BlackBerry Messenger (also known as “BBM”) is a chat client created by Research in Motion for BlackBerry device users to communicate with other BlackBerry users.

BlackBerry has officially  launched a BlackBerry Desktop Mac syching software for the Apple Operating Systems, however, there are two third-party options which are available.

* The first  solution is Missing Sync , which is $39.95 USD. ( we have tried it and it offers a few more features than RIM’s software and PocketMac)

*The second is PocketMac for BlackBerry users.  Was a  free program but now $19.97

We  recommend to try all the sync options and decide for yourself.  RIM’s BlackBerry Desktop manager works rather good and we thought it was a great release by RIM. The only flaw that we have with RIM and Macintosh at the moment is the support of two applications that use the BlackBerry device simultaneously  – This an area that RIM has to provide better support.

In a future article we will do a write-up on “how to configure your BlackBerry as a wireless modem with your Macintosh.”

Good day to all Mac users!

Updated: Buzz Layers Added

Google Maps for BlackBerry has been out for sometime but it’s interesting that many of us still don’t use this Google technology to your advantage. They’ve made many updates and changes so it might be worth checking it out.   Perhaps if Google Maps isn’t your cup of tea you can try out their other  Google mobile application for BlackBerry.

Take the power of Google Maps with you on your mobile phone.
Google Maps with My Location

Real-time traffic — See where the congestion is, and estimate delays in over 30 major US metropolitan areas.

Detailed directions — Whether you plan to walk or drive, your route is displayed on the map itself, together with step-by-step directions.

Integrated search results — Local business locations and contact information appear all in one place, integrated on your map.

Easily movable maps — Interactive maps let you zoom in or out, and move in all directions so you can orient yourself visually.

Satellite imagery — Get a bird’s eye view of your desired location. (It’s like you’re there, we swear.)

To download Google Maps Mobile directly Over-The-Air to your BlackBerry device, visit the following link from your BlackBerry Browser: Google Maps for BlackBerry

Most of us still have our trusty old BlackBerry device with the trackball. Below are a few keyboard shortcuts that are sure to VERY USEFUL.   Note: Most of these shortcuts work on the trackpad as well – ENJOY!

TrackBall Shortcut Tricks

Move the cursor-Roll Trackball

Exit a screen or move back a page in the browser-Press Escape key

Move to a list item or menu item-Type first letter of the item

Select or clear a check box-Press Space key

View available values in a field-Press Alt key

Switch applications-Hold Alt key and press Escape key. Continue to hold Alt key and select application, Release Alt key

Return to Home screen-Press End key

Delete highlighted items-Press Backspace/Delete key

PHONE
Answer a call-Press Send key

Insert (+) into a phone number-Hold O

Add an extension to a phone number-Press Alt key + X key and type the extension number

Assign a speed dial number to a key-On the Home screen or on the Phone screen, hold down key

Turn speakerphone on or off during a call-Press Speakerphone key

Type a letter in a phone number field- Press Alt key + the letter key

Check your voicemail-Hold 1

Move to the top of the Phone screen-Press Space key

View the last phone number you called-Press Space key + Enter key Press Send key to dial the number

View your contact list on the Phone screen-Hold Send key

MESSAGES
Within a message

Reply to a message-Press R

Reply to all-Press L

Forward a message-Press F

File a highlighted email message-Press I

View email address of a contact-In a message, highlight contact Press Q, To view display name again, press Q

In a message list

Open a highlighted message-Press Enter key

Compose a message from a message list-Press C

Mark a message as opened or unopened-Press Alt key + U

View received messages-Press Alt key + I

View sent messages-Press Alt key + O

View voicemail messages-Press Alt key + V

View SMS text messages-Press Alt key + S

View call logs-Press Alt key + P

View all your messages again-Press Escape key

Moving around a message list

Move up the screen-Press Shift key + Space key

Move down the screen-Press Space key

Move to the top of a message list-Press T

Move to the bottom of a message list-Press B

Move to the next date-Press N

Move to the previous date-Press P

Move to the next unopened item-Press U

Move to the next related message-Press J

Move to the previous related message-Press K

TYPING
Insert a period-Press Space key twice – the next letter is capitalized.

