Wrapsol has announced that they are now taking pre-orders for their BlackBerry Torch protection kits.  The Wrapsol ultra comes with a lifetime replacement warranty, in recycled, reusable and 100% recyclable packaging, with everything you need for an easy application.  So if you are like me and do not like having a bulky case around your phone, then check these protection kits out.  The Original scratch protection kit is $24.95 and the Ultra scratch protection kit is $29.95.  Wrapsol will start shipping these out on August 16th.  For other BlackBerry protection kits visit their BlackBerry section of their website.

T-Mobile has officially released OS 5.0.0.714 for their Bold 9700.  You can head over to the T-Mobile website and download the latest OS.  No word yet on any improvements or changes, but if you have installed it let use know what you think.  As always upgrading your OS is done at your own risk, but if you need a guide visit our How-To: Upgrade OS.

Additional Mirror for OS 5.0.0.714

Via Crackberry.com

Well the wait is finally over for Verizon customers.  It was officially announced today that Verizon will begin selling the BlackBerry Bold 9650 online starting tomorrow, June 3rd.  It still will not be released to stores until June 10th.  The phone will cost $149 after $100 mail-in rebate and a new two-year contract.  This release date is just slightly less than a year after the release of the Bold’s predecessor, the Tour 9630.

Via Crackberry.com, Verizon News

Key features:

• Optical trackpad for easy and fluid navigation
• Built-in Wi-Fi® (802.11 b/g)
• Push to Talk feature – Allows customers to leverage Verizon Wireless’ 3G network for instant two-way communication with up to 50 people with the touch of a button
• VZ Navigator® version 6 – Gives customers access to free mapping and integration with Bing to sort searches by relevance and a new option to choose day, week or monthly subscriptions
• VZ Navigator Global capabilities – Provides turn-by-turn directions and maps in English while navigating through more than 20 destinations, including Canada, Mexico, France, Germany, Italy, Norway, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom. This easy-to-use application also marks distances in miles or kilometers and finds restaurants, gas stations, banks/ATMs and other popular spots using the Local Search feature

Additional specifications:

• Stylish design (4.40” x 2.44” x .55” and 4.8 oz.) with glossy black finish and chrome highlights
• Mobile e-mail and messaging capabilities
• Large (2.45”) high-resolution display (480 x 360 resolution at 245 ppi) that displays pictures, videos and Web pages with contrast and detail
• 3.2 megapixel camera with flash, variable zoom, image stabilization, autofocus and video recording
• Advanced media player for videos, pictures and music; a 3.5 mm stereo headset jack; and support for the Bluetooth® Stereo Audio Profile (A2DP/AVCRP)
• BlackBerry® Media Sync to easily sync music as well as photos*.
• Easy mobile access to Facebook®, MySpace and Flickr® as well as popular instant messaging services, including BlackBerry® Messenger
• Support for BlackBerry App World™, featuring a broad and growing catalog of third-party mobile applications developed specifically for BlackBerry smartphones
• 512 MB Flash memory and an expandable memory card slot that supports up to 16 GB microSD™ HC cards (a 2 GB card is pre-installed)
• Full HTML Web browser, streaming audio and video via RTSP
• Built-in GPS with support for location-based applications and services as well as geotagging
• Premium phone features, including voice-activated dialing, speakerphone, and Bluetooth (2.1)
• Support for high-speed EV-DO Rev. A networks in North America as well as single band UMTS/HSPA (2100 MHz) and quad-band EDGE/GPRS/GSM networks abroad
• Removable and rechargeable 1400 mAhr battery for up to 5 hours of CDMA talk time

If you are running OS 5.0 on your BlackBerry and you are not satisfied with the built-in Files app, then FileScout is for you.  One of the best things about this app is that they will give you a 14 day Free Trial.  FileScout now comes in two versions, the paid version which is on sale now until March 15th for $4.99 and the Free Lite version.  To download the Free Trial visit their website at emacberry.com, they also provide a nice comparison between the two versions and the built-in OS 5.0 Files app.

Via BerryReview

Here is some new features in this update:

• 100% free FileScoutLite Version with the core functionality:
  • File system browser for your BlackBerry® (including hidden files)
  • Create directories, copy, move, rename, or delete files
  • Copy and delete complete directory structures
  • Show details for files & directories [modification date, is hidden, etc...]
  • Open all media files (supported by your BlackBerry®)
  • Text Viewer (e.g. for ini, xml, etc.)
  • Zip-Archive handling
• Full FileScout Version which requires a ‘Registration Code’ with the additional features:
  • File Search
  • Thumbnail display for images
  • Image manipulation
  • Text Editor
  • Send files via eMail/Bluetooth
  • eMail Archive function
  • Playlist creation
  • Favorite-Directory handling
  • Directory Tree navigation (Goto…)
  • AutoUpdate check
  • Support via eMail

A few weeks ago we posted about the announcement of BESX (BlackBerry Enterprise Server Express), and now it is available for download.  RIM stated that it would be released in March, I wasn’t expecting March 1st, but I am not complaining.  This is a FREE download, just fill out the order form with your information and RIM will review it and send you a download link.  To download go to the BESX on the BlackBerry website.

Via CrackBerry

The people over at BerryScoop have posted up some pictures show that Verizon will be launching the Backup Assistant on BlackBerry devices on March 9th 2010.  This is a free feature that Verizon offers to keep your contacts backed up.  Once this is released it will be as simple as just downloading the app and signing in with your pin code that you created.  Check out more pictures over at BerryScoop.

