BlackBerry Teens Malaysia

BREAKING NEWS! We've got the inside scoop on the CELCOM offers!

2010-10-28T07:57:00.001-07:00

(Please read the post prior to this to figure out what we're talking about. *wink)

The info-embargo is over! We've got the exclusive scoop on the Torch 9800 release by CELCOM tomorrow!

So here it is. Its RM8 (THAT'S RIGHT!) for the first 10 customers, RM488 for the next 90 customers, and RM888 for the last 100 customers! That means that you could get a RM2,500 BlackBerry Torch 9800 smartphone for just RM8!

So get your rear ends to LaBodega in Pavilion at 3pm to get your oh-so-cheap BlackBerry Torch 9800 smartphones!

(Please be aware that for all 200 customers, a RM148 BBpro contract with CELCOM is mandatory)

Inside Info: Torch to launch on CELCOM tomorrow! ...with extras.

2010-10-28T02:08:00.001-07:00

Good afternoon, BBteens! How are we all doing mid-week?

Maxis released their Torch packages today, with the cheapest coming up at about RM1,399. CELCOM however, will be launching tomorrow.

... wait wait, there's more. While they may be launching a day later, we're getting word that their package prices will be EVEN LOWER than the Green Squiggle. And on top of that, the first 200 customers to queue up at their Blue Cube centre in Pavilion stand to save EVEN MORE, with (so we heard) between 25%-50% savings off their packages!

Spread the word to all Torch fans you may know! This is an opportunity that shouldn't be missed!

.... so how many of you will be sleeping in Bukit Bintang tonight?

Inside Info: Malaysian Telco's to release BlackBerry Torch 9800 smartphone on the 29th!

2010-10-19T21:21:00.001-07:00

So here's the scoop: A reliable source tells us that major Malaysian telco's will be launching the BlackBerry Torch 9800 smartphone on the 29th of October 2010. Along w/ this, our source mentioned that the prices being offered by a certain blue box is so competitive, merely mentioning it may set off price wars! Lastly, we're told that the deals are well worth the money, AND come with freebies.

"Freebies", "good value"... hm.

So what do you guys think? How much do you think they'll be? And what kind of sweet freebies are we looking at? *hint*BBstereoGateway*hint*

Sound off in the comments!

P.S.: We're currently playing w/ a Torch 9800, so expect a review soon!

[Sent from my BlackBerry® Bold™ 9700 smartphone]

Research In Motion launch the BlackBerry Torch 9800 in KL!

2010-10-03T02:31:00.001-07:00

On the 1st of October, Research In Motion (RIM) launched the all-new and long-awaited BlackBerry Torch 9800 smartphone.

(BlackBerry Teens Malaysia tweeted LIVE & EXCLUSIVELY from the event, from 7pm to 9pm)

To kick off the festivities, the Managing Director of Research In Motion SEA Greg Wade took the mic and expressed his heartfelt gratitude to all the invitees & media for the wonderful turn out. "To date," he said, "there are 115,000,000 BlackBerry smartphones worldwide, with 50,000,000 of them as BlackBerry service subscibers. With those numbers in mind," he continued, "52% of Research In Motion's revenue comes from outside North America." He then mentioned that with the growing market here in Malaysia, "we (RIM) will definitely be holding more events here in Kuala Lumpur in the future."

After a quick word from Danny Bolduc (the General Manager for RIM Asia Pacific), the real event began. We were treated to an amazing -insert artform here- performance by -insert sand artist here- and a solo piano performance by -insert pianist name here (eunice olsen?)- which was accompanied by a beautiful display on the wraparound projectors.

To spice up the proceedings, the Event Organisers decided to hold a 'Who Wants To Be A Millionaire' styled quiz where invitees who submitted their business cards would be calledd up at random to compete for the grand prize of a brand new BlackBerry Torch 9800 smartphone.

After seeing Jason Lo (who was busy slandering his opponent to actually think of the right answer) get beaten black-and-blue by a DiGi invitee, a lucky guy walked away with the BlackBerry Torch smartphone.

Now, to the business end of this post: the first-impressions of the Torch. With the rough 5 mins I had to test it out, I spent most of my time flicking through the very fluid menu. I must mention a tabooed word here; the 9800's interface reminded me greatly of the iPad which I am now using to write this post. The smooth movements of the menus were amazing and it didnt lag at all (but bear in mind that the unit I was playing with was a RIM demo device, without the weight of the many apps we download onto our devices). The 5MP camera was brilliantly sharp and took amazing photos. We didn't have time to try out the media capabilities because the man standing behind me was getting impatient!

As we were leaving, we were given door gifts courtesy of Tiffany & Co. and we were served a raspberry-cream desert that was absolutely divine.

Thus concludes the BlackBerry Teens Malaysia coverage of the BlackBerry Torch 9800 launch at the Westin KL.

Photos to be uploaded soon!

(Pssst! We have reason to believe that Maxis & maybe Celcom as well will be launching the BlackBerry Torch smartphone sometime next weekend. This is speculation for now, but BBTM was told this by a high-ranking official at one of the telcos. Stay tuned for updates!)

[Sent from my BlackBerry® Bold™ 9700 smartphone]

Hot Off The Press! RIM BlackBerry introduces the new BlackBerry Bold 9650, and BlackBerry Pearl 3G!

2010-05-04T09:45:00.000-07:00

RIM has been buzzing with activity over the past week, over at the WES 2010 convention. While they were there, they managed to throw us BlackBerry addicts some goodies to oogle at, namely the BlackBerry Bold 9650 & BlackBerry Pearl 3G 91xx.

The BlackBerry Pearl 3G sees the revival of an iconic 'transition-model' for classic T9 keyboard users. The candybar design of the Pearl was a hit with many, as some refused to give up space in their pockets for its larger, full-QWERTY siblings.

The Pearl 3G debuts with the new design direction of RIM, with its chrome bezel, model-name on the rear, and a Storm 9550-like battery door. Its sleek design features the new optical TrackPad, guaranteed to be hassle- & problem-free.

Moving on, we see the introduction of the new BlackBerry Bold 9650, a welcomed new addition to the Bold lineup of premium smartphones.

Although it may look exactly like the Tour 9630 it's replacing (save for that optical TrackPad), it's actually a completely different experience. With its higher-res screen & faster processor, the 9650 works great as a Bold-lineup-introduction model. HOWEVER, I hope RIM addresses the build quality issues that plagued my Tour (as the whole thing kind of felt cheap & flimsy in the hand. And the battery door was horrible!).

By the way, the BlackBerry Teens Malaysia team agree that the 7 snazzy colours that the Pearl 3G is gonna be dressed up in should be applied to the whole range. How we'd love to see a red Storm or Bold 9700...

Notification.

2010-04-21T07:51:00.000-07:00

Dear BlackBerry® Teens of Malaysia,

Effective tomorrow (22nd April 2010), BlackBerry® Teens Malaysia will be slowing down our services here on our blog as well on our Twitter support page. This move comes as 3 of our leading BBTM-team members are beginning to gear up for the PMR examinations at the end of this year. We will not be shutting down completely; we will be reducing our posts to only the most necessary & most groundbreaking releases.