Capitalize a letter-Hold letter key until capitalized letter Appears

Type an alternate character on a key-Hold Alt key and press character key

Type an accented or special character-Hold letter key and roll trackball
left or right (For example, to type ü, hold U and roll the trackball to the left until ü appears)
Release letter key when accented or special character appears

Type a number in a number field-Press a number key

Type a number in a password field-Hold Alt key and press a number key

Turn on NUM lock-Press Alt key + Left Shift key

Turn on CAP lock-Press Alt key + Right Shift key

Turn off NUM lock or CAP lock-Press Shift key

Switch typing input languages-On the Language screen, set Use Input Language Shortcut field to Yes.
Hold Alt key and press Enter key. Highlight a language. Release Alt key

Insert a period or at sign (@) into an email address-Press Space key

Type a symbol-Press Symbol key and type the letter that appears below the symbol Highlight a line of text-Press Shift key and roll Trackball

Highlight text character by character-Hold Shift key and roll Trackball left or right

Cancel a text selection-Press the Escape key

Cut highlighted text when typing-Press Shift key + Backspace/Delete
key

Copy highlighted text when typing-Press Alt key and click Trackball

Paste highlighted text when typing-Press Shift key and click Trackball

CALENDAR
NOTE: For these tips to work in Day view, in the calendar options, set Enable Quick Entry field to No

Schedule an appointment-Press C

Change to Agenda view-Press A

Change to Day view-Press D

Change to Week view-Press W

Change to Month view-Press M

Move to the next day, week or month-Press Space key

Move to the previous day, week or month-Press Shift key + Space key

Move to the current date-Press T

Move to a specific date-Press G

MEDIA PLAYER
Pause or resume playing a video or song-Press Mute Key

Rotate a picture-Press R

Zoom in on a picture-Press I

Zoom out from a picture-Press O

Return to the original picture size-Press W
BROWSER
General Tips

Insert a period (.) in the Go To dialog box-Press Space key

Insert a slash mark (/)in the Go To dialog box-Press Shift key + Space key

Open the browser options-In the browser, press O

Stop loading a web page-Press Escape key

Hide the browser-Press D

Close the browser-Hold Escape key

On a web page

Move to a specific web page-Press G

Return to the home page-Press H

Open the bookmark list-Press K

Add a bookmark-Press A

View a list of web pages you’ve recently visited-Press I

Refresh a web page-Press R

View the address for a link-Highlight a link, Press L

View the address for a web page-Press P

Save a web page to a message list-Press S

Follow a highlighted link-Press Enter key

Hide the banner-Press U

View the banner again-Press U

View a thumbnail version of a web page-Press X

To return to the normal view-press any key

Navigating within a web page

Move up a screen-Press Shift key + Space key

Move down a screen-Press Space Key

Move to the top of a web page-Press T

Move to the bottom of a web page-Press B
ATTACHMENTS
General Tips

Search for text in an attachment-Press F

Move to the last cursor position after closing and reopening an attachment-Press G

In a spreadsheet attachment

Move to a specific cell-Press G

View the content of a cell-Press Spacekey

Switch worksheets-Press V

Highlight a worksheet-Press Enter key

View hidden columns or rows-Press H

Hide the columns or rows again-Press H

In a presentation attachment

Switch presentation views-Press M

Move to the next slide-Press N

Move to the previous slide-Press P

Move to the last cursor position after closing and reopening a presentation attachment-Verify that you’re viewing the presentation in text view or in text and slide view
Press G

BBMAPS
Zoom in on a map-Press I

Zoom out from a map-Press O

View or hide status information at top of map-Press U

BlackBerry device Messaging Setup

To make the following changes to your device, enter your messages folder, bring up the menu and go down to Options, then choose General Options:

Here you can make personalized changes to the way you view emails. One of the biggest questions that users have is how can I separate my text messages and emails from the messages folder. To do this, in this menu, scroll down to SMS and Email Inboxes, and change to Separate.

Also, continue to scroll down and you can determine how long you wish for messages to remain on your BlackBerry device before they are automatically deleted from the device. Save your changes and you will be back in the Messages Options.

Under Email Settings, you can determine whether or not you want your device to confirm delivery (annoying), confirm read (good option) and send read receipts (if you want people to know when you read their emails).
Under email reconciliation, you can determine the preferences of what to delete on, and if your handheld or mailbox win on conflicts. Note, when you are in here, if you bring up the menu, you can also purge deleted messages from the accounts as well!

Another question people have is how to change their “default” email on their BlackBerry. To do this, do the following steps:

Go to Options
Go to Advanced Options
Go to Messaging Services
Change the email address to the one you wish to set as default and save your changes

Recently we have noticed and received request on,  “how to upgrade the BlackBerry 8520 device”.  The latest handheld OS for the 8520 is  4.6.  There are a few ” 8520 Blackberry 5.0 os handheld leaks” floating around on the net however users are reporting various problems. The major problem seems to be SMS messages. For example, messages are being deleted, messages are not showing up in chronological order..etc.  Another issue is that the BlackBerry Desktop Manger isn’t recognizing  the new handheld os software after being installed – mainly because it’s not an official supported version .

Our Lab Test: ( we don’t recommend doing this )   As a test, we were able to install Handheld OS 5.0.509 successfully. However, there were many  SMS issues that occurred.  By removing the update option under advanced options on BlackBerry Desktop Manager, this allowed BB Desktop manager to recognize the upgrade handheld os files. Also, delete the vendor.xml file and load the handheld os by using  the loader.exe or BBSAK software.  Note: If you already have BlackBerry Desktop Manger installed and configured, you “may” have to do a complete uninstall and reinstall.

