July 11, 2014

The BlackBerry Passport Re-Invents the Mobile Keyboard

BlackBerry Passport is a unique device that was built with productivity at its core. The revolutionary new physical keyboard is responsive to touch, so you have more ways to control your smartphone without having to use the touchscreen. With rows of touch-sensitive physical keys, BlackBerry Passport combines the efficiency of tactile typing with touchscreen-like navigation to deliver on that productivity promise.

With the Passport’s touch-enabled keyboard, you’ll be able to navigate web pages, apps and e-mails by lightly brushing your fingers over the keys, which helps with things like scrolling and cursor placement. It’s a minimalist design that maximizes BlackBerry Passport’s already-awesome amount of screen real estate. You’ll be able to read documents faster, as well as keep your fingers close to the keys, ready to type.
key features:

  • Faster scrolling: As noted above, you can use the keyboard to swipe up and down to scroll on long lists in a document or on a browser page, keeping your fingers off the screen and focused on what’s happening.
  • More intuitive cursor control and text selection: This is a classic BlackBerry productivity enhancement reinvented for the Passport. Double-tap the keyboard, then drag your finger across the keyboard to drop the cursor at precisely the right point. Or select the text just as you would on an older BlackBerry: hold the SHIFT key while dragging your finger across the keyboard to extend a selection.
  • Smart, contextual virtual keys: The Passport’s QWERTY 3-row keyboard creates a clean-looking, right-sized layout. There is also a virtual 4th row on-screen that smartly shifts depending on context. So if you’re typing a password on-screen, the 4th row would automatically include numbers and symbols commonly used in passwords. If you’re typing an e-mail, the ‘@’ symbol will be displayed, and when surfing the Web, the colon and backslash characters needed to type in a URL will be displayed. Like I said, smart! With a little practice, most Passport users should find themselves typing faster than ever before.
  • Flick to type: Stuck on a word? BlackBerry 10’s next word suggestion feature learns from you to give you smart, personalized choice of words you’re likely to type. You then just flick up to complete the word.
  • Easier delete: Made a mistake? No problem, just swipe back (left) to Delete the last word, just like on our virtual keyboard!
  • Entering an accented character? Hold the letter key down, and then lightly tap on the key to add the appropriate accent!

June 20, 2014

You want apps? We’ve got apps!

We’ve heard your appeals for access to more applications for your BlackBerry 10 device and we are delivering. We have announced a licensing agreement for the Amazon Appstore to bring more than 200,000 Android apps to you this fall when the BlackBerry 10.3 operating system launches.
You will be able to access popular apps such as Groupon, Netflix, Pinterest, Candy Crush Saga and Minecraft – all available for direct download!

But you also have choices. We will continue to offer BlackBerry World, where you can access applications that leverage the powerful features of the BlackBerry 10 operating system

June 09, 2014

Try BBM as an Alternate to iMessage

It has been a banner year for messaging apps. With BBM now available cross platform on Android, iOS, BlackBerry and soon Windows Phone I’d like to take a look at why you should consider it as your app of choice when it comes to keeping in touch.
A recent article in the New York Times highlights alternatives to traditional SMS text messaging, which lags in features and, depending on where you live, can be very expensive. As the pioneer of free data-based messaging, BBM not only has those features but is the only major platform that can confirm your beloved messages have been sent, delivered and, most importantly, read. Even if you end up switching phones or platforms your BBM messages will be delivered when you sign in to your existing BBM account on a new device. That’s unlike Apple’s iMessage, which is the subject of a lawsuit over messages it failed to deliver to Android users.
That’s why both the New York Times and CNET suggest that you should give BBM a try:
“There are too many alternative messaging systems now to keep using iMessage,” writes New York Times columnist Molly Wood. “… try BBM — formerly known as BlackBerry Messenger — whose fans are devoted and convinced of its unshakeable security. BBM can do everything iMessage can do, but without ever touching your text messages.”
During its World-Wide Developer Conference (WWDC) yesterday, Apple didn’t address iMessage’s delivery issues, though it announced a few new features such as cross-platform voice chat and location-sharing that publications such as Gizmodo Australia noted already existed in BBM.
Also, read some of the #BBMoments shared by our large and devoted fan base every week.

BBM Groups — going beyond group chat

If you’re still not convinced, consider that BBM has advanced group collaboration that is perfect for small businesses, clubs, families and sports teams. You can share calendars, photos, files and tasks. My adult softball team uses BBM to connect. We have a calendar set up with every game that syncs to every player’s phone. A group chat lets us work on our strategy on game day – and see who will be absent. We use the lists feature to coordinate who’s responsible for bringing the cooler of post-game beverages.

