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 this week I started a contest for a chance to win 25 free copies of the Textender application. Here are the winners of that contest!

• Stephanie
• Kevin Allen
• lelesworld
• markladams
• Michelle Pontrelli Stewart
• nfldberryguy
• thenig
• skyclever
• KCarey
• luis101
• shockaholic
• jaywathorne
• Gordon Morgolese
• beri
• Marie-Claire
• PoppaButch
• Quenfis
• Shades
• jay916
• JoeUser99
• Raz Garcia
• MaryD
• ewanjrc
• mog386
• naillady_1

Congrats to the winners! You can expect an email from me by the end of the weekend with info on how to get your free copy. For those that missed this contest, Textender is currently on sale for $1.49 until October 31st in case you still wanted this application. Be sure to follow me on Twitter or subscribe to the feed so you don’t miss future contests and giveaways!

Just wanted to remind everyone to get their comments in before 12AM tonight for a chance to win a free copy of Textender.

Recap of the features:

• Send messages
  

  beyond 140/160 characters

• Send to up to 6 recipients at any given time
• Can be accessed while composing a text/sms
• Stand alone app which can be assigned to a convenience key
• Displays a message count so the user is aware how many messages they are sending
• Sent messages will be saved as one whole message in native message app on the BlackBerry
• **Please Note: Your carrier will still charge you for the total number of messages sent, not for one message each time Textender is used**

For more info and to leave your comment head to the original contest post. Contest winners will be announced tomorrow afternoon.

A few days ago I mentioned that RIM is rumored to be working on an official BlackBerry Twitter client but at that time there weren’t too many details available as far as features or a launch date.

According to Salomondrin the BlackBerry Twitter client will be launching on November 16th of this year and it will be a VPL release through carriers. Sal says that this client will include “push” which will allow for automatic refreshes without having to manually refresh or set a refresh time. Here are some other features mentioned by the Polish BlackBerry site BBNews.pl:

• Notification of number of new tweets on the home screen with icon, like text messages
• Main app opens friends timeline
• Ability to view followers
• Follow/unfollow functions
• Create direct messages, replies and new tweets
• Keyword search and saved results
• Tweet photos directly from camera or memory card
• View photos from other tweets
• View trending topics
• Address book integration

Considering that RIM has total access to the BlackBerry interface like no other Twitter app, I’m really excited to see how deeply these features will be integrated. In addition to this Twitter client being available in the BB App World, word has it that it will eventually come pre-loaded on BlackBerry devices.

Now that you know some more details about this official BlackBerry Twitter client, will you stick to your current app or scrap it for this one? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments!

via IntoMobile

I came across this app in the store called DriveSafe.ly that is supposed to help increase your driving safety by reading your text and email messages out loud, in real-time so you don’t have to look at your BlackBerry while driving. Apps like these are very useful, especially since using a mobile phone while driving is against the law in many regions.

In some cases you don’t even need to be driving to use these apps. You can use them if you have your hands full or just don’t feel like reading .

Features:

• It is free to use DriveSafe.ly
• Automatically plays incoming text SMS and email messages
• Play messages on demand through menu
• No complicated software to install easy to use
• Small footprint lightweight app does not slow down your phone
• Customizable auto-response and timeout duration
• Human sounding text to speech powered by iSpeech.org

DriveSafe.ly is available as a free download in the store and will work with all BlackBerry devices running OS 4.5 and higher. If you give this app a try and feel it helped you while driving (or during other activities) let me know in the comments!

@cipriani15 let me know about a new BlackBerry application he just released called Textender.

Textender basically extends the SMS character limit beyond the standard 140/160, allowing you to send longer SMS messages at once. This app will work for BlackBerry devices on CDMA networks including Verizon, Sprint, Alltel, U.S. Cellular, Bell, Telus, Cricket, and MetroPCS.

Features:

• Send messages beyond 140/160 characters
• Send to up to 6 recipients at any given time
• Can be accessed while composing a text/sms
• Stand alone app which can be assigned to a convenience key
• Displays a message count so the user is aware how many messages they are sending
• Sent messages will be saved as one whole message in native message app on the BlackBerry
• **Please Note: Your carrier will still charge you for the total number of messages sent, not for one message each time Textender is used**

Textender is available for $1.49 until October 31st, after that it will go up to $2.99. This app will work on all BlackBerry devices running OS 4.5 and higher.

CONTEST: I have 25 free copies of Textender to give away! Simply leave a comment on this post before Friday October 2nd at 12AM ET for a chance to win a copy. Good luck! *

New in the store today is bChat, a threaded text messaging application for BlackBerry by ALL KAPPS Software.

It’s already known that threaded SMS is supposed to be available with OS 5.0, but many of you may not be able to wait for this feature. If you can’t wait and don’t mind spending $0.99, then bChat is definitely a good alternative.

