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October 15, 2007
23:59
Entradas rápidas en Twitter del día 2007-10-15
» ‎ miblackberry.com

Para los de Linux: Barry versión 0.9 ya está aquí http://sourceforge.net/projects/barry/ (Fuente: http://tinyurl.com/ywp5lt) # Para acceder a una cuenta de pop3 o imap desde dispositivo móvil si...

(Para leer la noticia entera haz click en el título o entra en http://www.miblackberry.com)

23:27
Shop Amazon From Your BlackBerry Using Amazon’s New Mobile Website!
» ‎ BerryReview.com

Amazon has just released a completely mobile friendly version of their website. The new website allows you to do practically everything you can do from the full version of the website including my favorite Amazon Prime shipping. It even carries over the Amazon 1-click buy in now option that will automatically ship the item to your default address.

The best part of the website in my opinion is that you can now access all of those Amazon reviews easily from your BlackBerry. This is great for when your out shopping and want to compare some customer reviews on an item before you buy it. The mobile webpage is not only optimized for mobile devices but it also removes all of the extra images and scripts that used to make the regular amazon page look terrible on your BlackBerry. This makes searching Amazon from your BlackBerry a breeze. Check out the new mobile page by going to Amazon.com from your BlackBerry. To read more about the new mobile webpage check out this link.

23:23
BlackBerry Security Guidelines?
» ‎ BlackBerryInsight

I just read an interesting article at the Secure Computing Magazine called How to get more intelligent about smartphones.

Here are some quotes:
[…] like many other big firms, it has been a work in progress to get the hundreds of employees using such devices as Palm Treos and BlackBerries to also appreciate the security ramifications […]

and

“I don’t know any company who has a really good written technical policy to be able to control these devices,” says Daniel Hoffman, author of Blackjacking: Security Threats to Blackberry Devices, PDAs and Cell Phones in the Enterprise. “I don’t know a single one.”

So this is some kind of interesting. Especially the part about “written technical policy”. Does anyone of you (yes YOU!) know about some good public technical policy we should take a look to before using our BlackBerry?

Users say they appreciate BlackBerry’s security features. “The worst thing I worry about is email,” says Sharon Finney, information security administrator for Decatur, Ga.-based DeKalb Medical Center, an 800-bed facility. “We require all employees to password-protect their BlackBerry. If that device is reported lost, we remotely wipe it clean.”

Wiping a BlackBerry is a great security feature of the BlackBerry Enterprise Server to ensure the BlackBerry’s confidential data is not used by another thrid party. But what happens to BlackBerry users with a normal BlackBerry outside a BES and may be even without BlackBerry Internet Service (BIS)?

For example, I installed the EmergencyWipe on my BlackBerry which I can use to wipe my BlackBerry when someone is about to steal or confiscate my BlackBerry. Who knows! I heard about some guys who just experienced that kind of situation and would have been thankful for such a useful tool.

The complete article can be read at: How to get more intelligent about smartphones

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23:17
Free Speedometer For Your BlackBerry 8800 GPS - By Adapta-Solutions
» ‎ BerryReview.com

Josep at MiBlackBerry has uncovered another great BlackBerry Freeware application. This free application by Adapta Solutions allows you to use to GPS BlackBerry to display speed, distance, and time on your BlackBerry 8800 series device. You can set low and high levels so that you can pace your workout with a steady rhythm.

Check out the application page here: www.adapta-solutions.com/solutions/speedometer.html

OTA link: www.adapta-solutions.com/wap

DM Link: Download
23:09
KeePass Free OpenSource Password Keeper For BlackBerry
» ‎ BerryReview.com

KeePass has been around for quite awhile allowing you to store passwords with secure encryption. They have just released an unofficial client for BlackBerry devices that allows you to syncronize your password protected information with your BlackBerry device. The best part is that it is completely free. Personally I use MagicSafe but that is a commercial solution and does not have as many features as KeePass. Another nice part about KeePass is that it has a USB stick version of the software so you can run that off the mass storage mode of your BlackBerry or USB stick.

Check out the KeePass website here:
[keepass.info]

And the BlackBerry Client project here:
[sourceforge.net]

Thanks Josep for the tip!

