Best Buy Mobile let me know about a new service they are launching on October 12th called mIQ. This service allows you to access, share and manage mobile data through a secure and personal Web portal, all done over the air!

Key Features

• Data backup & management: Upgrading to a new phone used to be a hassle. With mIQ, all content that lives on the mobile device — contacts, text messages, calendar events, calls, photos, videos, and voicemail messages — is automatically uploaded and safely backed-up on a personal Web-based mIQ account making it easy to sync, search, interact with, share it or transfer it from one phone to another. Since the mobile phone is constantly connected to the Web, mIQ automatically syncs any changes from the Web to the mobile device and vice-versa, instantly.
• Contacts: mIQ helps users easily manage and track the communication with all their contacts. Contacts from Gmail, Yahoo, Outlook, and other sources can be imported into the mIQ account and synchronized with the mobile phone. Users can then add, edit, or delete contacts from the personal mIQ account – the changes will be instantly pushed to the mobile phone and backed up on the web. Additionally, mIQ enables users to easily view text messages and calls associated with each contact.
• Enhanced text messaging: The mIQ Web platform provides an instant message-like experience by organizing SMS text messages into a conversational format. mIQ automatically uploads text messages to an inbox in the personal mIQ account where they can be read, forwarded, or responded to from any computer. Unlike other Web messaging solutions that deliver texts from random phone numbers, mIQ sends the text messages through the user’s mobile phone, ensuring that the recipient will always know who the message is from.
• Calendar: Instant access to appointments and events is important whether sitting in front of a computer or on the go. mIQ automatically uploads appointments and events from the phone calendar to the Web. Users can then add, edit, or delete calendar entries from either the mobile phone or the mIQ account and changes are automatically synched between the two platforms.
• Photos and videos: mIQ enables users to do more with the memories captured with their smartphones. mIQ automatically uploads photos and videos from the mobile phone to the personal mIQ account – as soon as they are taken – making it easy to organize them by adding titles and descriptions, share them through email and text messages and post them to social networking sites.
• Social media connectivity: Social networking on mobile devices has taken connectivity to a whole new level. Updating friends on the latest happenings no longer requires a trip to the computer. mIQ features instant connectivity to popular social sites like Facebook, Flickr, FriendFeed and Twitter, helping users share their mobile experiences – status, photos and videos – directly from their smartphone, wherever they may be.

Pretty awesome and best of all…it’s FREE!

Right now you can sign up for an invite and take a tour of this service at miqlive.com. For more info check out the press release after the jump. Once the service launches don’t forget to leave your thoughts in the comments!

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Fuze Box has just released a cool new app called Fuze Meeting, currently available for the BlackBerry Curve 8900, Bold and Storm.

Fuze Meeting for BlackBerry smartphones enables users to launch or participate in a web meeting from their mobile device – a must-have for salespeople, business owners, service providers and all mobile professionals. Fuze Meeting leverages the unique capabilities of the latest generation of BlackBerry smartphones, including 3G, Wi-Fi®, faster processors and elegant displays to allow users to view video content, images and documents. Fuze Meeting also lets users chat securely with co-workers and friends, send meeting invites, and even “fetch” participants from their BlackBerry contacts directly into a conference.

Features:

• Full-featured conference call management – start meetings, invite participants, fetch them into the session, mute and un-mute lines – all from a single interface.
• View meeting participants’ desktops, files and presentations on-the-go, in real-time, while synced with the meeting presenter.
• Watch and listen to high-quality video and audio – start, stop and pause as if you were in the room with the presenter.
• Consolidate multiple IM platforms into one application – login simultaneously to Yahoo, AOL, MSN, Jabber, Google Talk and others

Fuze Meeting is free with usage by up to 3 web users and/or 7 audio users. Just to clarify that, if 3 web users are in the meeting they also count as 3 audio users, leaving 4 audio spaces open, or just 7 audio users but the host has to be logged in through the web. For larger meetings you can check out Fuze Meeting’s pricing options, which include pay-as-you-go, monthly and annual plans.