Location sharing powered by Glympse integration

As I noted earlier, BBM already offers this very helpful location-sharing feature. Essentially, with BBM you can share your location at any time with another contact – this will allow them to visually see where you are on a map for a set amount of time. It also plots out your path on a map. I use Glympse with my wife, we share a car – so she can see when I leave the office and where I am on my commute to pick her up. It takes the guesswork out of “I’m on my way, be there soon” moments.

BBM Stickers — enhanced emoticons to get your point across

These emoticons are guaranteed to get a reaction. You can creatively integrate a BBM sticker into a chat when having fun. I use the massive ‘Thumbs Up’ and the huge ‘Hug’ daily. With more and more sticker packs from artists and brands coming each month, it’s easy to get hooked on sending these digital stickers.

Connect with brands and personalities on BBM Channels

BBM Channels is a unique way for you to connect with some of your favorite brands. One of my favorite examples of this is how our racing partner MERCEDES AMG PETRONAS used BBM Channels to host a live chat for fans with driver Nico Rosberg. A chance to chat with a racing legend? Yes, please. Read the details here.

Security — For enterprise piece of mind

Security and privacy are part of the DNA of BBM. When it comes to security, BBM uses several layers of encryption to secure BBM messages today. TLS encryption is used to secure the connection between the device and server. This protects messages against eavesdropping and manipulation. And through that secure pipe we further secure BBM messages with a triple DES BBM scrambling key. So you have a secure message flowing through a secure pipe. Plus, with the “ultra-secure” (Engadget’s words) BBM Protected launching next month we add yet another level of encryption. Messages sent between BBM Protected users are encrypted using a public / private encryption key pair unique to those two users and controlled by the enterprise. BBM Protected will be the only secure instant messaging service to use a FIPS 140-2 validated cryptographic library meaning that it has met a series of strict U.S. government requirements.*.
Do you use BBM? Let us (and our readers) know how with #BBMoments in social media and in the comments

SOURCE : Inside BlackBerry

April 16, 2014

Maintaining communication with ex-colleagues to win new business

When looking to grow your business, utilizing your existing network is often a quick win. But working with friends can bring its own challenges. Discover how you can leverage your network and transform personal friendships into business ones.
It’s an age-old saying: don’t mix business with pleasure. For some, working with immediate family or close friends is a nightmare. For others it is a bond that cannot be broken, no matter what happens, and you are better working together to make the business a success.
Friends and family is one thing, but what about ex-colleagues? You may stay in touch every so often, but as ex-colleagues move to new companies and climb higher up the career ladder, they can often be invaluable when it comes to new business.
Whether it is an in-road into a new company, an introduction at an event you are both attending or a referral to a potential prospect, maintaining relationships with ex-colleagues and peers is key to cultivating your network and ensuring your sales pipeline remains healthy.
If employees leave your company on good terms, keeping in touch on a regular basis can pay dividends for your company down the line. According to the business networking organisation BNI, 98% of businesses place a significant importance on the value of word of mouth in winning new business, and ex-colleagues can be prime advocates to recommend your company to others.
Read on to discover three ways that you can utilise your existing network of ex-colleagues and transform personal relationships into business ones:

1. Capitalise on the potential within your immediate network
Rather than concentrating all your efforts on growing your network by constantly meeting new people, focus on forging quality relationships within your existing circle of contacts. Ex-colleagues and employees can potentially open a number of doors for you in their new companies, as they can readily and willingly endorse you since they know your background and your work.
Start by keeping in regular contact with your ex-colleagues, to avoid becoming ‘out of sight, out of mind’. It does not have to be a series of constant emails or phone calls. A networking event or industry conference or presentation that is relevant for you both is a great way to keep in touch, while allowing you to expand your network by meeting other professionals. If they have a colleague that is a relevant prospect for your business, ask your contact to invite them along.  It allows you to meet them in a non-formal setting.
Make networking at events and conferences a less daunting task by arranging to meet a colleague. Not only will a familiar face give you a boost of confidence to network, but you also open yourself to being introduced to their network.