22:34
iPhone report: most owners left Treos, Sidekicks behind
» ‎ Engadget Mobile

Filed under: Culture, Handsets, Palm, RIM, Alltel, ATT, Sprint, T-Mobile, Verizon Wireless, Danger, GSM, EDGE, Studies, Apple

While we've seen a variety of surveys pitting the iPhone against its most notable rivals, a recent study conducted by the NPD Group breaks down the numbers behind who left what phone (and what carrier) to acquire an iPhone. Not surprisingly, iPhone early adopters were "ten times more likely than other new phone buyers to have previously owned a Treo and three times more likely to have owned a T-Mobile branded phone, such as the popular Sidekick model." When it came to carriers, Alltel and T-Mobile were said to have lost the most customers to AT&T, as consumers who "switched carriers to buy an iPhone were three times more likely to switch from Alltel or T-Mobile than from other carriers." Notably, the lack of "corporate email support" was pinpointed as the main reason that many BlackBerry users didn't make the leap, but it did praise the iPhone for helping to "bridge the gap between consumer-focused feature phones and productivity-focused smartphones."

Read | Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments
22:34
iPhone report: most owners left Treos, Sidekicks behind
» ‎ Engadget Mobile

Filed under: Culture, Handsets, Palm, RIM, Alltel, ATT, Sprint, T-Mobile, Verizon Wireless, Danger, GSM, EDGE, Studies, Apple

While we've seen a variety of surveys pitting the iPhone against its most notable rivals, a recent study conducted by the NPD Group breaks down the numbers behind who left what phone (and what carrier) to acquire an iPhone. Not surprisingly, iPhone early adopters were "ten times more likely than other new phone buyers to have previously owned a Treo and three times more likely to have owned a T-Mobile branded phone, such as the popular Sidekick model." When it came to carriers, Alltel and T-Mobile were said to have lost the most customers to AT&T, as consumers who "switched carriers to buy an iPhone were three times more likely to switch from Alltel or T-Mobile than from other carriers." Notably, the lack of "corporate email support" was pinpointed as the main reason that many BlackBerry users didn't make the leap, but it did praise the iPhone for helping to "bridge the gap between consumer-focused feature phones and productivity-focused smartphones."

Read | Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments
22:34
iPhone report: most owners left Treos, Sidekicks behind
» ‎ Engadget Mobile

Filed under: Culture, Handsets, Palm, RIM, Alltel, ATT, Sprint, T-Mobile, Verizon Wireless, Danger, GSM, EDGE, Studies, Apple

While we've seen a variety of surveys pitting the iPhone against its most notable rivals, a recent study conducted by the NPD Group breaks down the numbers behind who left what phone (and what carrier) to acquire an iPhone. Not surprisingly, iPhone early adopters were "ten times more likely than other new phone buyers to have previously owned a Treo and three times more likely to have owned a T-Mobile branded phone, such as the popular Sidekick model." When it came to carriers, Alltel and T-Mobile were said to have lost the most customers to AT&T, as consumers who "switched carriers to buy an iPhone were three times more likely to switch from Alltel or T-Mobile than from other carriers." Notably, the lack of "corporate email support" was pinpointed as the main reason that many BlackBerry users didn't make the leap, but it did praise the iPhone for helping to "bridge the gap between consumer-focused feature phones and productivity-focused smartphones."

Read | Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

22:26
BBSmart HTML Email Viewer Discount Back! 15% Off For BerryReview Readers
» ‎ BerryReview.com
The good guys at BBSmart have once again kindly graced us with a discount of 15% for all BerryReview readers. This is for the great BBSmart HTML Email Viewer that won our Editors Choice Award in the past. That brings the $24.99 price down to ~$21.25. The discount is a bit more complicated than the original one so please follow the directions exactly to get the discount. The discount only works if you buy the license from your BlackBerry and does not work with the MobiHand store. We are still working with BBSmart on a bundle discount for those users buying 2 or more licenses.

Directions for getting the discount for BBSmart:
1. Install BBSmart trial on your BlackBerry by going to one of these two links:
  1. For OS 4.2 devices: www.blackberrysmart.com/trial/ota/4.2/SmartView.jad
  2. Other devices: www.blackberrysmart.com/trial/ota/4.x/SmartView.jad
2. Go to your Messages folder and click the menu button
3. Click on the option BBSmart Options
4. In the options screen hit the menu button again
5. Click the activate option
6. Follow the buy now links and use the code below
7. Code is BERRYREVIEW1
8. Relax and enjoy the 15% off!