Best practice : Always install and use official software released by your BlackBerry Mobile Carrier and Research In Motion for best results.

Below is the reason for that error message:

It’s very important you read the below information and follow the instructions in order to use your Desktop Manger to install 3rd party apps or themes.

The Desktop Manager is one program

The Handheld O.S (operating system) is another DIFFERENT program.

BOTH need to be installed on the pc in order for the Desktop Manager to install applications or themes to your handheld device.

Issue:
When trying to load applications or themes via Desktop Manager you get an error stating
“No additional applications were found for your device”.

Resolution:
Download your Handheld O.S (operating system). The download is free from your Carriers web site or from the Research in Motion website
Install the O.S on your PC, plug the blackberry into pc, open Desktop Manager and run application loader (if not prompted)

Note:
i would uninstall any previous Blackberry O.S’s that you may have on your PC, in add/remove programs in your control panel.

1. Contact your BlackBerry Administrator (BES Administrator) to have an Activation Password Created
2. Once the password is created, on your BlackBerry Device, go to Options-Advanced Options-Enterprise Activation
3. Enter your Corporate Email address
4. Enter the password given to you by your BlackBerry Administrator
5. Click in the trackwheel | trackpad| trackball , or click the menu button to the left of the trackball, and choose Activate
6. Once you see “Waiting For Services” on your BlackBerry screen, activation has started
7. Wait anywhere between 5-30 minutes depending on the size of your Email program
8. Once completed, a notification will appear on your screen stating “Activation Complete”
9. Your BlackBerry is now enabled for use with your Corporate Email

Corporate BlackBerry Email Troubleshooting

BlackBerry smartphone shows “Activating” or “Retrying” status during the enterprise activation process

BlackBerryRescue.com Tech BlackBerry Support

1) Click the SKYPE button below to chat or talk.
2) Contact our BlackBerry Technical Support Team here

Contact Sprint BlackBerry Support
1: Call 877-654-9111
2. Enter your BlackBerry phone number

3. Choose option 2 (BlackBerry Support)

Contact T-Mobile BlackBerry Support
1: Call 800-866-2453
2: Press Option 2
3: Say “English”
4: Enter or say your BlackBerry phone number
5: At the voice-prompt, say “BlackBerry”
6: Enter the last 4 of the Social Security or Tax ID number
You will be transferred directly to BlackBerry Support

Contact Verizon BlackBerry Support
1: Call 800-922-0204
2: Enter your BlackBerry phone number
3: Press 3
4: Press 1
You will then be transferred directly to BlackBerry Support

Contact AT&T/ Cingular BlackBerry Support
1. Call 800-331-0500
2: Enter your BlackBerry phone number
3. Press 0
4: Press 1
You will be transferred to AT&T/Cingular BlackBerry Support

This HowTo tutorial will help you to setup your BlackBerry modem. Many today also refer to using your BlackBerry as a wireless modem as, “tethering”.  The steps below are fairly easy and should only take about 10 minutes to setup and configure.  This method below works for BlackBerry users with T-MOBILE and a few other BlackBerry mobile carriers.

1. Go to Start>Control Panel>System>Hardware>Device Manager.

2. Scroll down to Ports. There should be 2 listed under RIM. Make sure you know what COM Ports they are under (Probably 4 and 5). Write them down if your memory isn’t that good.

3. Once you have done this, open Desktop Manager and connect your Blackberry. Once the link between the two is connected, go to Start>Control Panel>Network Connections>Create a New Connection.

4. Under the Network Connection Wizard, chose:
Connect to the Internet>Set Up My Connection Manually>Connect Using a Dial Up Modem.

5. When you get to “Select A Device”. Check the box that is the COM Port that your RIM Port was listed under.

6. Next, under ISP name, name it something like “Blackberry, BB, T-Mobile, etc).

7. Under Telephone Number, put *99#.

8. Leave the User Name and Password blank under the next option.

9. If it is going to be ur default internet connection, then make sure that box is clicked. Now click Next and Finish.

10. Now press Dial and try to connect.

11. If you fail to connect, then do the following:

12. Go to Start>Control Panel>Phones And Modems>Modems. Click on the COM Port associated with the Network Connection you just set up and click on Properties.

13. When that opens, go the “Advanced” tab. Put the following under Extra Initialization Commands exactly as it is written here:
+cgdcont=1,,”wap.voicestream.com”
Make sure you put the commas, quotation marks etc. and then click
OK.

14. Save your changes and go back to “Network Connections” and Dial the connection. You now will be able to connect to the internet

In our next article, we will discuss methods to tether (use your blackberry modem) via Linux and Macintosh.

If you need help setting up your BlackBerry modem, feel free to contact us!