2. Using social media to keep in touch
We would all love to spend our working day networking and attending various events to grow our business. Unfortunately, in the time-sensitive world we live in, this is simply not an option.
Social media is the perfect platform to keep track of ex-colleagues and their rise up the job ladder. LinkedIn and Twitter are effective platforms for this: allowing you to ‘like’ and retweet ex-colleagues’ updates –whilst avoiding the hard sell at all times. Be sure to share useful content through social media with ex-colleagues to ensure you stay front of mind when they are due to make a business decision in their new role.
You can also use your ex-colleagues as a go-between when looking to expand your network. If they have a colleague that would be valuable to know for new business purposes, ask them to introduce you to connect on LinkedIn.

3. Transitioning a personal relationship into a business one
Why is it that so many of us find it difficult to transition a personal relationship into a business one? Reaching out to friends in a business capacity can sometimes feel awkward, especially if it is out of the blue. Think of your ex-colleagues as a bridge to meeting new contacts, as they can help facilitate a discussion with new contacts and help open doors for you within their company.

In order for your ex-colleagues to do this, you need to champion the principle of ‘pay it forward’. The key to this is to unearth ways that you might be able to help them solve their problems or achieve their goals too. Or, you might also be able to put them in touch with someone else who can help, even if you are unable to.

March 02, 2014

The next release of BBM

The next release of BBM will support photo sharing in multi person chats. This comes as an addition to existing sharing options that exist in multi person chats – sending voice notes, sharing your location powered by Glympse, and sending files from your Dropbox account. We also understand that customers want to be able to send larger files through BBM. While our file size limit on shared files has historically been set at 6MB, we’re increasing this to 16MB in the next release of BBM. What this means is that you’ll be able to send bigger pictures, larger documents and longer videos.
Source :Inside BlackBerry

February 26, 2014

Meet the New BlackBerry Z3


The new BlackBerry Z3 smartphone, is an all-touch smartphone designed with Indonesian customers in mind. The stylish new BlackBerry Z3 smartphone comes customized with local apps and content, a modern design with a 5” display, and long lasting battery. It is made for the next generation of BlackBerry customers in Indonesia, and will come with BlackBerry 10 OS version 10.2.1, with plenty of features to be excited about. Let’s dive-in . .

BlackBerry Z3 Features
         BlackBerry Hub – The ever present BlackBerry Hub lets you access all your work and personal email, BBM™, text messages, social media updates and notifications in one place, with the ability to “peek” into the BlackBerry Hub from anywhere, so you’re always only one swipe away from what matters to you. The Hub can be customized to identify priority messages and to filter the message list by various criteria that you can then activate with a simple pinch gesture.
         BBM – BBM on the BlackBerry Z3 smartphone includes all the latest features of the popular mobile social network, customized for Indonesians. You get BBM voice and video chatting with Screen Share and support for BlackBerry Natural Sound, letting you hear nuances and variations in tone in a BBM Voice chat, and making the conversation sound like you’re in the same room. BBM Channels features a variety of Indonesian channels as well as a package of BBM stickers that have been specially designed by an Indonesian artist.
         BlackBerry Keyboard – The BlackBerry Keyboard learns what words you use and how you use them, then offers them up to you so you can type faster and more accurately. It gives you the best Bahasa Indonesia typing experience on a touchscreen, complete with multi-language support that lets you type in up to 3 different languages at the same time.
         Time Shift & Story Maker – The BlackBerry Z3 smartphone’s astonishing Time Shift camera feature lets you capture a group shot where everyone is smiling with their eyes wide open. You can also use Story Maker to bring a collection of photos and videos together, along with music and effects, to produce an HD movie that you can instantly share on YouTube.
         BlackBerry 10 Browser – The BlackBerry 10 browser sets the industry benchmark for HTML5 performance on smartphones, and is incredibly fast, with fluid and responsive scrolling and zooming. The browser includes many advanced features, supports multiple tabs, lets you browse sites privately, includes a reader mode, and integrates with the platform for easily sharing content. You can even save web pages for later viewing.
         Instant Previews & Reply Now – Be more timely and responsive with Instant Previews that bring BBM, SMS and email message to you no matter what you are doing on your BlackBerry Z3 smartphone. You can even reply to your BBM or SMS messages in any app, or swipe to the BlackBerry Hub to respond. If you get a phone call that you can’t answer right way, you can instantly silence the call and send a Reply Now response through BBM, SMS or email to let the caller know you’re busy.

                  Fast, Easy Sharing – The BlackBerry Z3 smartphone learns how you share and who you share with, helping you reduce the number of steps and amount of time it takes to get your files, photos, or documents to where they need to go. Touching “share” in any app provides suggestions on who and how to share your files based on who you’ve shared with in the past, and the feature only gets smarter the more you use it.

RIM CEO demo BB10

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