22:03
BlackBerry Curve 8310 Unboxing
» ‎ The Boy Genius Report

It seems it was just a couple days ago that we were making predictions on the BlackBerry Curve series and what sort of features it would sport. Would it have GPS? Would it have Wi-Fi? Would it have GPS and Wi-Fi? By now, we know the answers, but nevertheless, there have been a ton of people annoyed at the fact that they left GPS behind when they switched from the BlackBerry 8800 to the BlackBerry Curve. While not officially available from AT&T yet, the BlackBerry Curve 8310 has started showing up in stores across the country. The launch date looks like tomorrow October 16th, so get ready. In the meantime, check out our photos of the Crimson-colored device!

UPDATE: There seems to be a lot more contrast on the 8310’s screen. Not sure if I love it or hate it yet. Will post some comparison pics shortly.

Click on over to our BlackBerry Curve 8310 Unboxing gallery!

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21:43
New Luxury Theme For 8300/8700/8800/8830 - By GemBlock
» ‎ BerryReview.com

GemBlock has released an interesting new theme called Luxury. The theme is free and from the feedback I am hearing is quite nice. Check out the theme at the following links:

Link for 8300:
[gemblock.com]

Link for 8700:
[gemblock.com]

Link for 8800:
[gemblock.com]

Link for 8830:
[gemblock.com]

20:55
CDMA BlackBerry Pearl 8130 Video
» ‎ Blackberry Blast!

Phone Scoop has posted a preview video of the CDMA version of the BlackBerry Pearl. The video shows off the new features that RIM has added to the BlackBerry 8130 including a better keyboard, trackball and external access to the micro SD card. The main benefit to the new Pearl of course is the the CDMA and EVDO compatibility....

20:47
When Will Verizon Start Taking Pre-Orders For The BlackBerry Pearl?
» ‎ RIMarkable

A question that I’ve been asked 42 times and counting since last Thursday is when will Verizon start taking pre-orders for the BlackBerry Pearl? We initially thought October 26th would be the date, however, that was based on a leaked document slating the 8130 to come out 9th before we heard that it was coming out on November 1st.

If Verizon is indeed coming out with the BlackBerry Pearl on November 1st, does this mean that we could see pre-orders this week?

18:13
Weekly Contest: Pearls Aplenty
» ‎ BlackBerry Cool

This last week has been rife with rumors of the new BlackBerry 8130. We even had a bit of patent-side news dealing with Suretype. For now, the GSM Pearl 2 is only on the other side of the pond, but it’s simply a matter of time before it finds its way over here. The Pearl is getting a lot of attention in light of this news, and it’s time we start thinking about how it might change in the near future.

Since coming out a scant year ago, the Pearl pioneered the trackball and overall layout of RIM’s 8800 and 8300 lines, which have become the main flagship formats for BlackBerry. The incremental upgrades we’ve been seeing recently are all built on the foundations of those three core devices, but they continue to evolve, such as with the 8130’s new external microSD slot. With the spotlight square on the Pearl, our question for this Weekly Contest is: what lies in the Pearl’s future? Will it continue to set the standard for new features and innovation, or will form factors like the fabled BlackBerry 9000 take over? Maybe the BlackBerry 8300 has already stolen the Pearl’s thunder? This is pretty open-ended, so feel free to comment on design, function, overall attitude, and everything in between. You guys have free rein to sound off on what the Pearl did right, what it did wrong, how it is changing, and where it’s going in the long haul. The most comprehensive, full-bodied comment will win 3 games from Bplay.

First off, we’d like to thank everyone who submitted. Everyone sounded genuinely keen to help out their organizations, and they’re all good causes. It’s great to see people finding something they want to change in the world and getting directly involved. Honourable mentions go out to our Save-a-Pet entry, who suggested something well outside the box of donation tracking. The event roster idea was also a great way of stretching forms into new areas. In the end, however, we’re going to have to give the iPod shuffle to Kasey for her entry for the March of Dimes. Kasey’s suggestions weren’t just for keeping participants informed of donation progress, but for actually taking donations during annual events. When TrueContext does these forms up, they’ll also be applicable to a bunch of other nonprofit organizations. Congratulations Kasey, we’ll be getting in touch with you soon! Thanks again to all of our entrants, and we look forward to seeing you again this week.