Features:

• Texts organized by conversation/contact
• Allows texts longer than the standard 160 characters
• Customize the UI colors
• Integration into your profiles
• Save your chats to the device or memory card for your records
• Follow links and emails directly from the conversation, no need to copy and paste the link
• Send texts with just a press of the enter key, just like BlackBerry Messenger
• Track how many texts you send and receive

For only $0.99 this app offers some great, useful features that I’m sure many of you will appreciate.

This app is currently compatible with all BlackBerry devices running OS 4.5 and higher except for the Storm. Check it out in the store or in the on-device Mobile App Store and let me know what you think!

Today is day 2 of BlackBerry Tour Week! The Deal-of-the-Day today is for Beyond160, an application that allows you to type more than 160 character text messages.

• A must-have application for users on Verizon, Sprint, Alltel, U.S. Cellular, Bell, Telus, and all other CDMA carriers with a 160 (or 140) character limit when composing a text message.
• Field full? Simply hit Menu –> Go Beyond160 and continue typing as much as you want.
• Make your message as long as you want and Beyond160 will automatically send it in multiple parts with the appropriate markers… (1/3), (2/3), (3/3).
• Sent messages will go to your normal Outbox.
• Saved drafts will go to your normal Inbox.
• Send to one recipient, multiple recipients, or even contact groups you’ve created.
• If you’re tired of re-wording your text to try and make it fit… If you’re tired of creating another message just to finish your thoughts… If you’re tired of switching to MMS and not knowing if they’ll receive it… Then get Beyond160 and experience the freedom!
• Beyond160 will also work with QuickText, if installed, so try them both for the ultimate in texting efficiency.
• Fully Operational 14 Day Trial Period
• PLEASE NOTE – Each message part is just like a normal SMS text message sent from your BlackBerry. So, if you don’t have an unlimited text messaging plan, then carrier charges may apply. For example… If you type a message that is 350 characters long, Beyond160 will send it in 3 parts, which is the same as sending 3 individual text messages.

This application will work with any BlackBerry running OS 4.2 and higher.

Beyond160 is normally priced at $6.99, but until 12AM CST tonight you can get it for 50% off at $3.49. A free trial is available for anyone that wants to try it before they buy it.

To make sure you don’t miss any of these deals you can download the BBRocks! Mobile AppStore and get them straight to your BlackBerry!

In early April I mentioned the  GVdialer application for BlackBerry, which gives you the ability to easily make calls using your Google Voice account. I recently got an invite for Google Voice, so I decided to try this application out.

At the time I had downloaded GVdialer it seemed like it was more about convenience than an application with features. GVdialer would automatically make phone calls after you inputted your Google Voice account information. This could be done without GVdialer, but the process was a bit slow.

The new GVdialer however adds some nice features which I believe will make it a good Google Voice application (until another comes out anyway). Here are the features in the new version:

• New user interface and account screen
• Option to check for online software updates
• Make calls in two ways
  • Regular call out
  • Data triggered call back, just like you can do from your Google Voice account
• Send text message using GVdialer from your Blackberry’s Options menu. You can also use it to reply to your phone’s regular emails & text messages, or from the call log & address book.

GVdialer is available for $9.99 as part of an introductory offer for a limited period of time but there is also a 30 day free trial in case you wanted to test it out before purchasing it. Head on over to GVdialer.com to check it out.

Skydeck let me know that their service is now out of beta and available for BlackBerry smartphones.

Some Skydeck highlights include:

• Skydeck moves all the functionality of your Blackberry device onto the web, and lets you track, archive and search VoIP and wireless calls, voicemail and text messages online.
• Skydeck keeps a complete record of your activity by capturing every incoming and outgoing call and lets you search them and attach call notes. It also captures full text of text messages and incoming voice mails.
• Skydeck organizes the address book on your Blackberry device based on who you interact with most, putting the people you talk and message with the most right at the top.
• If you lose your phone, or are traveling and want to avoid costly roaming charges, you can use your smart phone from Skydeck on the web.
• Skydeck lets you initiate VoIP calls and text messages that look like they are coming from your cell phone.

Some of the new features include:

• All of your calls – including missed calls and voicemails, which never showed up in the original version of Skydeck.
• All of your text messages – including the content of your text messages.
• All of your voicemails – including the audio of your voicemails, plus a transcribed version that gets sent to you by text and by email, all stored on Skydeck.com.
• All of your contacts – sync your cell phone directly to Skydeck.
• In real time – not one day late.
• Search – including the content of your texts and the content of your voicemails.
• Reply – take advantage of your broadband connection, your headset, and your keyboard to place calls and send texts from Skydeck that appear to be coming from your cell phone.

Price: Starting at $9.95 per month

Be sure to leave some comments if you decide to try this service out!

Check it out: http://skydeck.com/