It’s been quite some time since I last mentioned Visible Vote here on BBRocks! Since then it has gotten an incredible amount of coverage on various news networks and websites, its user base has grown significantly and has now received an update to version 1.5. For those that don’t know what Visible Vote is about, here is a bit from their site:

Your Vote Now Counts Past Election Day! Visible Vote is a free application created to empower Facebook, iPhone, Blackberry and Windows users to advise congress on how to vote on the major upcoming legislation, follow current events, understand their legislators voting records, and compare the records with their own personal belief systems. The application allows users to vote on the same congressional bills and compares the result with their legislators’ voting history. Every week the application compiles the users voting record and sends this information to the appropriate legislator clearly indicating whether or not their constituents support or oppose their views on particular issues.

New in version 1.5:

• Added Twitter Buttons that will open up browsers to the legislators Twitter page if he/she has one.
• Added State Vote Tallies to the Bills themselves.
• Fixed some bugs in regards to logging into the program.
• Added a button to Call Your Legislator if you feel like talking to them (Under each Legislators Details.)
• Added global comments. Now users can comment on Bills and Reps to each other between devices.
• Added Flag for Review buttons to comments.

Visible Vote is available for BlackBerry devices running OS 4.5 and higher. For more info and to download, visit the Visible Vote BlackBerry page.

Paul let me know that he has developed a free application called Visible Vote that allows you to write personal letters to congress, vote on important issues and more!

From the description:

Visible Vote is an application created for Blackberry to track how your legislators are voting and to allow Blackberry users to vote on the same issues. The Legislators’ and Users’ voting records are compiled and then compared to each other.

What the app does for you:

1) Sends an overview fax every week to your legislators on how YOU and others in his/her district are voting.
2) Automatically provides feedback to you when senators vote for or against you.
3) It will update you on new issues to vote on from your profile page. (This is done by using the Add to Profile button in the application.)
4) Send you an overview report next election so you know who to vote for and against.
What you can do with this app:

1) Send a Letter to your Legislators through your Blackberry.
2) Track how your legislators are voting on issues you care about.
3) Vote on the same issues as your legislators.

The application also integrates with the Facebook version of Visible Vote. If you use the Facebook app you can synchronize your Blackberry with Facebook so that you can see even more detailed information on your Legislators and their voting records.

Now you have no excuse for not voting .

This application is still in beta, so be sure to send the developer feedback on your experience with Visible Vote (good and bad). If you’ve been looking for a chance to make a difference with legislation and congress, here it is. Every vote counts.

• Download OTA:
  • OS 4.6+: http://visiblevote.us/bb/new/visiblevote.jad
  • OS 4.3-4.5: http://visiblevote.us/bb/legacy/visiblevote.jad
• Info:
  • Visible Vote for BlackBerry Homepage
  • Visible Vote Facebook application
• How To: Install applications and themes via OTA with or without using data

There is just no love for Canadian BlackBerry users.

By Rafael Ruffolo:

Enterprises have the same objectives as law enforcers do in many cases, they ultimately want to prevent data leakages and protect their businesses from outside harm. But some technology analysts say proposed legislation requiring all technology to be wiretappable sends the wrong message to Canadian businesses

A recently tabled bill requiring an interception capability for all technology sold by Canadian ISPs and wireless carriers passes would discourage IT investment among enterprises and hurt the Canadian technology sector, industry observers argue.

Bill C-285, or the Modernization of Investigative Techniques Act, was re-tabled by Liberal MP Marlene Jennings last month after originally dying upon the call of the 2006 federal election. The proposed legislation aims to make life easier for law enforcement agencies to wiretap new and emerging technologies, such as BlackBerry smart phones.

But some analysts are arguing that the legislation would have a detrimental impact to tech dependant businesses and keep enterprise security experts up at night.

“We’re getting conflicting messages from the government on this front,” Carmi Levy, an independent technology analyst based in London, Ont., said. “The biggest challenge to wireless adoption has been the confidence in their overall level of security. Now you have this proposed act that would essentially give law enforcement a backdoor into any platform.”

Read more @ itWorldCanada.com

Thoughts?