We certainly saw this coming, but while BlackBerry is focused on its new BlackBerry 10 mobile operating system, the Waterloo-based company is still working on BlackBerry 7. Case in point: they just officially announced the 9720, a BB7.1-equipped QWERTY smartphone with a 2.8-inch display — a new phone for those wanting an older BlackBerry experience. […]
Yesterday we reported that Viber would be bringing its VoIP app support to Blackberry 7, and while the final release has yet to be made available, a beta version of the app is now available for download for Blackberry 7 devices. The official/final version is expected to be released shortly after, so we can assume that if there’s nothing wrong with this beta, we wouldn’t be surprised if the app is released next week or sometime in the very near future. Interestingly, the beta version of Viber is only available for Blackberry OS 5 and OS 7, and if you’re wondering why it skipped OS 6, it seems that there are some “inherent limitations” in Blackberry OS 6 that will not allow the app to work. Strange. In any case if you’d like to check the app out, you can head on over to Viber’s website for the download.
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While we’re sure that many developers out there are probably focusing their efforts on creating new apps for the Blackberry 10 platform, this does not mean that developers have forgotten about the older Blackberry 7. Earlier this year, Viber did promise to bring VoIP support to the Viber app for Blackberry 7 device, and given that we’re already in April, we have to wonder if Viber had completely forgotten or if the plans have been scrapped. Well thanks to a reader from Berry Review who reached out to Viber for an answer, the good news is that yes, the VoIP support is still on track and will be released in April. According to what Viber had to say, the release is apparently very close now so hopefully we will be seeing it in the next week or so. In the meantime we will keep our eyes peeled for more information, so check back with us at a later date for the details.
By Ubergizmo. Related articles: Verizon Slashes Samsung Galaxy S3 Price Before Galaxy S4 Announcement, HTC One Review, 
With the launch of Blackberry 10 and its accompanying devices like the Z10, we would have thought that Blackberry would be pushing hard to ensure that it manages to cover as much ground as possible. However that does not seem to be the case and according to CEO Thorsten Heins in an interview with CBC, it has been revealed that Blackberry will continue releasing new Blackberry phones running on Blackberry 7, the company’s older operating system. Granted this will probably not be their main focus as the availability of these Blackberry 7 phones will only be available in certain regions, presumably countries such as Indonesia where Blackberry devices are incredibly popular.
Considering that the Z10 is priced as a flagship device, there is a good chance that there are some regions where the price of the handset is simply out of reach for some, meaning that Blackberry 7 devices will be able to help RIM cover the low-end and emerging market segment. We’re not sure how long Blackberry plans to keep churning out Blackberry 7 products, but we guess we can’t expect them to completely cut out Blackberry 7 from the get-go, can we?
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Blackberry’s Z10 has finally made its way to the United States, one of Blackberry’s most important markets. It’s still a bit too soon to evaluate just how well the device is doing, however, judging from the customer reviews, the device is doing well. However, where exactly does that leave Blackberry’s OS 7 devices? It looks like the company has decided to bring the devices to several emerging markets.
Blackberry CEO Thorsten Heins states that the company will be launching its Blackberry 7 devices in emerging markets, more specifically to the countries who have always been loyal to Blackbery’s products. While Apple and Samsung are the major players in the bigger markets, Blackberry is still one of the top players in the emerging markets, like Nigeria, where its devices top those of other companies.
After bringing Blackberry 7 devices to those markets, Heins says that the company will also be launching lower-end Blackberry 10 devices as well. Heins states, “We’re not excluding those markets from Blackberry 10 because of us wanting to sell Blackberry 7.” Blackberry plans on bringing a wide-variety of low to mid-ranged devices “that covers the entry-level market”. He states that the company needs to appeal to all the markets in order to turn a profit.
Along with releasing these lower-end devices, Heins states that the company is also working on developing a variety of new services and features that they can monetize. The new features will tie in mainly with Blackberry Messenger. One of the new features, BBM Money, will allow users to transfer money to each other through the app. Blackberry plans on developing its portfolio even further this year, which we sort of have an idea of thanks to the leaked Blackberry Roadmap. The Blackberry Z10 is a phenomenal device, and once more people get to see that, Blackberry may be able to pull off a successful comeback. Check out our Blackberry Z10 review to see if its the device for you.
[via CBC]
Blackberry 7 devices will head to emerging markets is written by Brian Sin & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.
Many Blackberry users running Blackberry OS 7 or 7.1 on their devices have been reporting that they can no longer view YouTube videos through the YouTube app on their device. While they’re still able to search for the videos, they aren’t able to play them. The issue seems isolated to only OS 7 and 7.1 devices, while users with Blackberry OS 5 and 6 are reporting that their YouTube app is working just fine.