I can see how this app would be useful with group projects and having small meetings. Even though the Fuze Meetings are limited to a certain number of attendees for the free version, the available features are great.

You can find this app in the BlackBerry App World or get it directly from FuzeMeeting.com. More info in the full press release after the jump.

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Those of you that are running the leaked versions of OS 5.0 know that instant messaging applications aren’t working properly yet (or at all). My buddy @0mie was able to get his hands on leaked versions of BlackBerry instant messaging applications that should work with devices running OS 5.0.

A note from 0mie:

Sidenote: I was asked to make these OTA files, thus the vendor being 0mieTech; if you don’t like that…Plain and simple, don’t dL.

Also keep in mind that since these are leaked versions, you should make a backup and install these apps at your own risk and only if you are comfortable with using beta software.

• Download OTA:
  • AIM 5.0
  • Yahoo 5.0
  • GTalk 5.0
  • MSN 5.0
• How To:
  • Backup And Restore Your BlackBerry
  • Install applications and themes via OTA with or without using data

If not being able to use instant messaging apps was holding you back from trying OS 5.0 and now you want to, check out the BlackBerry OS page to see if OS 5.0 is available for your device.

via 0mieTech

I got a tweet from @pjtriano yesterday asking me if the Y! Fantasy Football app was available for his BlackBerry, and today my buddy Doug pointed out that it is now available in the BB App World.

I personally have not used this app or participate in Fantasy Football, but I know that there are plenty of people addicted to it who would definitely appreciate it.

Features:

• Live Scoring: Free this year!  Follow your team as the games happen – in real time. (Paid option later?)
• Roster Management: Quarterback injured?  No problem.  Bench him and start your backup right from your phone.
• Add and drop players: No longer happy with your running back?  Simple.  Drop him from your team and search for a new one.
• Matchups: Not sure who you play next week?  No need to stop what you’re doing, just grab your BlackBerry and check.

The Y! Fantasy Football ‘09 app is currently available for the BlackBerry Curve 8900, Bold and Tour for those in the US and Canada. For more info and to download it head on over to the BB App World info page.

As part of the on-going Deal-of-the-Day (DoD) special offers, there will now be a special “Friday DoD” where you get 50% off popular BlackBerry software every Friday!

Today’s DoD is for IM+ All-in-One-Messenger by SHAPE Services.

IM+ All-in-One-Messenger by SHAPE Services, normally priced at $39.95, for one day only $19.97! IM+, an all-in-one instant messenger, has recently been updated to version 8.0 which supports MSN/Windows Live, Yahoo!, ICQ, AOL, Google Talk, Jabber, MySpace IM, Facebook chat, and Twitter.  This has been one of our top-10 selling communication products for a long time and the product has been continuously updated.  One great thing about IM+ is that this is a  lifetime license with all future updates included and free license transfer to another device (excluding iPhone/iPod).

Head on over to the BBRocks! Store to take advantage of this great offer!

You can also find these same great offers right on your BlackBerry in the on-device Mobile App Store.

NikkiSoft has released QuickLaunch for the BlackBerry 8800 series!

This app, in my opinion, is a must have app for anyone looking to get the most out of their convenience keys. Here are the features in v2.0:

• Backup / Restore to .txt file
• Built-in Screen Capture function
• Integrated Google, Wikipedia and Dictionary.com search
• Create Custom Submenus
• More apps and functions to Add
• Display Current Temperature
• Yahoo Weather
• Add Items Alphabetically
• Easier Setup with Installed Applications List
• Volume Button Scrolling
• 3 Font sizes
• System Menu Integration
• Keyboard Shortcuts
• Improved Performance
• Stay Lit – Keep your backlight on without timing out
• Radio On / Off – toggle your radios on or off.

QuickLaunch is available for $4.99 in the store and in the on-device Mobile App Store.

Found out about a new and free instant messaging application called Friendplay.

