11 BlackBerry Apps Worth Checking Out

Research In Motion's BlackBerrys are designed for professionals who are always on the go. Channelweb.com compiled eleven BlackBerry applications to help keep you organized and connected.

Many recent BlackBerrys come with a free, light version of DataViz's Documents to Go. Essential for anyone who works regularly in the Microsoft Office suite, Docs to Go brings the capability to natively open Word, Excel, and PowerPoint files while keeping their original formatting. The Premium Edition gives users full editing capabilities and includes an additional application that can open native PDF files. Integration with the BlackBerry Enterprise Server offers support for IT policies as well.

WorldMate Live by WorldMate gives travelers the benefit of everything they need organized and easy to find. Automatic itineraries include flights, hotels, car rentals, and meetings and the program offers weather forecasts, maps, and the ability to search and book hotels. With calendar syncing, everything stays in the right time zone.



A subscription-based Gold Edition offers real-time flight status with automatic alerts when flights are delayed or canceled, as well as one-click access to alternate flight schedules and a travel directory with the contact information of airlines, airports, and hotels. In addition, itineraries can be populated simply by forwarding the booking confirmation to an email.

eWallet by Ilium Software is a virtual wallet that allows users to safely organize and manage passwords, credit cards, PINs and other info safely onto their BlackBerry. With Fields for essentially every piece of information found in a typical wallet, eWallet enables you to leave almost everything at home while retaining the information you need. A desktop companion version makes it simple to create and edit new entries, as well as sync the information with what is on the smartphone. Multiple wallets can be created and password protection ensures that information is secure.

SHAPE Services' RDM+ (Remote Desktop for Mobiles) lets users access both Mac and Windows desktop computers from their BlackBerry. After installing a free client on the desktop machine, users can take control of their computer from anywhere. Files can be transferred in both direction, and system information such as services and processes can be accessed and restarted remotely as well. The program has predefined hotkeys, but also supports user-created shortcuts for mouse click and desktop menus. With the capability to even work through NAT and Firewalls, RDM+ offers round"the-clock access to an unlimited number of desktops. The $39.99 price tag is higher than the typical smartphone application, but can sometimes be found on sale for up to half off.

Offering offline transit directions for commuter train lines in eleven states, TrainSchedule GPS from Trainlogic.net lets users enter starting and ending stations, and offers an itinerary including any necessary transfers. Schedules for preselected train lines are downloaded and stored onto the BlackBerry and updated as they change. Optionally, if your device has GPS, the program lets you track yourself on a map and compares your location with the schedule to inform you if your train is delayed. With 24 hour commuter mode and 14 day planning mode, TrainSchedule GPS lets you plan trips in advance and will even advise if the train is Peak or Off-Peak.

Making life a little easier when visiting a new town, or even staying in the one you live, Poynt is a free application that enables the user to find people, businesses, movie theatres, retailers and restaurants nearby. Using GPS or cell-site information, the program quickly determines your location and allows searches with just a few simple clicks. Integration with the address book, calendar, and messaging allows for easy planning of a meeting or night out.

Just released this week, the TiVo DVR Scheduler allows any user with a Series 2 or Series 3 TiVo brand DVR to search for television shows, and easily schedule their DVR remotely to record them. When you are stuck late in a meeting or delayed in returning home, the TiVo DVR Scheduler keeps you from missing your favorite programs.

When it's time to relax, the popular free program Pandora plays your favorite music and helps you find new songs and artists. Like other Pandora clients, the application lets you start a new account, or access an existing one. Users create "stations" based on a favorite artist or band and then can rate each song with a thumbs up or down. As Pandora learns your likes or dislikes, the station is customized. Stations can also be combined for an even more personalized playlist.

Not necessarily a productivity tool, Shazam is a unique program that allows the user to identify songs that are within hearing. When activated, the application samples a few seconds of the music and then compares the sample with a database of digital recordings, returning information on the song, artist, and album. With options to buy and share selections, the "tagged" information can be stored for later retrieval. The free version allows for up to five tags per month or for a one-time fee of $4.99, users can enjoy unlimited tags as well as Tag Charts, Similar Tracks, Artist Bios, Reviews and Discographies.

QuickText by Cannon Software is perfect for those who send text messages regularly to the same few contacts. After assigning a contact to any character on the keyboard, the application can be launched by simply pressing the Q key, a Convenience Key, or clicking the QuickText icon. Pressing the assigned key allows the user to immediately type and send an SMS message to that contact. Storm users are presented with a list of configured contacts and can create a new message by touching the appropriate name. The address book can be opened just as easy to allow the selection of a contact without an assigned key, and a "use once" function enables numbers not in the address book to be entered manually.



A companion program, called Beyond 160, by the same developer lets users create messages of over the 160 (or 140 on some carriers) character limit. While the message is still sent in multiple parts labeled 1/3, 2/3, etc users can continue typing without worrying about receiving the dreaded "field full" message.

As with pretty much any device running an operating system, every time a program is opened and closed, a little available memory is lost through what is called leaks. Over time, the reduction of memory can slow the device or even bring it to a grinding halt. In the BlackBerry world, removing or "pulling" the battery is the only way to refresh the device and free up memory.



QuickPull from Steelthorn Software simulates a battery pull and restarts the BlackBerry. This is not the same as turning the device off with the red button, which merely reloads the device when turned back on.



The free version, QuickPull Lite, has the ability to run once daily at a scheduled time. QuickPull Pro, which sells for $2.99, adds a slew of additional features including the option of scheduling for certain days of the week, monitoring the memory and restarting when a predetermined threshold is reached, and offering a five second warning so users can cancel the action if other tasks are still running.