Filed under Spotlight, Features, WeeklyContest | Permalink | 5 comments | Add to Del.icio.us | Digg This

18:08
Ancora YouTube con blueapple.mobi
» ‎ BB World

Dal noto blog allblackberry.com arriva la segnalazione di un nuovo servizio per vedere i video di YouTube sul proprio BlackBerry. Come sappiamo molto bene per vedere i video in flash su BB è necessaria una riconversione dei file in un formato che sia visibile dal dispositivo stesso. Questo servizio è dedicato esclusivamente ai dispositivi BlackBerry [...]

16:46
Its That Time Of Year Again - DST 2007 Patch For Your BlackBerry
» ‎ BerryReview.com

For all you users who did not update your device for the new Daylight Saving Time this year RIM has once again posted the patch prominently on their mobile webpage. Josep was kind enough to point out to me that if you go to Mobile.BlackBerry.com from your BlackBerry you will see a link to the patch for your device. Keep in mind that DST is extended this year for one week until the 4th of November so watch your calendar to make sure it is tracking correctly after the patch.
15:43
Barnes & Noble Uses Digby For Mobile E-commerce
» ‎ BerryReview.com

Digby has been around for a little while now offering an innovative shopping experience from your BlackBerry. Personally I could do without their weekly email that they never asked my permission to send me. Digby has just signed a deal with Barnes & Noble to bring their products to the Digby application. This is one of the biggest vendors offered on Digby and speaks well for the company’s future along with BestBuy and FTD.com. Personally I would rather use MobiPocket to read and purchase the books on my BlackBerry but the jury is still out on whether the Digby storefront will takeoff with the BlackBerry public. Digby now offers all of the Barnes & Noble catalog with their famed 30 second checkout but it seems that many users do not even know about the application. You can get the free Digby application by following this link.

15:32
Digby to sell Barnes & Noble books
» ‎ BlackBerry Cool

BlackBerry shopping service provider, Digby, has announced that they’ll be carrying Barnes & Noble extensive selection of books in their store now. Digby’s all about letting BlackBerry users get anything their little hearts desire, and B&N is a good way of handling the literary crowd in one fell swoop. Of course, there’s still DailyLit out there for folks who just want bite-sized booky goodness on their BlackBerry.

Filed under Announcements, News | Permalink | One comment | Add to Del.icio.us | Digg This
15:09
Magmic liscences In-Fusio’s games for BlackBerry
» ‎ BlackBerry Cool

Our BlackBerry game-developping neighbours here in Ottawa, Magmic, announced last week a partnership with In-Fusio that would let Magmic port In-Fusio’s games over to BlackBerry and sell them on their outlet, Bplay. We give out Bplay stuff aplenty on our Weekly Contests, so if there’s any stuff in In-Fusio’s catalogue that tickles your fancy, stick around; odds are you’ll be able to win it soon enough. In the same stroke, Magmic also announced their new game, Golden Tee, for you golf-enthusiasts out there.

Filed under Announcements, News | Permalink | One comment | Add to Del.icio.us | Digg This
14:34
BlackBerry 8130 coming to Telus Nov. 1?
» ‎ BlackBerry Cool

Rumor has it that the GPS-enabled BlackBerry 8130 will be hitting Telus shelves on November 1st., right alongside Verizon’s release south of the border. Bell’s the only other major CDMA carrier up here, who could certainly use a little something in their BlackBerry catalogue. In any case, it’s good news to see the Pearl 2 landing on home soil.