Sources from Crackberry have been reporting that the issue isn’t originating from Blackberry’s side, and that it must be from YouTube. Both Google and YouTube have yet to comment on the issue. It’s speculated that it has something to do with YouTube and a change they may have made that alters the way videos are played through its mobile app.
There are some workarounds that should allow Blackberry 7 or 7.1 users to view YouTube videos. One option is downloading the Opera mobile browser, which is still able to display YouTube videos. This method however causes the YouTube videos to display in a lower quality. The second workaround is a bit more work, but has received some positive responses from the Crackberry community: Go to a Youtube video and click on the arrow icon on the top right of the video. This should reveal the ‘share’ icon. Press it and choose ‘e-mail’ to e-mail the link to your device. You can then view the video from the link in your e-mail. The full quality of the videos are retained in this method.
Thankfully, Blackberry’s Z10 is unaffected by this YouTube issue. It would be terrible if their supposed ‘game-changing’ device became a victim of this. Hopefully YouTube, or Blackberry figures out what’s behind the mobile app malfunction. Until then, those of you with the affect Blackberry 7 devices will just have to sit tight with those workarounds. We’ll let you know more when we do.
[via Crackberry]
YouTube no longer working on Blackberry 7 or 7.1 devices is written by Brian Sin & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.
With the launch of Blackberry 10 on the 30th of January in 2013 and the subsequent Blackberry 10 devices that will launch after it, will customers still turn towards RIM’s Blackberry 7 handsets? The good news is that if you are worried that Blackberry 10 phones are going to be expensive, but you love the Blackberry platform anyway, word on the street (via Digitimes) has it RIM will be lowering the prices of Blackberry 7 handsets to help expand their market share. Given that Blackberry has a pretty strong base in emerging markets like Southeast Asia, Africa and Latin America, we guess RIM is hoping that by lowering the prices, they will be able to capture even more market share from said regions. Perhaps they might even start to capture some market share in the US and Europe where they aren’t doing as well compared to the competition like iOS and Android.
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While Sprint’s iDEN network is getting the axe in favor of a new CDMA setup, AT&T will soon be sprucing up its near absent push-to-talk services. Targeting a November release with plans starting around $30, Ma Bell’s enhanced PTT will be compatible with smartphones running Android 2.3+, BlackBerry 7, Windows Phone 8 and even Java-powered feature phones. In addition to playing nice with a variety of mobile platforms, this new service will also work across laptops, tablets and smart cars.
Continue reading AT&T ready to battle Sprint for push-to-talk supremacy starting in November
Filed under: Cellphones, Wireless, Mobile
AT&T ready to battle Sprint for push-to-talk supremacy starting in November originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 17 Sep 2012 23:24:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Corporate server managers everywhere were given a jolt this week when rumors emerged that RIM might implement a hard cutoff for BlackBerry Enterprise Server 10: any devices based on BlackBerry 7 and earlier might not connect at all, leaving IT leads with the uncomfortable choice of either running a BlackBerry server platform that’s supposedly without a future (BES 5) or having to upgrade both the servers and phones all at once. RIM is putting minds at ease — more or less. The company’s Kim Geiger has confirmed in a statement to the media that BES 10 will support legacy devices when it ships in the first quarter of 2013, and that existing server customers will get an upgrade for smooth sailing around when BlackBerry 10 arrives. That’s no doubt a comfort, but there are lingering doubts. Rumor source BGR maintains that companies will have to run both the old and new servers side-by-side to address everyone, which could make a truly harmonious environment complex, expensive or both. We’ve reached out to RIM for a more definitive explanation to hopefully settle the matter. In the meantime, we wouldn’t panic; no one is being pushed to adopt BES 10 right away, and those that want to upgrade don’t have to give up their legacy hardware.
Filed under: Cellphones
RIM says BlackBerry Enterprise Server 10 users will get legacy device support, IT admins (may) rest easy originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 22 Aug 2012 19:45:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Thorsten Heins is assembling his crack team for BlackBerry 10, hiring and firing to assemble the lineup of business heavyweights he needs. RIM’s UK and Ireland chief Stephen Bates is the latest to move, being promoted into the newly-minted role of European Managing Director, while former product manager Rob Orr will take his place. A RIM spokesperson told ZDNet that the moves are to ensure the company’s BB7 legacy devices remain strong sellers in a key market while preparing the region for the advent of BB10.
Filed under: Cellphones
RIM promotes UK and Ireland head in preparation for BlackBerry 10 originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 22 Aug 2012 04:43:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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