We apologise for any inconvenience caused, and we hope that you will remain faithful to BBTM in the coming months.

Thank you.

- the BlackBerry® Teens Malaysia team.

Leaks & Leaks & Leaks!

2010-03-23T15:52:00.000-07:00

G'morning!

We've been getting a lot of leaks lately, from our friends at CrackBerry.com. From OS5.0 updates for Javelin™s, Curve™s & even Tour™s, its all coming out. Even a leak for a new BlackBerry® Messenger™!

If you're impatient, I suggest you head on down there and grab one while its free, but I do have to warn you that these are not official RIM updates. Please back up all your files before doing anything on your BB. And if you've got problems, CrackBerry has lots of forums with some very knowledgeable people on board.

BBTM, however, will soon be posting direct links to the CrackBerry site for ya'lls lives to be that little bit easier.

Till then. Ciao!

Sent from my BlackBerry® smartphone

(At long last) BlackBerry® Teens Reviews: The BlackBerry® StormII™ 9520

2010-03-21T08:34:00.000-07:00

Salam 1Malaysia!

I'm sure all of you have been waiting patiently for the BlackBerry® StormII™ review that we've promised you. Over the past weeks, we've been interviewing the many proud owners of the StormII™ to understand more of what its like to live with on a day-to-day basis. This is what we've compiled.

1) Design

In line with the new design direction taken by RIM, the BlackBerry® StormII™ is a looker. With its sleek, uninterrupted design flow, the StormII™ is lightyears ahead of the original Storm™. One of the most obvious design features are the four buttons on the lower portion of the screen. On the Storm™, they were four individual buttons, which were very common with touchscreen smartphones. Now, those buttons have been integrated into the screen, so they also share the same clicking mechanism as the screen. More on that later. Gone are the little 'feet' on either side of the speaker (which used to be housed on the rear of the phone), leaving the rear of the phone looking smooth & uncluttered (the speaker has been moved to the bottom of the phone). Missing, however, is the model insignia, which we now find on the BoldII™ & the upcoming Stratus/Pearl™ 9100, though that's hardly an issue. Overall, its a stunner, as was its elder brother.

2) New Features

There isn't a lot for this segment, though there are 3 big differences in the StormII™ which we absolutely must highlight. Firstly, is the new & improved SureTouch mechanism for the screen. With the Storm™ , the SureTouch screen felt kind of 'soggy', a bit like the soft-touch keys that you find on the Curve™ 8520 & BoldII™ 9700. On the StormII™, we're happy to report that the screen now floats on four electronically-controlled pressure sensors that give it a much more tactile feel. But it still falls short of the feel of an actual keyboard. Close try, though.

Next on the lineup is Wi-Fi connectivity. No song & dance here, as we were expecting this on the Storm™ but didn't get it. This is now an option available on the StormII™.

Lastly, and most importantly, we now have 2GB onboard memory, in comparison with the original 1GB. This allows for a much faster processing speed, and it also makes room for high-memory applications. A great improvement here.

[ED: We're sorry we don't have an unboxing segment, as our unit didn't come with one]

3) Usability

On the StormII™, we get a breath of fresh air as we now say hello to OS5.0. With that in mind, the StormII™ is a boon to use, with plenty of new features to play with. On a day-to-day basis, we've heard complaints that the 'End' button can sometimes be difficult to press (we eventually experienced that ourselves). Very annoying. The only thing worse than that is when you try to hit the menu button off-centre of the button itself. The StormII™ does this very peculiar thing where the screen will click repeatedly for no apparent reason. Hm.

The media player is as good as the rest of the lineup, with crisp music through the speaker. Mind you, it does provide more bass-tones compared to the Curve™ 8520 or the BoldII™ 9700, which is good. However, the video player didn't recognise a movie we had stored on our 4GB card. We would have loved to watch that on its sharp, clear screen.

In daylight, the StormII™ does well by compensating with the backlighting, there isn't a moment when you can't see the screen (though the beautiful chrome bezel does try to blind you every once in a while). We wish the screen was of higher definition, like the BoldII™, because text & video just lacked that crisp & sharp look we've come to love of the BoldII™.

Texting and emailing is something we've been asked to cover on this test. As you may already know, you have the full keyboard on landscape mode, while you have the option of SureType, multi-tap, and a full QWERTY on portrait mode. In all settings, the StormII™ responded well, with a much improved feel to it. Now that the screen supports multi-touch, so you can hold down 'Shift' to get capitals and so on. It also helps when you type away furiously, as one had to be ever-so-slow with the Storm™.

[ED: Our unit was running on DiGi, so we couldn't test the HSDPA performance. Sorry.]

4) Overall

Our brief period with the StormII™ tied up some loose ends that were associated with the original Storm™. We do have to say that there is some stigma that comes with the Storm™ name, as most associate it with, quote: "Click-screen nonsense" and "Rubbish like a Storm-Drain". The original was rubbish, so we can't blame the reviews.

A note to all carriers, and perhaps to RIM themselves: You have to bump up marketing of this baby, because the name, I'm afraid, says too much.

We rate it: 4/5

[If there are any aspects that we missed out on this review, do tell us @ bbteens.my@gmail.com and we'll update as soon as possible]
Sent from my BlackBerry® smartphone

TrackBall™ to TrackPad™: A Smooth Transition.

2010-03-17T19:48:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone! Happy holidays, yeah!

I was chatting with some fellow BlackBerry® teens the other day, some with their Bold™ 9000's & Curve-Javelin™ 8900's, and so I gave them my own BoldII™ to use for a while. And while they were using it, they said that they preferred the TrackBall™ due to the "feel of running your finger over it" and that the TrackBall™ "allows for more accurate scrolling".

At this point, I studied the way they were using my BoldII™ and its TrackPad™.

I myself made the transition from TrackBall™ to TrackPad™ when I switched from my Tour™ to my BoldII™. After setting the sensitivity of the TrackPad™, it was, and still is, a boon to use. Its smooth, accurate, and a lot more reliable in the long term.

From many people, I have heard their talk of the TrackBall™ - TrackPad™ transition, saying they're "scared we'll never get used to it" and that "the TrackBall™ is an integral part of any BlackBerry® smartphone."

Well, in my point of view, not only is the TrackPad™ visually stunning, its fantastic to use, and it truly signifies how far BlackBerry® smartphones have advanced since the day of the 'side-scrolling' BlackBerry® smartphones.

P.S.: The BoldII™ & StormII™ review are in their final stages of editing. You will see them soon!
Sent from my BlackBerry® smartphone

From the RIM Newsroom: RIM introduces BlackBerry® Storm2™ in Australia & New Zealand.

2010-03-12T19:44:00.000-08:00

Sydney, Australia - Research In Motion (RIM) (NASDAQ: RIMM; TSX: RIM) today introduced the BlackBerry® Storm2™ smartphone for customers in Australia and New Zealand. The second generation of RIM's innovative and award-winning touch-screen smartphone, the BlackBerry Storm2 significantly improves the BlackBerry® touch-screen platform with new technology and new features to let customers stay easily connected to the people, places and things that matter most.