Filed under Top Story, Rumors, News | Permalink | 3 comments | Add to Del.icio.us | Digg This

14:15
Lo SpeedOmetrO per BlackBerry
» ‎ BB World

In principio era il “contachilometro”, tutti i ciclisti ne hanno uno, velocità di punta, media, massima, km percorsi, km parziali … Da oggi questo oggetto potrebbe essere considerato “anziano” perche il nostro caro amico Josep ha trovato speedOmeter. Cosa fa speedOmeter? Tutto quello che fa un contachilometri, solo che interfacciandosi al GPS lo fa meglio .. [...]
14:01
DuoSim, usa due sim nel tuo BlackBerry
» ‎ BB World

Per chi viaggia molto per lavoro, uno dei problemi più noiosi è quello di doversi portare dietro più di un dispositivo. BlackBerry in parte ha risolto questi problemi, permettendo con un solo dispositivo di sopperire pc+pc card per controllare la posta, ma anche per accedere a dati aziendali ed applicazioni dedicate. Quello che (anche) BlackBerry [...]
13:36
Spostare e rispostare l’account (Antonio)
» ‎ BB World

Ciao a tutti! Il mio problema è il seguente: Un paio di gg fa ho ricevuto il nuovissimo curve e, per provarlo un po’, ho trasferito il mio account dal mio pearl al nuovo cell. Tutto ok. Adesso ho deciso di tenere il pearl (troppo comodo ma non riesco + a rimettere il [...]

13:21
黑莓8820 (GPS)和Curve 8320在香港CSL 1010
» ‎ BlackBerryInsight - 中文

拥有GPS的黑莓8820和黑莓Curve 8320现在在香港发行了.它们都是香港CSL 1010 的名牌机型,它们具有一般的功能,在其他的供应商您也可以买到. 这两款机型同时适用于企业和个人.黑莓8320的WiFi功能确实在香港引起了不一般的反响,这是因为香港整个地区都成了WiFi的聚集区. 您在为您的黑莓寻找另一软件吗?看一看我们的BlackBerryInsight 软件商店!Share This
13:21
“说到最终,每个人都有黑莓手机了吗?”
» ‎ BlackBerryInsight - 中文

这篇文章是Carsten Brinkschulte先生(Synchronica手机电子邮件管理公司首席执行官)在 “独立日”时写到的. 文章大致是这样的: Carsten Brinkschulte先生说到: 如果你的大部分的时间都花在伦敦城的话, 那么你可以的出这样的结论:手机移动电邮遍及各处. 但是,说到最终,每个人都有黑莓手机了吗? RIM(黑莓)公司的确做出了很了不起的工作并且成绩显著. 但黑莓仅仅进入潜在市场的一小部分. 五年之内黑莓用户达到一千万, 这个数字仅是预计的全球3亿黑莓手机使用者的皮毛而以. 并且使用的大部分手机不是类似黑莓的智能手机, 而是一般的手机. 但至少这其中一半的手机能使用同步电邮标准. RIM(黑莓)公司的确做出了出色的业绩. 但RIM(黑莓)公司并不满足于现状等待别人超越, 而是给我们带来更多的手机和服务. 最主要的是:RIM(黑莓)公司专注于其核心产品---邮件服务! 你可以登陆The Independent on Sunday阅读完整的文章! 供你参考:一些关于黑莓于电脑同步的文章已经发布在软件安装详解上面了!. Share This

10:30
Programma gratuito per i palmari BlackBerry: Speedometro!::..
» ‎ BlackberryItalia.it

Speedometer e' un nuovo programma free per i nostri palmari BlackBerry serie 88xx che permette di vedere in tempo reale la nostra velocita', la distanza percorsa, le statistiche sulla velocita max/media/min. Il popolo dei ciclisti e corridori lo aspettava da tempo.

8:30
BlackBerry Case Review: RexRegina Winston Side Pouch Case for the BlackBerry Curve and BlackBerry 8800
» ‎ CrackBerry.com blogs

Stylish Italian styling sets RexRegina apart
Last month, I reviewed a new side pouch by Smartphone Experts so I was eager to see how the RexRegina Winston side pouch stacked up.

The RexRegina Winston Side Pouch features a horizontal design for those who prefer belt clips and horizontal insertion of the BlackBerry. It is designed to protect your BlackBerry against scratches and dings and is small enough to fit into purses or bags too. But that isn’t why you’d pick a RexRegina case. The real reason for picking this side pouch is the leather styling. And at just $49.95 it's affordable as well as elegantly stylish and functional.

read more

8:00
speedOmeter: usando el GPS para visualizar velocidad, distancia y tiempo
» ‎ miblackberry.com

El tener un GPS integrado en la BlackBerry nos puede servir ahora también para medir, no solo el tiempo que tardamos entre dos puntos, sino para poder también medir la velocidad que estamos yendo o...