Via BerryScoop.com

BoyGenius has posted up some details about a rumored sliding-QWERTY that one of his contacts sent to him.  Here are some of the details:

• It’s a portrait-oriented slider. While most people assume a device with slideout keyboard would end up being something like HTC’s devices, we’ve been told this particular handset is more like the Palm Pre in terms of layout.
• The phone will run BlackBerry OS 6.0
• The rumored device will 100% support Wi-Fi 802.11n
• The phone will not be a Verizon exclusive — it’s supposed to be a GSM/HSPA device.

Via BoyGeniusReport

Here is the full list of details that BoyGenius received, what does everything think about this idea?  What is the percentage of people who would be willing to give the phone a shot?

• It’s a portrait-oriented slider. While most people assume a device with slideout keyboard would end up being something like HTC’s devices, we’ve been told this particular handset is more like the Palm Pre in terms of layout.
• The phone will run BlackBerry OS 6.0
• The rumored device will 100% support Wi-Fi 802.11n
• The resolution unfortunately has not improved, it is still 360×480.
• No word on if this will have a touch screen, but we’d assume so, and our source alluded to this possibly being what the rumored BlackBerry Magnum/Dakota evolved into. Not saying there won’t be a Bold-like device with touchscreen, optical trackpad, and physical keyboard, but this might be released first.
• If it does have a touch screen, this could in fact be the mythical BlackBerry Storm slider — picture a Storm 9520 with a slide up Bold-esque keyboard.
• The phone will not be a Verizon exclusive — it’s supposed to be a GSM/HSPA device.

The guys over at BBLeaks are on top of these beta OS leaks.  This time we have OS 5.0.0.530 for the BlackBerry Tour 9630.  We are still waiting on an official 5.0 release from Verizon, the experts say that is when the 9650 will be released.  In the mean time I will just enjoy the new beta leaks.  To install this on your Tour make sure you delete the vendor.xml file and remember this is NOT official, install at your own risk.

Download: OS 5.0.0.530 BlackBerry Tour

Via BBLeaks.com

The guys over at Crackberry and BerryReview have posted that BIS 3.0 is coming out on March 21st 2010.  I am looking forward to this update, especially because of the two-way sync with Google Mail.  It will now sync read/unread and sent items from BlackBerry to Google Mail.  Here is part of an email sent out to CrackBerry.com:

I wanted to advise you that RIM will be launching the newest version of BlackBerry Internet Service (BIS) version 3.0 on March 21, 2010. To help you prepare your team as necessary, I’ve attached a Support Readiness Document as well as BIS 3.0 overview presentation and a Document summarizing the key new features. PLEASE share this information with your Technical Support Teams.

Via CrackBerry, BerryReview

Full email received by CrackBerry:

Hello Everyone

I wanted to advise you that RIM will be launching the newest version of BlackBerry Internet Service (BIS) version 3.0 on March 21, 2010. To help you prepare your team as necessary, I’ve attached a Support Readiness Document as well as BIS 3.0 overview presentation and a Document summarizing the key new features. PLEASE share this information with your Technical Support Teams.

Also, please find below a summary of the RIM Web Based Training courses that have been created and posted to the Wind Mobile Course catalogue in the BlackBerry Universe learning management system.

Some of the key new features of this latest release are summarized below but the big news with the latest release is the Admin tool as the site has undergone many UI changes and your teams will need to become familiar with pre-launch.

BlackBerry Email Administration Tool

BlackBerry Internet Service 3.0 includes the upgrade of the BlackBerry Email Administration Tool. New features include:

• Enhanced user interface providing clearer, easier access to information and functions within the tool

• The introduction of ‘Groups’ for managing support staff who utilize the system

• Enhanced permissions capabilities for administrators to more easily define which features should be available to their support staff users

• Link to BlackBerry Technical Solutions Centre

• Expanded browser support

• Additional subscriber search options

Features

• Updates to the Enhanced Google Mail^TM plug-in for BlackBerry smartphones

• Increased attachment compatibility

⋅ OpenDocument presentations (.odp)

⋅ OpenDocument spreadsheets (.ods)

⋅ OpenDocument text (.odt)

⋅ OpenDocument text templates (.ott)

⋅ Windows Media® Audio (.wma)

• Improved email setup flow for HTML access

· xHTML Support for non-Thick Clients

• Device switch revalidation

• Carrier Friendly Names

• Hosted email address passwords

Troubleshooting Information

http://na.blackberry.com/eng/support/

KB20613 – Provides information on the new features of BlackBerry Internet Service 3.0

KB20652 – Provides information on how to use labels using the Enhanced Google Email plug-in on a BlackBerry Smartphone

KB03265 – Provides information on BIS supported attachments KB to include OpenDoc and WMA formats

KB04553 – Provides information on setting up a hosted email address to include password requirements

KB18405 – Provides information on the Enhanced Google Mail plug-in

BlackBerry Training and Supporting Documentation

Online BlackBerry® Training and supporting documentation for BlackBerry Internet Service 3.0 is available at www.blackberryuniverse.com.

Training Format Course Name Course Code Duration

Job Aid BlackBerry Internet Service 3.0 711-01924-123 15 minutes

Web Based Training Introducing the BlackBerry Email Administration Tool to Administrators 718-01847-123 30 minutes

Introducing the BlackBerry Email Administration Tool to Representatives 718-01916-123 30 Minutes

For more information about BlackBerry Training, contact blackberrytraining@rim.com.

For assistance with BlackBerry Universe, contact support@blackberryuniverse.com.

Sprint isn’t giving up hope for the Curve 8330 just yet.  They released an official OS, 4.5.0.186 for their 8330 and 8330m devices.  If you have an 8330 and you are not on the Sprint network, you can still install this by removing the vendor.xml file.  No word on any changes or updates this includes.  Let us know your thoughts.

Download: 4.5.0.186 for 8330