“The BlackBerry Storm2 smartphone, with its next generation SurePress technology and large, brilliant display, gives users an unrivalled touch-screen experience for advanced communications and multimedia applications,” said Gregory Wade, Managing Director for Southeast Asia, Research In Motion. “In addition, with the recent introduction of BlackBerry App World™, users can get even more out of their smartphone with a broad range of free mobile applications that are easier than ever to discover and download.”

Next-Gen SurePress Technology
The BlackBerry Storm2 smartphone introduces a next generation SurePress™ technology based on an electronic system that provides the user with tactile feedback when the touch-screen is pressed. The new system responds equally to gentle pressure applied anywhere on the surface of the screen and makes clicking the display practically effortless. Typing on the smartphone's virtual keyboards is easier, more comfortable and more accurate. The new SurePress technology also allows the user to type a letter with one thumb even while their other thumb may still be touching or resting on another letter, enabling faster typing and multi-key actions such as Shift or Alt-key combinations.

Hardware Features

* Smooth design and premium finish with sloped edges, chrome accents, glass lens and stainless steel backplate
* Large (3.25”), dazzling, high resolution 360 x 480 display at 184 ppi
* Capacitive touch-screen with integrated functions (Send, End, Menu, Escape) and new SurePress technology that makes clicking the display practically effortless
* Global connectivity support: UMTS/HSPA (2100Mhz), quad-band EDGE/GPRS/GSM and Wi-Fi® (802.11 b/g) networks
* 3.2 MP camera with variable zoom, autofocus, flash and video recording
* 256 MB of Flash memory
* 2 GB of onboard memory storage and a microSD/SDHD memory card slot that supports up to 16 GB cards today and is expected to support 32 GB cards when available
* Premium and easy-to-access phone features, background noise suppression technology, loud distortion-free speakerphone and face detection (proximity sensor) that prevents accidental clicks and blanks the screen while the user is on the phone
* Media player for videos, pictures and music and BlackBerry® Media Sync for easily syncing photos as well as iTunes® and Windows Media® Player music with the smartphone*
* BlackBerry® Desktop Manager for both PCs and Macs to enable synching data such as contacts and calendar appointments between a computer and the smartphone
* A 3.5 mm stereo headset jack and dedicated volume controls
* Bluetooth® (2.1) with support for Secure Simple Pairing, hands-free headsets, stereo headsets, car kits and other Bluetooth peripherals
* Built-in GPS for maps and other location-based applications, as well as photo geotagging
* Access to BlackBerry App World™, featuring a broad and growing catalogue of mobile applications developed specifically for BlackBerry smartphones. Categories include games, entertainment, IM and social networking, news, weather, productivity and more
* Removable, rechargeable 1400 mAhr battery that provides approximately 6 hours of talk time on 3G networks and 280 hours of standby time

BlackBerry OS 5

* More responsive experience and includes usability and visual enhancements such as inertial scrolling, spin boxes that make it easier to set dates and times, gradient shading on buttons and more use of animation
* Typing accuracy and selection have been significantly refined
* BlackBerry® Browser improved with faster JavaScript and CSS processing as well as support for Gears and BlackBerry Widgets

From the RIM Newsroom: Smart Telecom and RIM Launch the BlackBerry Tour smartphone in Indonesia

2010-03-05T23:07:00.000-08:00

Jakarta, Indonesia - Smart Telecom, a national cellular operator, and Research In Motion (RIM) (NASDAQ: RIMM; TSX: RIM), a global leader in wireless innovation, today launched the 3G-enabled BlackBerry® Tour™ 9630 smartphone for CDMA customers in Indonesia. The new BlackBerry Tour smartphone offers state-of-the-art communications and multimedia capabilities with outstanding mobile performance and consummate styling. It is a feature-packed and highly refined world phone that keeps you connected and lets you tour the world in style.

The BlackBerry Tour smartphone provides the industry’s leading mobile solution for email, messaging (IM, SMS, MMS) and social networking (including Facebook® and MySpace), together with built-in GPS and advanced multimedia capabilities, enabling customers to make the most of both their personal and professional time.

Along with the BlackBerry Tour smartphone, Smart is introducing an attractive new BlackBerry service plan name “Smart BlackBerry Hebat”. The Smart BlackBerry Hebat service plan is available for both prepaid and postpaid customers, allowing them to enjoy unlimited data access to the Internet and email as well as unlimited video streaming (RTSP) on Smart's high-speed CDMA network. In addition, customers will be able to utilize the BlackBerry Tour as a modem with unlimited data access for no additional charge. Starting today, Smart offers this package at IDR 8,000 per day or IDR 180,000 for 30 days.

Customers can purchase the BlackBerry Tour smartphone from Smart at an affordable price and if they have a Mandiri credit card, they can pay for the handset over six months, interest free. Both purchase options include a free 30-day subscription to the Smart BlackBerry Hebat service plan.

“We are introducing the BlackBerry Tour 9630 smartphone to our CDMA customers along with a new unlimited and affordable BlackBerry service plan - Smart BlackBerry Hebat. By subscribing to the Smart BlackBerry Hebat service plan, customers do not have to worry about any additional charges. The BlackBerry Tour 9630 is an exceptional smartphone that allows customers to easily keep in touch with the people and information that matter most to them, at any time and anywhere,” said Tom A Dinharsa, Head of Device Technology & Special Projects, PT Smart Telecom.

“We are very pleased to work together to add this powerful new 3G world phone to Smart’s successful portfolio of BlackBerry products and services for customers in Indonesia,” said Gregory Wade, Managing Director for Southeast Asia at Research In Motion. “With its striking design and exceptional performance, the new BlackBerry Tour offers a compelling choice for the growing number of wireless customers that want to do more with their phone than just make calls.”

Features of the BlackBerry Tour smartphone include:

World phone capabilities with support for high-speed CDMA networks in Indonesia and UMTS/HSPA (2100Mhz) and quad-band EDGE/GPRS/GSM networks abroad
Camera (3.2 MP)
256 MB Flash memory
Advanced media player
Support for BlackBerry App World™
Built-in GPS
BlackBerry® Maps
BlackBerry Push Email
Organizer
Browser
Phone
Access to corporate data with BlackBerry® Enterprise Server or BlackBerry® Enterprise Server Express
SMS/MMS
2GB external memory card (microSD/SDHC) included in the box

Activating the Smart BlackBerry Hebat service plan from a BlackBerry smartphone is easy. Users can simply send an SMS to 2233 with the text “ON Hebat30” for monthly service or “ON Hebat1” for daily service. To deactivate, users can send an SMS with the text “OFF” to 2233. Both prepaid and postpaid customers can subscribe to the new service plan.

