5 must-have apps for your Blackberry

Mobile software

By Liane Cassavoy / Tuesday, April 28 2009

Not long ago the words “BlackBerry” and “software” didn’t belong in the same sentence. Sure, your BlackBerry smartphone was capable of running software; it even came with a few applications installed. But if you were looking for a wide selection of third-party productivity apps, you were out of luck.

Fortunately, things have changed. Today, people want more out of their smartphones, and phone manufacturers – and third-party software developers – are meeting those needs. Most new BlackBerry phones include more software than past versions have – you’ll even find the Documents To Go office suite installed on most new models. And thousands of applications are available for download and purchase. BlackBerry maker Research In Motion is finally getting in on the act, too, with the imminent launch of the BlackBerry Application Storefront, its answer to the iPhone’s App Store (tinyurl.com/cfthyo).
But you don’t have to wait for the Storefront if you’re looking for BlackBerry software. Plenty of great apps are around now – you just have to know where to find them. We’ve rounded up five tools that can make your BlackBerry even better.

PeeKaWho (tinyurl.com/dbjkg3)
Publisher: SmrtGuard; RRP+GST: US$10
BlackBerry OS 4.1.0 or higher
It may not sound like a terrible hassle to open your BlackBerry’s email client every time you get a message. But why not make things easy on yourself? PeeKaWho pops up an alert when you have an incoming email message, showing you who sent it, the subject, and a snippet of the text. That way you’ll know whether the message is important enough to read right away, or whether it can wait until you’ve finished your current task. The alerts are especially handy if you’re composing another email – they allow you to see new messages without losing the one you’re working on. You can also create blacklists or whitelists to control how many pop-ups you get.

TwitterBerry (tinyurl.com/2zeqxx)
Publisher: Orangatame Software; RRP+GST: Free
BlackBerry OS 4.1.0 or higher
Twitter, the social networking service that allows you to post brief updates on your daily activities and peruse the same kind of info from your friends, is wildly popular. Many people can’t stand to be without Twitter when they’re away from their PCs. Enter TwitterBerry: this free application lets you post your own tweets, or view other people’s, using your BlackBerry. The interface is, well, basic, but it gets the job done. If you’re having Twitter withdrawals, TwitterBerry could provide the fix you need.

Opera Mini (opera.com/mini)
Publisher: Opera Software; RRP+GST: Free
BlackBerry OS 4.0.0 or higher
If you want to start a debate among BlackBerry users, just ask them which mobile browser they prefer. Some folks are thrilled with the latest BlackBerry Browser, while others call it rubbish and insist on a third-party alternative. Me? I’m somewhere in the middle. The new BlackBerry Browser, which you’ll find on phones like the Bold, the Storm, and the new Curve 8900 (coming soon), is light years ahead of past versions, but I still find that it occasionally chokes on a page or doesn’t display a site as it should. That’s why I like to have another option, such as Opera Mini; it’s designed to run quickly and help you browse websites as they’re meant to be seen. And, hey, you can’t beat the price.

Viigo (viigo.com/download)
Publisher: Viigo; RRP+GST: Free
BlackBerry OS 4.1 or higher, BlackBerry hardware series 7100 or higher
Viigo started out as an RSS reader – and it was an excellent one, allowing you to add newsfeeds easily and browse the results. Nowadays this free application remains an outstanding RSS reader, but it also does much more, tracking weather, flight status, sports scores, stock quotes, and even restaurant reviews.

iSkoot for Skype (iskoot.com/skype.php)
Publisher: iSkoot; RRP+GST: Free
BlackBerry hardware series 7100 or higher
You don’t have to leave your Skype account behind when you’re away from your PC. iSkoot lets you access many of Skype’s features right from your smartphone. You can chat with other Skype users, and you can save your monthly allotment of voice minutes by using Skype for voice calls. Make and receive calls to and from other Skype users, or use SkypeOut to call regular phone numbers.