(Para leer la noticia entera haz click en el título o entra en http://www.miblackberry.com)
8:00
KeePass para BlackBerry: mantenimiento de contraseñas
» ‎ miblackberry.com

A imagen y semejanza de otro software de mantenimientos de contraseñas, se ha lanzado el proyecto de SourceForge KeePass for BlackBerry en su versión 1, una vez pasada las oportunas versiones Beta...

(Para leer la noticia entera haz click en el título o entra en http://www.miblackberry.com)
8:00
BenchmarkMagic: mide el rendimiento tu BlackBerry
» ‎ miblackberry.com

Si queréis saber la velocidad de vuestra BlackBerry tenéis una aplicación gratuita para saber el rendimiento de la misma, comparando los resultados obtenidos con los modelos más habituales, se trata...

(Para leer la noticia entera haz click en el título o entra en http://www.miblackberry.com)

7:27
Using 2 SIM Cards on Your BlackBerry Pearl
» ‎ BBGears

Traveling for business can be both rewarding and tiring, and one of the hardest aspects is being away from loved ones. Thanks to modern technology, keeping in touch with friends and family has never been easier. Mobile phones, lap top computers connected to the internet, and even the trusty hotel room phone are all on offer to allow us to talk whenever we want, but the more we need to talk, the more devices we need to have with us. Just imagine that instead of having to carry separate phones and everything else with you wherever you go you could save space by using two SIM cards on your Blackberry Pearl.Using two SIM cards on your Blackberry Pearl is actually a lot easier than you may have thought, and there are a number of solutions available that allow you to do this. In the past, using a second SIM on a mobile phone entailed taking out the one card and replacing it with another, but now, with the latest technology, it has become possible to change from one SIM to another with just a few pushes of a button.

There are several ways of putting more than one SIM in your Blackberry Pearl. One option is to cut down a standard SIM and then install it in a special holder that then holds the two cards and allows the phone to access both of them.

Another, preferable option is to get a special Super SIM Card, which can then have all the information copied onto it, including the numbers and network identity data, so that you can enjoy the convenience of using two SIM cards on your Blackberry Pearl or other mobile phone.

Having a Super SIM solution is a much more elegant way of getting the switchable SIM, and thanks to the expandable and adaptable operations of the Blackberry, you will be able to switch between the two cards with a few button presses, allowing you to have the luxury of being able to chat to your family and friends from your business phone, and letting you keep in touch wherever you are in the world.

For more information, visit DuoSIM at [www.duosim.com]

2:12
Recensione video del BlackBerry 8310 Curve con GPS::..
» ‎ BlackberryItalia.it

Vediamo la recensione video degli amici di telefonino.net del nuovo palmare BlackBerry 8310 Curve con antenna GPS interna. Ricordiamo che il BlackBerry 8310 e' in vendita esclusiva da Vodafone fino al 31 Ottobre p.v.

2:00
Red Curve available on AT&T network
» ‎ MyBlackberryWorld

Rumors that a red 8310 Curve will be available on the AT&T networks soon holds promise for Blackberry users in Malaysia; perhaps it will be available locally too. Instead of the plain vanilla gray colored Curves we have here, it would be nice if we had a choice in the same manner that we have a choice as to what color a Pearl 8100 we can purchase. The black and grey key color combination looks great too!

1:33
Phantom vibrates shows your not crazy
» ‎ BlackBerry Sync

Ever been at work or sitting at a restaurant and swear you feel a vibrate? As if your BlackBerry is receiving a phone call or message? Your not alone. These "vibrates" are called phantom vibrates and may be actually coming from your headbone. I know it sounds weird but you really should read this article posted over at CNN by AP.

Do you experiance these Phantom Vibrates? We want to hear about it on the forums.

(more…)
No Tags

1:12
Celcom or Maxis... which shall i go for?
» ‎ MyBlackberryWorld

Recently I signed up for Celcom's blackberry service in part, due to a number of recent frustrations I have been experiencing with Maxis's Blackberry service. To cut a long story short, there have been frequent outages and other technical glitches suffered by Maxis which has cost me some sleepless nights and endless frustration (I hate it when a CSR tells you to "off your phone and on it back again..").