The BlackBerry Tour 9630 smartphone and BlackBerry service plans are available for purchase at Smart’s galleries, Trikomsel or Okeshop and through Smart’s delivery service via phone at 088 11 22 33 44.
About Smart Telecom

PT Smart Telecom is a cellular service provider in Indonesia with CDMA 2000 1X-EVDO Rev.A technology transmitting at 1,900 MHz. The technology enables subscribers to constantly communicate and to send high-speed data with affordable price on coverage that is continuously expanded eventually to nationwide.

[Now that the Tour is available in Jakarta, I wonder if we'll be getting a surge of cheaper Tour's here in Malaysia from our friends across the sea. Hmm....]

From the RIM Newsroom: RIM Introduces the BlackBerry Storm2 Smartphone in Hong Kong

2010-03-05T23:06:00.000-08:00

Hong Kong - Research In Motion (RIM) (NASDAQ: RIMM; TSX: RIM) today announced the BlackBerry® Storm2™ smartphone for customers in Hong Kong.

The second generation of RIM's innovative and award-winning touch-screen smartphone, the BlackBerry Storm2 significantly improves the BlackBerry® touch-screen platform with new technology and new features to let customers stay easily connected to the people, places and things that matter most.

“The BlackBerry Storm2 smartphone offers advanced communications and multimedia applications together with a uniquely tactile touch-screen experience,” said Norm Lo, Vice President of Asia Pacific, Research In Motion. “In addition, the recent introduction of BlackBerry App World in Hong Kong makes it easier than ever to discover and download applications, allowing users to get even more out of their smartphone.”

Next-Gen SurePress Technology

The BlackBerry Storm2 smartphone introduces a next generation SurePress™ technology based on an electronic system that provides the user with tactile feedback when the touch-screen is pressed. The new system responds equally to gentle pressure applied anywhere on the surface of the screen and makes clicking the display practically effortless. Typing on the smartphone's virtual keyboards is easier, more comfortable and more accurate. The new SurePress technology also allows the user to type a letter with one thumb even while their other thumb may still be touching or resting on another letter, enabling faster typing and multi-key actions such as Shift or Alt-key combinations.

Hardware Features

Smooth design and premium finish with sloped edges, chrome accents, glass lens and stainless steel backplate
Large (3.25”), dazzling, high resolution 360 x 480 display at 184 ppi
Capacitive touch-screen with integrated functions (Send, End, Menu, Escape) and new SurePress technology that makes clicking the display practically effortless
Global connectivity support: UMTS/HSPA (2100Mhz), quad-band EDGE/GPRS/GSM and Wi-Fi® (802.11 b/g) networks
3.2 MP camera with variable zoom, autofocus, flash and video recording
256 MB of Flash memory
2 GB of onboard memory storage and a microSD/SDHD memory card slot that supports up to 16 GB cards today and is expected to support 32 GB cards when available
Premium and easy-to-access phone features, background noise suppression technology, loud distortion-free speakerphone and face detection (proximity sensor) that prevents accidental clicks and blanks the screen while the user is on the phone
Media player for videos, pictures and music, and BlackBerry® Media Sync for easily syncing photos as well as iTunes® and Windows Media® Player music with the smartphone*
BlackBerry® Desktop Manager for both PCs and Macs to enable synching data such as contacts and calendar appointments between a computer and the smartphone
A 3.5 mm stereo headset jack and dedicated volume controls
Bluetooth® with support for hands-free headsets, stereo headsets, car kits and other Bluetooth peripherals
Built-in GPS for maps and other location-based applications, as well as photo geotagging
Access to BlackBerry App World™, featuring a broad and growing catalog of mobile applications developed specifically for BlackBerry smartphones. Categories include games, entertainment, IM and social networking, news, weather, productivity and more
Removable, rechargeable 1400 mAhr battery that provides approximately 6 hours of talk time on 3G networks and 280 hours of standby time

BlackBerry OS 5

More responsive experience and includes usability and visual enhancements such as inertial scrolling, spin boxes that make it easier to set dates and times, gradient shading on buttons and more use of animation
Typing accuracy and selection have been significantly refined
BlackBerry® Browser improved with faster JavaScript and CSS processing as well as support for Gears and BlackBerry Widgets
Customers running BlackBerry® Enterprise Server v5 and BlackBerry® Enterprise Server Express will gain the ability to:
- Set follow-up Flags on the handset like they can in Microsoft® Office Outlook®
- Manage Microsoft Exchange email folders (Add, Rename, Move, Delete) on the handset
- Access remote files shares (Windows Shares); Save, View, Edit, and Email documents from remote file shares
- Forward appointments and view calendar attachments on the handset
- Benefit from wireless sync improvements for Contacts, including sync for multiple contact folders, personal Distribution Lists and contacts in Public/Shared folders.

On The Way: BlackBerry® Storm2 in testing

2010-02-21T00:45:00.000-08:00

Salam 1Malaysia!

We here at BBTM are proud to say that we have received a Storm2 tester unit from our pals at *cough cough*, and BBTM will be testing it over a period of 2 weeks (or maybe quicker).

If you already own a Storm2 (or are thinking of purchasing one), do email us with any enquiries or tell us what you think about your BlackBerry® smartphone @ bbteens.my@gmail.com!
Sent from my BlackBerry® smartphone

From the RIM Newsroom: Vodafone & RIM launch the BlackBerry Bold2 9700 in India! (Vodafone Essar)

2010-02-19T10:10:00.001-08:00

Delhi, India - Vodafone Essar, one of India’s leading cellular service providers, and Research In Motion (RIM) (NASDAQ: RIMM; TSX: RIM), a world leader in wireless innovation, today announced the launch of the BlackBerry® Bold™ 9700 smartphone for Vodafone customers in India.

The sleek and stylish BlackBerry Bold 9700 smartphone delivers powerful communications and multimedia applications with outstanding performance, giving Vodafone customers an exceptional mobile experience. The new smartphone is expected to be available at Vodafone stores across India on January 29, 2009 and priced at Rs. 31990*.

“Further to the immense success of the BlackBerry Bold 9000 launch, we are delighted to introduce the latest BlackBerry Bold 9700 to Vodafone customers in India. This launch reiterates our commitment towards providing our customers with superior products and services, which enables them to balance their professional and personal lives,” said Kumar Ramanathan, Chief Marketing Officer, Vodafone Essar Ltd.

“We are very excited to introduce the BlackBerry Bold 9700 in India. This best-in-class smartphone will certainly appeal to Vodafone customers, offering a sleek and elegant design packed with powerful communications and entertainment features,” said Frenny Bawa, Vice President, India, Research In Motion.

The BlackBerry Bold 9700 supports 3G HSDPA networks around the world and is equipped with a performance enhancing next-generation (624 MHz) processor and 256 MB on-board Flash memory. The exciting new BlackBerry Bold 9700 features built-in GPS and Wi-Fi®, a 3.2 MP camera with video recording and a sharp, dazzling display. The dark chrome frame and leatherette back add to the new smartphone's sleek and elegant look, while the narrow profile, balanced weight and soft-touch sides allow it to feel incredibly comfortable in one hand.

