Verizon has updated VZ Navigator for both the BlackBerry and the Android Platforms and they are offering a free 30-day trial for new users. The new VZ Navigator VX has been enhanced with 3D city driving and real highway signs and views.
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Verizon has released BlackBerry OS 6.0.0.524 for both the BlackBerry Bold 9650 and the BlackBerry Curve 3G 9330. OS 6.0.0.524 is Verizon’s first update to BlackBerry 6 since releasing in January of this year. You can pick up BlackBerry OS 5.0.0.524 from the link below, or, download it OTA to your device simply by checking for the update by heading to Options > Device > Software Updates.
Download BlackBerry OS 6.0.0.524 for the Verizon BlackBerry Bold 9650 and Curve 3G 9330
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I am still having a hard time comprehending how Research in Motion managed to get to the point where they are ready to release the BlackBerry PlayBook without a native support for email, calendar, and contacts out of the box, but, I guess that I have learn to stop be shocked by the ridiculously stupid things that big companies do. That being said, a FAQ from a Verizon webinar indicates that native email, calendar, and contacts support will be added in an upcoming update.
In a future software update for the BlackBerry PlayBook, we will also provide native e-mail, calendar, and contact apps for those customers who prefer to have these apps directly on the tablet.
As CrackBerry points out, this isn’t the first time that we’ve heard RIM say that native clients are coming to the BlackBerry PlayBook. It is, however, the first time that we have seen it in writing.
[Via CrackBerry]
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Here is what we believe is the first video of what may possibly be the BlackBerry Storm3 Monaco. We aren’t 100% sure that the device that we are seeing here will actually be called the BlackBerry Storm3, but, it really doesn’t matter much. Storm3 is exactly what everyone will call it until RIM and Verizon officially announce it. I would love to hear a credible rumor that the BlackBerry Storm3 is coming out at the end of the month, but, from the sluggishness of the UI seen here, this device looks no where near being ready for release…
[Mobile Download]
[Via CrackBerry]
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Unless you’ve been buried under a rock, you, know that Verizon now offers the iPhone 4 on their CDMA network. This has been something that millions of Verizon customers, many of them BlackBerry users, have been waiting for since the original iPhone was released on AT&T back in 2007. Several former BlackBerry users that I know personally have recently made the switch from the BlackBerry to the iPhone, however, at least one of them, after just one day, is ready to switch back.
One of my co-workers who ordered their iPhone just after 3:00 a.m. the day that it went on sale to existing Verizon customers, got their device via UPS yesterday morning. Barely 24 hours later, this, BlackBerry defector that was particularly vocal about switching off of their BlackBerry and over to the iPhone, says that they already know that they want to switch back.
“Don’t get me wrong, this thing is way better than the BlackBerry at playing games and stuff, but, the iPhone 4 is basically just like an iPod Touch that you can make calls from and do GPS stuff that I won’t really do anyway. I knew that I would be sacrificing BBM, but, it really isn’t worth it because there isn’t really much new stuff that I want to put on the iPhone that I don’t already have on my iPod Touch, plus it has 1/4 the space… I know that I’ve only had my iPhone for 1 day, but, I think that I am switching back to my BlackBerry… “
There is no doubt that the iPhone 4 is an incredible device, however, there are things that you can do on a BlackBerry that no other platform offers. Before you jump ship, really think about how you use your BlackBerry and what you will have to give up for the benefits of the iPhone 4 that you may gain…
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When we heard that RIM was working on an LTE version of the BlackBerry PlayBook we figured that the device would eventually show up on Verizon. It looks, however, that the PlayBook heading to Verizon may be a lot closer than we initially thought. Verizon actually has a registration page for a BlackBerry PlayBook beta program (registration is closed) where you can see FAQs, Terms & Conditions, and a Confidentiality Agreement.
According to the hardware specs the BlackBerry PlayBook that Verizon was testing in its beta program was the Wi-Fi only version. This would indicate that Verizon could possibly offer the PlayBook at launch.
[Via Skatter Tech]
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According to a survey from market research firm uSamp, 2 out of 3 Verizon BlackBerry users plan to switch to the Verizon iPhone. That is a whopping 66% of the over 700 respondents that took part in the survey. When we asked Verizon BlackBerry users if they were going to switch to the Verizon iPhone 4 when the device was made available (briefly) for pre-order, the overwhelming majority of those that left comments said that they were switching. This simply cannot be good for RIM…
As I’ve said before, I believe that many more people will say they are going to switch than those that actually will, but, even if you take this uSamp survey and the comments section on a BlackBerry blog with a grain of salt, RIM stands to lose a ridiculous number of BlackBerry users to churn…
I know that Verizon is just one carrier in one country, but, a significant number of all BlackBerry users are Verizon subscribers, and those numbers are in jeopardy. A lot of folks say that RIM is going down the path of Palm, but, RIM is still very strong overseas. So strong in fact that I think that a better analogy for RIM is that they are going down the path of Nokia. That, however is for another post…
I think that it is clear that, not only because of of iPhone 4, but, all the Verizon Android devices as well, it will be a tough year for RIM. Too many consumers in the U.S. think BlackBerry devices just aren’t as appealing as the higher end smartphones. Whether this is actually true or not (personally I believe that it is), the perception is there, not only on existing BlackBerry devices, but, those on the road map to come out later this year.
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As many of you already know, Verizon customers, as of 3:00 a.m. this morning, are able to pre-order the Verizon iPhone 4, which officially goes on sale one week from today, Feb. 10th. There has been a lot of clamoring from a lot of Verizon BlackBerry users about how they were going to make the switch from BlackBerry to iPhone as soon as they were able. Well, know they are able and I am curious to know how many are going to actually go through with it.
I’ve always believed that those that have said that they were going to switch day one outnumber the ones that actually will by an order of magnitude or two. That being said, I believe that the churn RIM is about to experience in the United States over the next several months will be unlike anything it has ever seen and probably make it’s significant decline in market share over the last 12 to 18 months look like a rounding error.
My question to you is are you going switch? Now that you can, are you going to head over to the Verizon web site and put your order in for the iPhone 4? My guess is that many of you will… Nothing close to the numbers that said they would in the months leading up to the actual announcement , but, a big number that will be very uncomfortable for RIM.
Whether you are going to stay with the BlackBerry or switch to the iPhone 4, leave us a comment and let us know why…
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We first started hearing about the BlackBerry Curve Sedona, a much higher end CDMA variant of the BlackBerry Curve line, about a week ago. When saw the BlackBerry Curve Sedona on the 2011 CDMA BlackBerry Roadmap, there was no carrier branding, however, here is a picture of a BlackBerry Curve Sedona with Verizon Branding.
See more Verizon BlackBerry Curve Sedona Pictures at N4BB…
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