your Twitter and Facebook contacts at a glance
• What are you doing right now? Post tweets to one or both of your social networks
• Reply to your friends’ messages directly from your BlackBerry
• Search for real-time news in Twitter
• Share what you see with others instantly! Take photos with your BlackBerry and send them to one or both of your networks with just one click
• Easy to use – just download, start and you’re done

Vodafone Update is currently available for the BlackBerry Curve 8900 and Bold 9000. Visit vodafone.de/update from your BlackBerry Browser to download this app OTA.

If you check it out let me know what you think in the comments, especially if you’ve used other BlackBerry Twitter apps.

Thanks @TorontoWireless!

AT&T’s Facebook account posted some news about the BlackBerry Bold 9700 along with a link to a ShareATT YouTube video where Seth Bloom, an AT&T spokesman, does an unboxing and walkthrough of the Bold 9700.

A first look at the brand new Blackberry Bold 9700, which features a 624 MHz processor, 256 MB of Flash memory, a 3.2 megapixel camera and A-GPS to provide a faster location fix in support of AT&T Navigator with real-time traffic data. The new BlackBerry Bold 9700 smartphone also features an re-designed, innovative touch-sensitive trackpad, Wi-Fi, tethering capability, increased battery life, and BlackBerry OS v5.0, which supports BlackBerry Enterprise Server 5.0.

It’s very exciting to see an official video of the Bold 9700. Here’s a recap of AT&T’s pricing for this device from their press release:

The BlackBerry Bold 9700 smartphone will be available in the coming weeks for $199.99 (pay $299.99 and receive $100 mail-in-rebate.) AT&T smartphones require the purchase of a monthly data plan. Other monthly charges apply.

Don’t forget to watch the video and let me know what you think in the comments!

I first told you about Best Buy Mobile’s new and free mIQ wireless syncing service a few weeks ago but totally forgot to follow up with the official launch on October 12th!

mIQ is an awesome app/service that I’m sure many of you will appreciate since you can do so much while on the run. About mIQ:

Mobile technology is pretty amazing, but getting the most out of it can sometimes be challenging. mIQ was created to make it easy for users to unleash the potential of their mobile phone.

mIQ from Best Buy Mobile helps users sync their contacts, text messages, calendar events, calls, photos, videos, and internet favorites from their mobile phones to their private web-based mIQ account. Once in sync, the user can backup and interact with their information, share their experiences with friends and social sites, discover the top solutions available for their phones, and restore their content when moving from one phone to the next.

The mIQ service keeps the phone and the web constantly connected, so that the stuff done on one automatically shows up on the other in just a few seconds, helping users access and share their stuff whether they’re on the go or in front of their computers – no cables or effort required!

For more info and to sign up head to miqlive.com from your desktop browser or m.miqlive.com from your BlackBerry Browser to download the app OTA.

Thanks George!

Earlier today @AtilaUno let me know that there was a rumor of a new Facebook version for BlackBerry getting released. It looks like this rumor turned out to be true because RIM has officially announced the new version!

New features in version 1.7:

• News Feed Support (Migration to the new News Feed API)
• News Feed Filters (Status, Photos, Links, News Feed)
• Caching Improvements
• Feed Pre-fetching
• View Profile Menu Option
• Default BB Menu item selection changes

Here are some helpful knowledge base articles to look through:

• How to control Facebook for BlackBerry smartphones organizer data access
• Add Facebook events to the Calendar application on the BlackBerry smartphone
• Link a Facebook friend to an existing contact on the BlackBerry smartphone
• How to specify the notification email address in Facebook for BlackBerry smartphones
• How to refresh the Friends list in Facebook for BlackBerry smartphones
• Access Facebook for BlackBerry smartphones using the Search application on the BlackBerry smartphone
• How to view or request a friend’s phone number in Facebook for BlackBerry smartphones
• Add Facebook Friends to the Contacts application on the BlackBerry smartphone

For more info or to download visit blackberry.com/facebook from your BlackBerry Browser. Let me know how you like this version in the comments!