The BlackBerry Bold 9700 also supports BlackBerry App World™ which features a broad and growing catalog of mobile applications developed specifically for BlackBerry smartphones. Categories include games, entertainment, IM and social networking, news, weather, productivity and more.

From the RIM Newsroom: RIM launches the new BlackBerry Bold 9700 & Storm2 9520 in Malaysia

2010-02-19T10:08:00.000-08:00

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia - Research In Motion (RIM) (NASDAQ: RIMM; TSX: RIM) today introduced the sleek and powerful BlackBerry® Bold™ 9700 and BlackBerry® Storm2™ smartphones for customers in Malaysia.

The new BlackBerry Bold 9700 and BlackBerry Storm2 smartphones are both second generation models and come with an extensive array of high-end communications and multimedia features in highly refined designs that will appeal to users for both professional and personal use.

The BlackBerry Bold 9700 smartphone offers top-of-the-line performance, functionality and features with support for 3G HSDPA networks around the world, a next-generation (624 MHz) processor, 256 MB Flash memory, built-in GPS and Wi-Fi®, a 3.2MP camera and a dazzling, high resolution display.

The BlackBerry Storm2 smartphone significantly improves the BlackBerry® touch-screen platform with new technology and new features to let customers stay easily connected to the people, places and things that matter most. It introduces a new SurePress™ technology based on an electronic system, which makes typing on the smartphone's virtual keyboards easier, more comfortable and more accurate.

"BlackBerry smartphones offer users exceptional connectivity and multimedia features that are praised by both business users and consumers," said Gregory Wade, Managing Director for Southeast Asia, Research In Motion. “With the launch of the BlackBerry Bold 9700 and BlackBerry Storm2 smartphones, we are offering BlackBerry fans more options to best suit their mobile lifestyle.”

Key features of the BlackBerry Bold 9700 smartphone include:

Sleek design measuring 4.29" x 2.36" x 0.56" (109 mm x 60 mm x 14.1 mm) and weighing only 4.3 oz (122 grams)
Sharp and dazzling 2.44” light-sensing display (480 x 360 resolution)
Highly tactile full-QWERTY keyboard – with finely sculpted keys and chrome frets – for fast, accurate typing
Innovative touch-sensitive trackpad that allows intuitive and responsive navigation
Built-in Wi-Fi (802.11 b/g) for faster web browsing and extended data coverage
3.2 MP camera with variable zoom, autofocus, flash and video recording
Built-in GPS for maps and other location-based applications, as well as photo geotagging
Media player for videos, pictures and music (music plays up to 38 hours)
3.5 mm stereo headset jack, dedicated volume controls, Lock and Mute keys seamlessly integrated across the top of the handset
microSD/SDHD memory card slot that supports up to 16 GB cards today and is expected to support 32 GB cards when available; a 2GB card is included
256 MB of Flash memory
Premium and easy-to-access phone features, background noise suppression technology and high quality speakerphone
Bluetooth® (2.1) with support for Secure Simple Pairing, hands-free headsets, stereo headsets, car kits and other Bluetooth peripherals
Global connectivity with UMTS/HSDPA 2100/1900/850/800 MHz and quad-band EDGE/GPRS/GSM support
Removable, rechargeable 1500 mAhr battery that provides approximately 6 hours of talk time and 17 days of standby time in 3G mode

Key features of the BlackBerry Storm2 smartphone include:

Smooth design and premium finish with sloped edges, chrome accents, glass lens and stainless steel backplate
Large (3.25”), dazzling, high resolution 360 x 480 display
Capacitive touch-screen with integrated functions (Send, End, Menu, Escape) and new SurePress technology that makes clicking the display practically effortless
Global connectivity support: UMTS/HSPA (2100Mhz), quad-band EDGE/GPRS/GSM and Wi-Fi (802.11 b/g) networks
3.2 MP camera with variable zoom, autofocus, flash and video recording
256 MB of Flash memory
2 GB of onboard memory storage and a microSD/SDHD memory card slot that supports up to 16 GB cards today and is expected to support 32 GB cards when available
Premium and easy-to-access phone features, background noise suppression technology, loud distortion-free speakerphone and face detection (proximity sensor) that prevents accidental clicks and blanks the screen while the user is on the phone
Media player for videos, pictures and music
A 3.5 mm stereo headset jack and dedicated volume controls
Bluetooth (2.1) with support for Secure Simple Pairing, hands-free headsets, stereo headsets, car kits and other Bluetooth peripherals
Built-in GPS for maps and other location-based applications, as well as photo geotagging
Removable, rechargeable 1400 mAhr battery that provides approximately 6 hours of talk time on 3G networks and 280 hours of standby time
The BlackBerry Bold 9700 and BlackBerry Storm2 smartphones also include:
BlackBerry® OS 5.0, offering users email management and calendar enhancements* as well as a better browsing experience with faster JavaScript and CSS processing
BlackBerry® Desktop Manager for both PCs and Macs to enable synching data such as contacts and calendar appointments between a computer and the smartphone
BlackBerry® Media Sync for easily syncing photos as well as iTunes® and Windows Media® Player music with the smartphone**
Support for BlackBerry services with access to up to 10 supported email accounts (including most popular ISP email accounts such as Yahoo!®, Windows Live™ Hotmail®, AOL® and Gmail™); and BlackBerry® Enterprise Server support, which features advanced security and IT administration capabilities for corporate deployments

The BlackBerry Bold 9700 and BlackBerry Storm2 smartphones are expected to be available in mid January and February respectively from Celcom, DiGi and Maxis.

Hot Off The Press! Research In Motion (RIM) introduces BlackBerry Enterprise Server Express!

2010-02-19T10:01:00.000-08:00

Free New BlackBerry Software for Microsoft Exchange and Microsoft Windows Small Business Server Allows Companies to Empower All Employees with Wireless Access to Their Corporate Email Without Compromising Security or Manageability

Waterloo, ON - Research In Motion (RIM) (NASDAQ: RIMM; TSX: RIM) today introduced BlackBerry® Enterprise Server Express - free new server software that wirelessly and securely synchronizes BlackBerry® smartphones with Microsoft® Exchange or Microsoft® Windows® Small Business Server.

The new BlackBerry Enterprise Server Express software will be provided free of charge in order to address two key market opportunities. First, the software offers economical advantages to small and mid-sized businesses (SMBs) that desire the enterprise-grade security and manageability of BlackBerry® Enterprise Server but don’t require all of its advanced features. Second, more and more consumers are purchasing BlackBerry smartphones and the free BlackBerry Enterprise Server Express software provides a cost-effective solution that enables IT departments to meet the growing demand from employees to be able to connect their personal BlackBerry smartphones to their work email.

BlackBerry Enterprise Server Express works with Microsoft Exchange 2010, 2007 and 2003 and Microsoft Windows Small Business Server 2008 and 2003 to provide users with secure, push-based, wireless access to email, calendar, contacts, notes and tasks, as well as other business applications and enterprise systems behind the firewall. Importantly, the new server software utilizes the same robust security architecture found in BlackBerry Enterprise Server.

