AT&T Debuts BlackBerry Pearl 8120

In rolling out the latest BlackBerry smartphone for its wireless network, AT&T on Friday said it has combined business-grade communication and multimedia functionality, with built-in Wi-Fi access as a kicker.

The BlackBerry Pearl 8120 features the usual e-mail and messaging capabilities, including a SureType keyboard enhanced with word completion, built-in spell-checker, and user-customized dictionary. The new smartphone can also handle simultaneous voice and data access when connected to a Wi-Fi network, AT&T said. The new Pearl can connect to Wi-Fi 802.11b/g networks.

The phone's display has 240-by-260 pixel resolution that supports more than 65,000 colors. The phone is also equipped with a 2-megapixel camera with video recorder, media player, 3.5-mm stereo headset jack, and an externally accessible MicroSD/SDHC memory slot for additional storage. It's built with Bluetooth 2.0 support to work with headsets, car kits, stereo headsets, and other Bluetooth accessories, the carrier said.

AT&T also touted the globetrotting features of the new Pearl handset. The smartphone can keep users who are abroad connected with wireless e-mail, Internet access, and other mobile applications in more than 145 countries, AT&T claimed. Users can make or receive voice calls in more than 200 countries.

The Pearl 8120 is available now for $200 with a two-year contract, unlimited data plan, and $40 voice plan, AT&T said. Customers who want personal e-mail access and Web browsing will pay an additional $30 a month for the BlackBerry Personal Unlimited, with a qualified voice contract. Unlimited corporate e-mail and data access via BlackBerry Enterprise Server are available for as low as $45 a month when a qualified voice plan is also chosen. Customers who travel overseas will need the BlackBerry International Unlimited data plan, starting at $65 a month with a qualified voice plan.

The new phone also supports AT&T Mobile Music subscription services and AT&T unlimited Push to Talk for an additional $10 a month.

source : http://www.informationweek.com/

Puretracks Will Launch Consumer-Friendly Music Service On BlackBerry

Puretracks, a Toronto-based digital music provider, is launching a music service for BlackBerrys that could help make RIM’s (NSDQ: RIMM) enterprise-focused devices more consumer-friendly. RIM will be under increasing pressure as Apple (NSDQ: AAPL) gears up to launch Microsoft’s (NSDQ: MSFT) ActiveSync on the iPhone, enabling enterprise users to get email, calendar and contacts pushed to the iPhone. Enabling Blackberry devices to do more consumer services may widen the appeal of Blackberry devices, and enable some users to carry just one device for both their work and personal lives.

Puretracks is partnered with Universal, Sony (NYSE: SNE) BMG, Warner, EMI, and independent labels worldwide. The store will debut in the U.S., but there’s no word on how much the tracks will cost, or if Puretracks will partner with carriers or go direct to consumers. Puretracks, which is building the service with the help of Magnet Mobile Media, will show off the DRM-free service tomorrow at SXSW in Austin before launching at CTIA next month. The music store will be available on the BlackBerry Pearl, the BlackBerry Curve and the 8800 series, which already have music players embedded into the phones.

source : http://www.moconews.net/

SpinVox announces new BlackBerry plug-in

SpinVox, the founder and global leader in Voice-to-Screen messaging, is making its specially-developed SpinVox for BlackBerry.

Adding SpinVox to BlackBerry brings the advantages of email delivery and configuration to voicemail - improving the experience for mobile, email-dependent BlackBerry users. With SpinVox for BlackBerry they can now receive all their voicemail messages converted to text and delivered as an email direct to their device, allowing them to see who called and what they said, then reply with just one click. Uniquely, SpinVox converts any caller's voicemail into text - powered by the SpinVox Voice Message Conversion System (VMCS).

Importantly, SpinVox for BlackBerry ensures that the inbound caller's number links up with the user's address book to present the caller's name, and the ability to reply directly by email, as an alternative to calling or sending an SMS.

"BlackBerry email delivers business efficiency and personal productivity," says Christina Domecq, CEO and co-founder, SpinVox. "Adding SpinVox to the mix takes those benefits to the next level, eliminating the need to dial-in and check voicemail and making it simple and easy to check voice messages in the email format that BlackBerry addicts love."

The launch comes after RIM executives trialled the SpinVox Voicemail product on their own BlackBerry phones and immediately saw the benefits of receiving their voice messages converted to email.

Users of the BlackBerry solution around the globe will also benefit from the SpinVox service which is currently available in English, Spanish, French and German.

New SpinVox Voicemail customers who choose to download the software application from www.spinvox.com/BlackBerry will be charged GBP 5.00 per year.

Source : http://www.mobileguru.co.uk/