It seems like there is a bit of confusion about MP3 capabilities on the BlackBerry 7130 and 8700 series devices. To make a long story short, you can play MP3 ringtones. You cannot, however, listen to MP3 files or stream MP3s to your BlackBerry. At least not yet anyway.
So, to be clear. If a BlackBerry sales rep at one of those kiosks near the food court in the mall tells you that the BlackBerry can play MP3 files, they either didn’t pay attention during that part of the training program, or, they are talking about BlackBerry ringtones and ringtones only.
You cannot play or stream MP3s on your BlackBerry.
They are talking about a possible web patch coming out that would allow you to do this over on BlackBerry Forums.
http://www.blackberryforums.com/showthread.php?t=39088
It’s really a shame that BB’s as yet don’t support full MP3 playback. This would not represent any sort of security risk like a camera or even removable memory would.
For many in the enterprise segment, it wouldn’t be about necessarily listening to music (which isn’t a bad thing in and of itself), but also listening to recorded books, to speeches, etc…all of which could have value to a businessperson. A corporation could even make their own mp3 “podcasts” for their employees to listen to on BB’s.
Imagine a sales force where the people out in the field can download and listen to the latest product updates, sales strategies, even motivational speeches, on their BB’s.
It’s called planned obsolescence. BB produces a phone with great features but has mediocre software and horrible memory limitations (read the description in the documentation about what BB does to large emails and outlook notes – it truncates them, yuch). Then BB comes out with a new model each year with a little more memory and a little better software. Auto manufacturers have done this for years. It’s great for BB and carriers but bad for customers. The ruse about security does not apply. You do not sell the same model intended for secure environments to the general consumer. The last time I checked, BB actively markets its products to consumers.
The good news is that there are several companies which moving into BB market. If BB doesn’t start treating its customers better, they will suffer.
P.S. I have a new BB 8700 because of the price. With rebates, I was paid to take it (without expensive data plan).