Last month RIM officially announced BlackBerry Tag, a new way for BlackBerry smartphone users with supported devices to connect with one another and share multimedia content. BlackBerry smartphones with NFC will also be able to issue payments (like a credit card) but Tag is meant to allow sharing of content between users. From IntoMobile:

After checking out their new smartphones, RIM gave us a sneak peek at BlackBerry Tag, which will really start putting near-field communications to work. Just as described, BlackBerry tag will allow users to quickly and easily share content between BlackBerry devices; by putting them butt-to-butt, you’ll be able to transfer ringtones, voice notes, contacts, images, videos, calendar items, documents, spreadsheets, PowerPoint presentations, PDFs, browser links, and whatever else third part developers chose to support. It seems like the NFC itself is mostly just used to initiate a Bluetooth transfer, but that’s still pretty great considering how much of a pain it can be to pair up devices.

Very cool and very useful. Besides for being able to share documents and multimedia content, I’m sure developers will come up with creative ways to take advantage of BlackBerry Tag in apps and games. If you’re a developer you can check out this blog post at the Inside BlackBerry Developer’s Blog for more info.

via IntoMobile

RIM today announced BlackBerry Tag, a new way for BlackBerry smartphone users to connect and share things using a supported device’s NFC capabilities. This feature will be available to the recently launched BlackBerry Curve and Bold smartphones in a BlackBerry 7 OS update. Here’s some info on BlackBerry Tag:

BlackBerry® Tag, which will be incorporated in the next BlackBerry® 7 OS update*, will allow users to share contact information, documents, URLs, photos and other multimedia content by simply tapping their BlackBerry smartphones together. BlackBerry Tag will also enable friends to instantly add one another as contacts on BBM™ (BlackBerry® Messenger).

RIM didn’t mention when this feature or OS update will be available but seeing them mention APIs and developers in the press release makes me think they’ll say something about it at DevCon Americas 2011. Stay tuned and check out the full press release below for more info!

FULL PRESS RELEASE!

As expected after Verizon’s announcement for the BlackBerry Bold 9930, Sprint one-upped them today by announcing the BlackBerry Torch 9850 and Bold 9930. According to the press release the Bold 9930 and Torch 9850 will be available in stores and online beginning Sunday, August 21st, a few days before Verizon makes their Bold 9930 available for in-store purchase. Unfortunately Sprint will not be undercutting Verizon as many of you hoped, offering the Bold 9930 for $249.99 and the Torch 9850 for $149.99, both on a new two-year service agreement.

For more info go to sprint.com or check out the press release below.

FULL PRESS RELEASE!

Next up in line to be acquired by RIM is JayCut, a company with focus on video editing and cloud-based services. This acquisition adds yet another unique and skilled team to work on improving the BlackBerry platform. Besides for JayCut, RIM also acquired Torch Mobile, Cellmania, part of DataViz, The Astonishing Tribe, Gist, Tungle and Scoreloop. With all these acquisitions, I’m really excited to see what they’ll bring to QNX-powered BlackBerry smartphones and tablets. Here’s the note from David Yach, Chief Technology Officer at RIM:

Today we are pleased to announce that JayCut has joined Research In Motion (RIM). We’re excited that the JayCut team is bringing their expertise in video editing and cloud-based services to the BlackBerry platform.

JayCut is based out of Sweden and operates a premier online video editor that they have licensed to a variety of companies and websites.

The BlackBerry PlayBook offers users premium multimedia features, including dual HD cameras for video capture and video conferencing, HDMI output and high resolution video playback. By working with JayCut to add video editing capabilities to the BlackBerry platform we can further enrich our customers’ multimedia experience with BlackBerry.

What do you think about this acquisition by RIM? Anyone excited about being able to edit videos and other multimedia with official BlackBerry apps?

via Inside BlackBerry

Earlier today I let you know that a Tablet OS update for the BlackBerry PlayBook is rumored to be releasing soon with some new features. According to an internal Bell message, Tablet OS version 1.0.7 is set to release today. Here are the changes this update will supposedly bring:

• Broader regional customization and additional language support
• Improved productivity with BlackBerry Bridge
  • Zip files received as email attachment can now be viewed on smartphone
  • Flexibility to save attachments to SD card or internal memory of smartphone
• Improved multimedia experience
  • Pictures can be viewed in portrait or landscape layout
  • Videos can be zoomed into while it is still playing

I’ve checked all day for updates with no luck. If you want to help you can check for PlayBook software updates too and leave a comment when it’s available. If I happen to get the update notification I’ll be sure to mention its availability as soon as possible so keep an eye on BBRocks.com!

via @Angrysmartphone, CB

After an apparent slip up by Gerald Evans and launch details for Sprint’s BlackBerry PlayBook, John let me know that RIM went ahead and made it official! In a press release published today, RIM made the June 5th launch date and $499.99 price point official:

The much anticipated BlackBerry® PlayBook™ tablet with Wi-Fi® connectivity and 16 GB of storage will go on sale in all Sprint direct ship sales channels, including Sprint Stores, Business Sales, www.sprint.com and Telesales (1-800-SPRINT1) on Sunday, June 5, for $499.99 (plus tax).

BlackBerry PlayBook delivers a professional-grade, consumer-friendly experience that redefines the possibilities of mobile computing. This ultra-portable tablet, measuring less than half an inch thick and weighing less than a pound, looks and feels great. It features a vivid 7-inch high-resolution display that is highly-responsive with a fluid touch screen experience. It also offers industry-leading performance, uncompromised web browsing with full Adobe Flash support, true multitasking, HD multimedia, advanced security features and out-of-the-box enterprise support.

I guess Evans didn’t jump the gun too far ahead of schedule. Who’s heading in to a Sprint store this weekend to get themselves a BlackBerry PlayBook tablet? For more info see the full press release below.

FULL PRESS RELEASE!

Well it looks like the official name of the rumored BlackBerry Bold Touch will just be the Bold 9900. According to some Wi-Fi certifications discovered by pocketnow, the Wi-Fi Alliance certified the Bold 9900 yesterday, April 25th. The certification document shows that this device will be dual-band enabled with 2.4GHz and 5GHz, some details that were leaked back in January. Other than that it shows some security, multimedia and special features details.

So far we know that the Bold 9900 might be the only device announced at the BlackBerry World conference next week. Not much longer before we get some official info! Check out a bigger version of the certification document screenshot below.

BIGGER CERTIFICATION IMAGE!

The day many of us have waited for is finally here, Best Buy in the United States and Canada is now accepting pre-orders for the BlackBerry PlayBook tablet!

I just mentioned that the PlayBook would be available through over 20,000 retail channels but that press release did not include a pricing break down. The pricing for the WiFi models of the PlayBook will be $499 for the 16GB version, $599 for the 32GB version and $699 for the 64GB version. The PlayBook is set to launch through all Best Buy stores and Best Buy Mobile stores in the United States as well as Best Buy and Future shop in Canada, on April 19. For more info go to bestbuy.com/playbook if you’re in the U.S. or bestbuy.ca/blackberry and futureshop.ca/blackberry if you’re in Canada, or check out the press release below!

So, who’s pre-ordering a BlackBerry PlayBook tablet today?

FULL PRESS RELEASE!