Friendplay is currently in Beta and is supposed to be compatible with Java enabled phones (including BlackBerry), but all my attempts to download it have failed. I figured I’d still let you all know in case you have better luck . Since it’s in Beta it may have bugs, so only download this application if you’re comfortable with testing Betas.

Friendplay allows you to connect to your Yahoo, MSN, Gtalk and AIM accounts over data or Wi-Fi. Besides one-on-one chat sessions users can create multiple chat rooms, add friends to frequently chat friend lists, and backup your contact list!

Friendplay also has non-chat features where you can “Send free SMS”, download ringtones, wallpapers or even videos via Friendplay Mobilefun.

You can download it now by visiting im.friendplay.com from your BlackBerry Browser, or visit Friendplay.com for more info. If you’re able to download it let me know what you think in the comments!

Full press release after the jump.

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Just got an email about another promotion happening right now for SHAPE Services BlackBerry applications.

Until May 1st, all of SHAPE Services’ BlackBerry apps that cost more than $19.99 are now only $19.99.

Price break down and apps that are part of this promotion:

• IM+ for Skype was $29.95
• IM+ All-in-One Messenger: Facebook,AIM/ iChat, MSN, Yahoo!, ICQ, Jabber, GTalk and MySpace was $49.95
• Mobiola Video Studio: Watch your favorite Videos, DVD, YouTube, iTunes on mobile was $24.95
• RDM+ : Remote Desktop for Mobiles was $49.95
• Mobiscope: Video from webcams on mobile was $29.95
• TSMobiles: Terminal Service client for Mobiles was $44.95
• VR+ : Record your voice, Email and Share in Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, Blogger.com was $29.95
• VNC+: Virtual Network Computing, BlackBerry version was $29.95

All of these applications have free trials if you’d like to test them out before purchasing. This deal allows you to save up to 60% on SHAPE Services applications.

Check it out!

Let me know what you think of them!

It looks like every BlackBerry is supported, except for those on Verizon. Way to win the consumer’s heart, Verizon. Here’s why:

Verizon is the only carrier blocks LifeInPocket (and other 3rd party applications) access to BlackBerry internal GPS**, unless a “business agreement” is established. That means we will have to charge users for our services and split revenue with Verizon just like VZ Navigator ($9.99/month), SocialLife ($1.49/month), Chaperone ($9.99/month), WeatherBug($2.99/month), Wireless Sync Email ($19.99/month) etc. ———— While our preference is to offer our services to end users for free. ———— In order to do so, the alternative way is to use external Bluetooth GPS receivers just like Telenav’s $9.99/month service. More…

Some highlights from the press release:

• Building on the success in the one billion units per year Java phone market, RoadComm, Inc. today made available its LifeInPocket mobile suite, http://LifeInPocket.com to RIM’s BlackBerry smart phones.
• Free of charge, LifeInPocket will upgrade Blackberries with a greater array of functionality than the iPhone. Those features include GPS, navigation, location messaging, friends/family locator, and much more.
• Unlike iPhone’s limited sync capability, LifeInPocket™ enables address book sync/import/export with Yahoo, Gmail, MSN, Hotmail, Outlook Express, Palm Desktop, etc. Users can one-click on those synced contacts to “call”, to “mail” and to “navigate” via their phones.
• The only mobile application/services platform of its kind, LifeInPocket™ symbolizes the next generation of application and services that offers power of top of the line smart phones to regular cell phones and making smart phones smarter.

Read the full press release after the jump.

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Yahoo! has just announced their upcoming Yahoo! Mobile website and smartphone application.

Consumers will be able to:

• Discover: via results from Yahoo!’s award-winning mobile search, editor-selected content, and new maps tools.
• Stay Connected: through access to their email and social network accounts from the most popular Web providers, as well as instant messaging, address book and calendar tools.
• Stay Informed: by bringing together favorite content – websites, sports teams, news sources, RSS feeds, weather, stocks, horoscopes and more – into a single location.

Expected launch of Yahoo! Mobile is in late May 2009, but if you want to beta test it click here to join the managed beta program.

Read the full press release after the jump.

CONTINUE READING »