A leaked document from Bell Mobility reveals that the carrier has no plans of releasing the latest Blackberry OS – 6.0 for the compatible devices including Blackberry Bold 9700, Pearl 9100 and Curve 3G 9300 at least until 2011… that unless a major bug surfaces in the OS 5.x, that’s fortunately fixed in the OS 6.0. I am sure Bell’s customers won’t be happy with this… not to let RIM out of this.

Well, last word from Bell, “Timing is still to be confirmed. Please advise your clients if any inquiries arise.” … only hope is for Bell to change its decision.

Hunting for the best BlackBerry apps? Try the productivity tools, utilities, and entertainment titles we’ve collected here. For multiplatform apps, or titles exclusive to Android or iPhone, see the other articles in this package.

Social Networking Apps

Chat with BlackBerry friends: Using the BlackBerry Messenger IM client, you can quickly and easily communicate with other BlackBerry device owners. Using your unique BlackBerry PIN (or bar code), you can add all of your BlackBerry friends and then chat with them or share your files, images, videos, and location. Free

UberTwitter brings images, video, and other enhancements to Twitter.Tweet better: Offering location awareness and embedded images and video, the UberTwitter client has all of the regular features of Twitter but adds advanced features such as URL/tweet shrinking and group list support. Free

Bubble up: CrunchSMS is a chat-style bubble-SMS application with loads of customization options. Among other things, you can add pictures to your favorite contacts, customize the colors, and add smileys and a signature. Free
News, Financial, and Reference Apps

Viigo displays news stories and information in a number of categories.Get informed fast: The versatile Viigo delivers news and information to your BlackBerry. Modules include sports, business and finance, entertainment, and local and national weather. Free

Monitor spending: You can constantly keep track of your checking, savings, and credit card transactions and balances on your handset with the help of Mobile Checkbook. This tool also lets you record transactions as they happen, reconcile balances, and schedule recurring transactions on the go. $10

Know the weather: Through BerryWeather you can obtain instant access to current weather conditions, advisories and alerts, and detailed seven-day and 24-hour forecasts for over 72,000 locations worldwide. $10
Audio and Video Tools
Organize podcasts: Automatically download podcasts for when you have time to listen, using PodTrapper Podcast Manager. The app, which includes its own podcast browser, permits you to create playlists, keep track of the last played episode, and save your place within an episode. $10

Tune in: The no-cost version of Nobex Radio Companion allows you to listen to radio stations within the United States. With the premium subscription version of the app, you can listen to over 5800 radio stations in 80 different countries, with no ad interruptions. Free basic version, $4 premium version

Watch mobile TV: A new video service from Fox, Bitbop streams premium TV content to your BlackBerry device. You can also download shows for viewing when a wireless connection isn’t available. $10 per month
Utilities
Get there quickly: QuickLaunch en­­ables you to set up an unlimited number of shortcuts that bring you to any Website, function, file, or app on your phone with just one click. $5

Tether makes your BlackBerry’s Net connection available to your laptop.Connect via BlackBerry: The Tether app allows your PC or Mac laptop to connect to the Internet via your BlackBerry’s 3G service. $50

Get longer-lasting alerts: Extend your default BlackBerry alert system via BerryBuzz. You can customize the LED color alerts and vibration, keeping the LED flashing beyond the default 15 minutes and setting the phone to repeat alerts until acknowledged. $6 per month

Research in Motion (RIM) is pushing for its place in the hard fought arena of mobile applications by releasing an updated version of its own store.

Version 2.0 of BlackBerry App World is now available to download in the UK, along with 64 other countries, and has a list of new features for both customers and developers.

The main introduction is the ability to charge $0.99 for an app, opening up cheaper options for developers and encouraging the customers to buy. This will also include the option to pay the low price for a level of a game, giving more of a try before you buy policy for applications that can be very expensive.

The other major change is users will now be able to pay by credit card, along with the traditional BlackBerry payment model of PayPal.

Unfortunately the UK is still lagging behind the US when it comes to downloading apps and paying for them with a monthly bill, but on the official Inside BlackBerry blog, the company wrote: “We have really great carrier partners all across the globe and we’re working with them to offer expanded carrier billing options as soon as possible. Keep checking back to Inside BlackBerry for updates.”

BlackBerry still lags behind its major rival Apple with the number of apps on offer – 2,500 in the UK – but the new features seem to be aimed at encouraging developers to come on board.

The rumoured BlackBerry tablet device dubbed the BlackPad will run an operating system that can also be found in a new US Army robot vehicle and the latest BMW cars, according to reports.

Speculation about the BlackPad first emerged at the end of July, when a Bloomberg report said Blackberry maker RIM was planning to launch a tablet with a 9.7in touch screen as well as Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity that would cost around £315.

Now, a new report on the news wire has revealed details of the operating system at the heart of the tablet – the existence of which has yet to be confirmed by RIM.

Bloomberg said that in an effort to distance the BlackPad from other tablets, most obviously the Apple iPad, RIM has opted to use QNX Software Systems’ operating system rather than its own forthcoming Blackberry OS6.

“The yet-to-be-announced tablet will run on software developed by QNX Software Systems, which RIM bought from Harman International Industries Inc. for $200m in April,” said the report.

As well as BMW cars, the software is being used in the US Army’s new Crusher all-terrain autonomous vehicle.

The BlackPad is tipped for a November release.

The possible decision not to run the Blackberry OS6 is a little surprising. When our labs tested it on the Blackberry Torch handset, it was judged to be feature-rich, very usable and well suited to a touchscreen interface.

However, its similarity in terms of look and feel to the iOS 4 and Android operating systems may explain why BlackBerry might want to look elsewhere.

BlackBerry App World 2.0 launched, Beta out, its cheap and may offer a lot more value for money

BlackBerry maker RIM is making an all-out effort to make an outstanding comeback in the industry. It is not that RIM and BlackBerry are in the dumps. But of late the RIM was jolted when many of its die-hard users had moved to its rival Apple with the launch of iPad. However, now things look to be changing for good for RIM.

Reports have surfaced that BlackBerry App World has been unrolled by RIM. Company insiders say BlackBerry App World carries on adding features. The new version comes with cheaper apps. Besides, it has new ways to find apps.

Experts say it is powered in such a way that it will take advantage of the new gestures in BlackBerry 6. Above all it has a new payment system that makes buying apps even easier.

It is understood that this will only make RIM’S BlackBerry more popular in the market. Those who are knowledgeable in this sector claim that App World now has over 2,500 BlackBerry apps in the UK. However, in the US it has more apps. Here games are not being counted.

The new BlackBerry App World gives an opportunity to developers to choose new lower price points for apps ($0.99 now and $1.99 apps soon).

There has been made announcement by RIM in a press release stating the company to be releasing the BlackBerry 6 on Bold 9700, 9650 and Pearl 3G models as well. It is reported that the latest BlackBerry OS has already made its debut over company’s recently released BlackBerry 9800 Torch smartphone. The latest BlackBerry OS has multiples of features including a new WebKit web browser, a new interface with icons arranged over Home Screen in 5 customizable views etc. One of the premier feature of the new BlackBerry OS is the given integrated access to the native BlackBerry Messenger, Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, AOL, Instant Messenger, Google Talk, Windows Live Messenger and Yahoo Messenger apps.

Google has a full range of applications that you can install on your BlackBerry as individual applications. At the same time, however, they also offer a number of applications all bundled together in Google Mobile Apps. Install this and you get Gmail, Google Maps, Google Search, and plenty more. A Internet tutorial by butterscotch.com. Distributed by Tubemogul.