"Today we are announcing an exciting new offering that further expands the market opportunity for the BlackBerry platform," said Mike Lazaridis, President and Co-CEO, Research In Motion. “In a marketplace where smartphones are becoming ubiquitous, BlackBerry Enterprise Server Express significantly raises the bar by providing a cost-effective solution that allows companies of all sizes to support enterprise-grade mobile connectivity for all employees without compromising security or manageability.”

With BlackBerry Enterprise Server Express connected to Microsoft Exchange or Microsoft Windows Small Business Server, BlackBerry smartphone users will be able to:

Wirelessly synchronize their email, calendar, contacts, notes and tasks
Manage email folders and search email on the mail server remotely
Book meetings and appointments, check availability and forward calendar attachments
Set an out-of-office reply
Edit Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint files using Documents To Go®
Access files stored on the company network
Use mobile applications to access business systems behind the firewall

For IT administrators, BlackBerry Enterprise Server Express also offers the following:

Runs on the same physical or virtual server as the Microsoft mail server or on its own server. BlackBerry Enterprise Server Express is also certified for use with VMware ESX
Over 35 IT controls and policies, including the ability to remotely wipe a smartphone and enforce and reset passwords
A Web-based interface that allows remote administration and makes it easy to install the software, connect BlackBerry smartphones and apply usage policies

BlackBerry® Enterprise Server v5 continues to be the recommended solution for deployments that require additional security policies, monitoring features or high availability. BlackBerry Enterprise Server also continues to be required for certain other enterprise solutions such as BlackBerry® Mobile Voice System (for bringing desk phone functionality to BlackBerry smartphones), BlackBerry® Clients for Microsoft® Office Communications Server and IBM® Lotus® Sametime® (for enterprise instant messaging), IBM Lotus Connections (for enterprise social networking), IBM Lotus Quickr™ (for document sharing and collaboration), and Chalk® Pushcast Software (for corporate podcasting).

I can count in one hand, how many of you would find this post relevant. Well, BBTM is about news, so this is news!

Hot Off The Press! BlackBerry: Official Smartphone for London Fashion Week

2010-02-19T09:51:00.000-08:00

With London Fashion Week kicking off today, BlackBerry becomes the handbag essential for journalists and fashionistas to access all the official content on LFW - whenever they need it, wherever they are.

A bespoke BlackBerry application developed by Viigo for the British Fashion Council, allows visitors to create their own personalised schedule and get inside access to designer information and biographies, LFW news and photo galleries, along with recommendations of the hottest restaurants, bars, clubs and hotels in town!

Hot Off The Press! Kindle for BlackBerry now available for FREE!

2010-02-18T02:10:00.001-08:00

Amazon.com, Inc. announced today the launch of a new application for mobile phone users, namely “Kindle for BlackBerry,” which is aimed at the smartphones launched by Canadian handset vendor Research In Motion. According to the company, the new solution is available for free, and offers BlackBerry users access to over 420,000 books, among which 102 of 112 New York Times Bestsellers are included.

The new Kindle for BlackBerry application is available on a range of handsets from RIM, and offers users the possibility to carry their Kindle books along while on the go. The software solution can be enjoyed on handsets available on AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, Verizon and other U.S. Carriers,
and provides wireless access to a library of more that 420,000 Kindle books, which includes New York Times Bestsellers and New Releases books, most for $9.99 or less.

The Kindle for BlackBerry app, offers BlackBerry users the possibility to:
- Search and browse more than 420,000 books, including 102 of 112 New York Times Bestsellers, directly from their BlackBerry
- Shop the in-app store for an optimized Kindle shopping experience – browse and download samples and full books without leaving the app
- Read the beginning of books for free before they buy
- Access their library of previously purchased Kindle books stored on Amazon’s servers
- Automatically synchronize the last page read between their Kindle-compatible devices
- Create bookmarks and view annotations they created on their Kindle, Kindle DX, or Kindle for iPhone and iPod touch
- Adjust the text size of books
- Read books in full color, including children’s books, cookbooks, travel books, textbooks and graphic novels

At the same time, the company also notes that one can easily synchronize the bookmarks courtesy of its Whispersync technology, no matter whether on a Kindle, Kindle DX, iPhone, iPod touch, PC, or BlackBerry device (soon the technology will arrive on Mac and iPad too). “Kindle is the most wished for, most gifted and #1 bestselling product on Amazon.com, and customers can now get the Kindle experience on their BlackBerry by downloading the free app at www.amazon.com/kindlebb,” the company adds.

Hot Off The Press! Skype Mobile is coming! (To Verizon Mobile, at least)

2010-02-18T02:06:00.000-08:00

Verizon recently announced that it has partnered with Skype and said that it will be bringing Skype Mobile to a number of its smartphones in March. The app will work on Verizon’s 3G smartphones with data plans that will include the Storm, Storm2, 8330, 8530, 8830 and Tour 9630.

Features include:

Make and receive unlimited Skype-to-Skype voice calls to any Skype user around the globe on America’s most reliable wireless network;
Call international phone numbers at competitive Skype Out calling rates;
Send and receive instant messages to other Skype users; and
Remain always connected with the ability to see friends’ online presence.

Skype Mobile for BlackBerry will be available starting next month.

Hopefully, we'll get a non-Verizon version for us normal people. Keep praying.

Hot Off The Press! RIM introduces new Browser, set to hit BlackBerry Smartphones from this summer onward!

2010-02-18T01:57:00.000-08:00

Finally, what we've been asking for. A new Browser.

The software, which comes without a snazzy secret code name but nevertheless promises to be a revelation, certainly impressed Mike Abramsky with RBC Capital Markets.

"It appeared to us fast and robust, able to handle complex websites, while maintaining RIM's security and bandwidth efficiency upgrades," Mr. Abramsky said in a note.

Expecting delivery of the new browser to BlackBerrys in the summer, he was not surprised that RIM did not make a heavier marketing push, likely to "minimize impacts to sales momentum" and avoid any lulls in the channel ahead of launches later in the year.

"Timing affirms one of several pending catalysts as part of our upgrade thesis, and likely portends a strong back half of devices and services that take advantage of the new browsing experience," he said.

Mr. Abramsky maintains a "top pick" rating for RIM, calling it a rare opportuniy for investors to buy into the company with upside catalysts ahead.

On The Way: BlackBerry Bold2 in testing

2010-02-18T01:52:00.000-08:00

Salam1Malaysia, people!

As promised, there is a Bold2 9700 review on its way. The Bold2 is with us here at BBTM, and is currently being passed around the 'office' to test the many aspects of a BlackBerry smartphone.

We should have something written, edited & posted up here by the end of next week. Hopefully, it should come up together with a full BlackBerry Storm2 9520 review! (If things work our way, that is.)

Happy Chinese New Year!

Hot Off The Press! Celcom releases new BlackBerry Storm2 9520!

2010-02-09T06:32:00.000-08:00

Finally. The Storm has made its entrance, with a helluva lot more up its sleeves.

Celcom released the BlackBerry Storm2 9520 over the weekend. Most potential Storm owners are heaving a sigh of relief, because now they can get the Storm with all the problems ironed-out.