Although this is not meant to be a review or a comparison of the two telco's Blackberry services (that will come in the near future once I have fairly evaluated Celcom's service), I am now presented with a dilemma; which telco will be my main Blackberry Service Provider (BSP) and power my BB 8300 Curve?

Previously Maxis was my main BSP while Celcom was my secondary voice line. Now I have BES services for both I am confused as to which setup will serve me best.

My Maxis number is known to all; business associates, personal friends and family members. If I use Maxis as my BSP, I only have to carry one device around which is a great bonus. However, as mentioned previously, Maxis has had some technical issues lately and at times my Blackberry has been down for anything from a few hours to half a day or more. Additionally, but on a totally different level, Maxis isn't very receptive of any suggestions to collaborate for the common good of local Blackberry users. I don't quite understand that; a win-win situation for all parties involved, I help actively promote Maxis and their Blackberry service and Maxis provides me with marketing support and access to their technical staff. They just weren't game which was quite a bummer as I believe the future of Blackberry and the scope for growth in Sarawak is tremendous. Don't forget, Sarawak has a large number of public listed companies, large private companies, state government institutions and other bodies that may benefit from the use of Blackberries.

Not long ago, Celcom announced that it launched it's BIS service, catering to the consumer market and the private individual who longs to experience "push email" as corporations do. I am a BES user; I have access to my own Exchange and BES servers and only subscribe to the BES service at the switching level only; I don't pay any licensing fees to any of the BSP's. Initial inquiries with Celcom CSR's was disappointing; I was told that BES was not available to the private user and a minimum of 10 corporate lines was required before BES was an option for a corporate account. I can now tell you that this is untrue; BES is available to the individual user, however, the Celcom subscriber line must be under corporate as opposed to personal. At least there is no minimum lines required to qualify for BES!

Celcom Global Enterprise team members in Kuching were a great help too (Doris and Valerie.. thanks a lot! You were both great!) and within a day or two I had converted my personal line to corporate and my BES was active.

As a side note, I discovered that if you don't change your device, swapping your old BSP's SIM for the new BSP's SIM card meant that BES was functioning from the very start of the cross-over. All that was required is that you register your device PIN and IMEI at the new BSP's BIS website, delete all email accounts from your old BSP's BIS website and add them to your new BSP's BIS setup (does that sound confusing or what?) and send the service books for your new BSP to your BB. You're all set!

So now, my Curve is powered by Celcom's Blackberry service while my Maxis SIM now resides in my SE K850i acting as a voice only number. I activated the 3G function on Maxis so I could download/upload faster as well as do mobile blogging more efficiently.

That leads me to my problem; I have to carry two devices, my Curve and my K810i. Imagine having to carry both devices every time I played golf or went for dinner. How cumbersome. I could leave the BB behind when I'm playing golf or going for dinners but I am a Blackberry addict and the idea of any period of time without my BB close at hand is unthinkable! Insane!

If number portability would hurry up and be implemented in Malaysia, it wouldn't be an issue but I am not sure when it will be actually implemented. In the mid-90's I was working in Time Telekom as an interconnect analyst and was involved in the first few steering committee discussions on number portability held at JTM in Damansara. That was nearly 10 years ago and Malaysia has still to implement the concept!

To make matters worse, I discover that the K850i doesn't support third party software like Nokia's or even the SE P990 or P1 series! There are some third party software that I find indispensable including a voice recording program, and an advanced call manager type program. I may have to buy another phone to act as my voice phone now! Celcom's BES service requires a 24 month commitment, so you can't terminate before the 24 months are up so I can't reverse my decision (not that I have any plans right now though). How costly..

Right now I am carrying both devices around and unless I decide to inform the whole world that my primary voice number is now a Celcom number, I have no choice. Another plus point for my Maxis line is that the number is very easy to remember while my Celcom isn't as simple. I suppose I could forward all calls from my Maxis to my Celcom but SMS's cant be forwarded and I do receive quite a large number of SMS's (believe it or not but the vast majority of my friends have yet to embrace to Blackberry but I aim to change that soon).

I am so confused!

A review/comparison of both BSP's from a network, technical and service standpoint is in the works; stay tuned!

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