On The Way: BlackBerry® Storm2 in testing

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)

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

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!

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

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!

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)

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!

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

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!

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!

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!

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!

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

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

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!