Let's be honest. The Storm1 was crap. Utter rubbish. (Mind you, that was my first BlackBerry. So don't say I'm biased). Now, with its improved SurePress technology (where the screen floats on four buttons on all corners, rather than the single, central button on the Storm1) and HSDPA connectivity, the Storm2 is set to be the iPhone-killer (at last!).

Expect a full review soon!

Hush Hush! Maxis to introduce innovative BlackBerry BIS plans!

2010-02-07T02:39:00.000-08:00

Okay, here's what I've got for you this week...

From the hear-say thats been going round, Maxis is going to introduce ground-breaking BlackBerry BIS plans, that are shaped to revolutionise the BlackBerry customer base in Malaysia. What I've been hearing is that these new plans are going to make BlackBerry smartphones & services more accessible to the common man, more than ever before!

Stay faithful, and I'll keep you all posted.

Hush Hush! Maxis reaps big profits with "May Your New Year Be Prosperous" campaign!

2010-02-07T02:28:00.000-08:00

Wooh, we're getting alot of news!

It seems that the public really cashed in on the Maxis campaigns, promoting a Curve 8520 for just RM188. We were told that Maxis managed to sell thousands of BlackBerry Curve 8520's since the launch of the campaign.

Hot Off The Press! Celcom launches new BlackBerry Storm2 9520 smartphone!

2010-02-07T02:19:00.000-08:00

Brace for the Storm! The second Storm, to be precise.

Celcom Malaysia has just launched the latest BlackBerry smartphone, the BlackBerry Storm2 9520. With its enhanced SurePress screen & turbocharged processor, the Storm2 is finally looking to be the BlackBerry the Storm1 was supposed to be.

Gone is the light peeking from the corners of the screen, replaced by a flush screen, with the four bottom buttons integrated into the screen. Gone are the little 'feet' on either side of the speaker, replaced with an outward-facing speaker. And, most importantly, the lagging UI & unresponsive screen has been replaced with the second-most powerful BlackBerry to date.

Watch out for the Storm2's debut on Maxis, due in the first week of March. BBTM was told that stock will be limited, due to the rather uninspiring response from the public to touchscreen (or click-screen) BlackBerry's. Despite the low stock, prices will remain competitive to its rival, Celcom.

BUT, Maxis maintains that the Bold2 is the best you can get. Which is true.

BlackBerry Review: BlackBerry Storm 9500

2010-02-05T19:38:00.000-08:00

Good morning everyone, and Salam 1Malaysia!

I would firstly like to apologise to all our readers as BBTM is currently facing a form of an information blackout from all our sources. I'm afraid that we won't be able to bring you the 'Hush Hush!' column back for a while.

Today, I'd like to talk about the revolutionary BlackBerry Storm 9500. As you know, the 9500 was BlackBerry's first fray into the touchscreen market, but despite all the setbacks, RIM did produce one helluva smartphone. From its one-of-a-kind 'clickable-touchscreen' (SurePress) to the jaw-dropping graphics, it was set to whack the touscreen-smartphone kings off their high perches.

But, there were problems.

The most obvious was the screen problems. Some complained that it was difficult to click the corner of the screen, saying the button (on which the screen floated on) was unresponsive. On my 9500, I never faced that problem.

Then there was the fact that the screen didn't fit snugly enough. And I do have to agree, because the backlighting could be seen peeking out from the corners of the screen. And in some cases, you could actually see the chassis of the 9500.

Lastly, the UI problem. There are always problems when its a first-attempt, and BlackBerry was no exception. With the 9500, RIM decided to take existing UI and modify it to fit the touchscreen interface. It worked fairly smoothly, when you're not working the damn thing. But when you use it at full-throttle, the way BlackBerry's are made to be used, it often lagged & froze. And waiting for it to reboot is a pain in the neck.

In conclusion, the BlackBerry Storm 9500 was a good effort, put it wasn't pulled off with the style & finesse expected of a BlackBerry. In essence, the 9500 was only good your first BlackBerry (as was the case with me), and not much else. But, I do maintain that the Storm, even with its problems, beats the crap out of the iPhone. No debates there.

But there's still hope. The Storm2 9550/9520 is on the way!

Hear-Say: BlackBerry Bold2 9700

2010-02-01T16:41:00.000-08:00

Good morning all, and Salam 1Malaysia!

As you all probably know already, the BlackBerry Bold2 9700 has just recently hit Malaysian shores. As of now, the BlackBerry Bold2 9700 is the official RIM flagship model, and it's the fastest BlackBerry to ever hit Malaysia. And, of course, it's been a big success, with Celcom citing that they're currently out of stock. Maxis, however, must've ordered enough, because no news of shortages has been reported.

The BlackBerry Bold2 sees a significant change in the Bold series. Gone is the bulky frame & stunningly-impractical width, replaced with Tour-ish size & Curve-Javelin 8900 style. First thing you notice is the new TrackPad, which replaces the TrackBall for navigation. I expect that the TrackPad fixes the problem of the unresponsive TrackBall, like when you try to scroll with wet fingers.

Another big difference is the silver bevel that wraps the Bold2. With the original Bold, it looked like just a slab of brushed aluminium. Not very flash. With the Bold2, you've got the new trademark dark-chrome bevel all around, which has now become part of the phone's main body. This allows for a more rigid structure, and it also makes the Bold2 an unmistakable BlackBerry.

At the moment, BBTM can't seem to get a tester model in from any of the BlackBerry providers. But, we have been hearing alot from some of you lucky people with your Bold2's. So if you find this review inconclusive, be patient. The full review will be out as soon as we get our hands on one.

First things first: Dimensions. Alot of current Bold2 users have just traded up from their original Bold's. The FIRST complaint they had was the obvious lack of SIZE. The Bold2 is much slimmer than the original, which makes for an easily-pocketed smartphone. However, original Bold users may have fallen in love with it because the phone was so big that it could accommodate pudgy fingers. In response to this, RIM have made the keyboard on the Bold2 with a slightly higher ridge, which makes it easier for your fingers to define the keys.

Next on our list: Screen. Again, we see the same problem with the shrinkage. Most Bold1 owners loved the amazingly large (and mostly useless) screen, and they note that the Bold2 has a smaller screen. Although smaller, the Bold2 boasts a higher-definition screen compared to the Bold1. If you're moving up from a Tour 9630 or a Curve-Javelin 8900, you should be just fine.

And point-of-interest No.3: Processor & U.I. In this department, we see a MAJOR jump in processor speed. Long gone is the 'hesitant' nature of the Bold1, replaced with almost-instant response from the processor. And when teamed with the new U.I., it makes for an amazingly quick interface that's hard to match. Amazing. For current Bold2 owners, you should be happy with your Bold2's, because its the fastest thing at the 'dragstrip'. But just beware of the upcoming Tour2. That might just kill ya.

There you have it! Our hear-say review of the all-new BlackBerry Bold2 9700. Keep following us for more updates soon, because our tester set is on the way!

If you've got anything you'd like to share with us, about your BlackBerry Bold2 9700 (or any BlackBerry for that matter!), just email us at bbteens.my@gmail.com

Ciao guys!

Happy Federal Territories day, everyone!

2010-01-31T17:15:00.000-08:00

Good morning, everyone, and happy Federal Territories day from all of us here at BBTM! For those of you who live in KL, have a happy holiday today! For those of you who don't... well, you get to celebrate the inauguration of the Sultan, kan?

Hot Off The Press! BlackBerry Bold2 9700 out of stock at BlueCube outlets!

2010-01-31T07:30:00.000-08:00

Ahha. Take that, Celcom! :D

Wokay, from info that I've been receiving everywhere, I have to tell all of you that some BlueCube outlets in Malaysia are currently out of stock of the new BlackBerry Bold2 9700 smartphone. I doubt very much that this will inconvenience most of you, as you've probably either gotten your Bold2 already, or are getting one from Maxis under Hotlink Prepaid's amazing Chinese New Year deals.

Personally, I prefer my BlackBerry to stand out from the crowd. That's why I bought a Tour 9630, because not many people know about it and that it also has the upper hand on the Bold 9000. Looks like us new Bold2 users will have to invest in something to make us stand out!

Happy Thaipusam, everyone!

2010-01-29T06:07:00.000-08:00

Happy Thaipusam, everyone! Have a great holiday & a lovely long weekend, from all the Administrators here at BBTM!

Some Odd Stuff: LaTour, LaTour....

2010-01-28T04:33:00.000-08:00

Salam 1Malaysia!

I'm sure everyone here who knows a thing-or-two about BlackBerry Smartphones knows about the BlackBerry Tour 9630. For those of you who don't, I'll tell give you the basic background of the Tour 9630.

RIM BlackBerry make smartphones. And that's a known thing. Now, the thing is, the providers here (first-tier or second-tier) only get the global range. In the States, however, things are a little different.

Do you all know the AT&T Sidekick? I'm sure you do. Its been featured in almost every teen-based series ever shown here on Star World. The Sidekick is exclusive to AT&T, and the Tour is similar. The Tour is exclusive to two or three providers there. Which means, no matter how much you plead to Celcom or DiGi or Maxis, they won't import one for you.

This exclusivity clause however, has its limits. RIM can only provide the Tour to these providers. But that doesn't mean some smart Joe can't pick one up off of, lets say, Verizon Mobile and bring it back here.

And thats exactly what happened.

I, myself, am a proud owner of a Tour 9630. Its just as powerful as the Bold 9000, but in a more svelte & esthetically-pleasing form. With its Javelin-Curve 8900-themed design, it was an instant success. EVERYONE in the States who loves BlackBerry Smartphones picked one up, and they loved the Tour and they loved BlackBerry. Even new BlackBerry 'converts' were absolutely thrilled with the Tour.

At one point, Maxis & DiGi supported the Tour. This, however, has been reduced to just DiGi. I am not at liberty to divulge why exactly this is so, but this is a great thing for DiGi, because Malaysians who fell in love with the Tour (like myself) quickly switched to DiGi.

With its beautiful form, killer processor & amazing media capabilities, the Tour is the flagship that the Bold 9000 was not.

If you're already a DiGi customer, you can pick up a brand new Tour from an 'underground importer' for about RM1,500. Then you can use it happily with the DiGi network.

If you're not a DiGi customer, you're not in love with the Tour, but you like a prospect of a BlackBerry, just pick up the OFFICIAL BlackBerry flagship model, the BlackBerry Bold 9700 at a Maxis dealer near you, while the Chinese New Year offers are still valid. Be quick!

Check out the official RIM BlackBerry Tour 9630 advert.

Hot Off The Press! Hotlink releases BlackBerry promos for CNY!

2010-01-27T05:22:00.000-08:00

Salam 1Malaysia, everybody!

All I can say is, I told you so. Hotlink Prepaid has released promos, in time for Chinese New Year. These include a major price slash for the BlackBerry Curve 8520 & the all-new Bold 9700. Right now, under the terms & conditions, the Curve is just RM188 (!) whereas the Bold 9700 is a mind-boggling RM1288!

THIS IS the time to buy, people! If you have yet to invest in a BlackBerry Smartphone, you should take advantage of Hotlink's current promos and get the baby-BlackBerry Curve for just RM188! Now there's a deal you can't top!

Hush Hush! Maxis to release CNY promos for their BlackBerry Smartphones

2010-01-25T03:40:00.000-08:00

Woot! Salam 1Malaysia!

Insider information tells me that Maxis is ready to release special promos for Chinese New Year. These promos include their BlackBerry Smartphone lineup, which may see major slashes in price for their current stock, being the BlackBerry Bold 9000 & their unsuccessful BlackBerry Pearl-Flip. Pick one up today, and sign up for BlackBerry by Hotlink Prepaid, your ultimate thrift-BlackBerry service!

Hot Off The Press! BlackBerry Bold2 9700 now available at all Maxis stores nationwide!

2010-01-25T03:30:00.000-08:00

Good evening everyone, and Salam 1Malaysia!

Word out is that Maxis stores around the country have now received their first units of the BlackBerry Bold 9700, that was launched last week. Right now, retail price is RM2,459 inclusive of 3-months upfront payment of BIS Unlimited plans worth RM360. RRP however, is RM2,099.

If you think that your parents won't let you take a postpaid plan, there's always Hotlink for BlackBerry. Its prepaid BlackBerry services, and it can be tailored to fit your every need!

Pick one up today!

Our First Post!

2010-01-25T03:04:00.000-08:00

Salam 1Malaysia, all!

Today, on the 25th of January 2009, BlackBerry Teens Malaysia uploads its first post!

Woot!

Now, BlackBerry Teens Malaysia was set up for one primary goal: To bring together the BlackBerry-loving under-20 community of Malaysia. And through the coming months, you will see that BBTM will stay true to this goal!

This weblog will contain a few categories for every post: "Hot Off The Press!" (our news segment), "BlackBerry Juice!" (our gossip segment), "Hush Hush!" (our 'behind-closed-doors' segment), "Some Odd Stuff" (the segment that tells all you BlackBerry-loving teens about your BlackBerry) and the all important "BlackBerry Review" (which will come out after every recent product launch). Of course, these categories will be altered in the future to fit purposes. Hey, who ever sticks to the original plan?

BBTM, with time & your all important support (!), will grow into a full-on online community, serving the needs of the BlackBerry-Teens of Malaysia.

The administrators of this site are all BlackBerry Teens, owning one of the BlackBerry lineup. From our founder to our writers & guest writers, its all about BlackBerry!

Before BBTM signs-off its first post, the Administrators appreciate any stories about you & your BlackBerry. Be it a joyous occasion (like your first BlackBerry), a sad occasion ("How My BlackBerry Helped Me When...") or just a simple story about how much you love your BlackBerry! Just email us at bbteens.my@gmail.com

Love ya'll!

Aiman I. Abdullah
Founder & Editor
BlackBerry Teens Malaysia