Consumerist
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telemarketers
Block Spam Callers From Your Blackberry With Call Control
You can always just not answer your phone, but if a telemarketer calling you on your Blackberry sends you into a rage, you might want to look at Call Control. The app relies on the telemarketer database at everycall.us to screen out known spammers. The free version screens out the top 100 telemarketers; an $8 version uses the entire database and includes updates.
Call Control for Blackberry [EveryCall]
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smartphones
New Blackberry Desktop Manager For Mac Still Worse Than Windows Version
If you're one of the approximately three Mac users who uses a BlackBerry instead of an iPhone, today is an exciting day. BlackBerry Desktop Manager for Mac OS debuted this afternoon. CNET had an early copy and has checked it out for us. More » -
accidental exclusivity
No Palm Pre For Verizon Wireless?
If you've been holding out on a phone upgrade or carrier switch until the Palm Pre comes to Verizon, you may need to give up the dream. The carrier has "reportedly ditched plans to offer the Palm Pre early next year," says PC World. Apparently poor sales of the device at Sprint, combined with Verizon's interest in upcoming Blackberry devices, killed any enthusiasm the carrier once had. Update: The no-Pre rumor may be false, according to these two analysts.
"Verizon Scraps Palm Pre Plans, Report Says" [PC World]
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verizon
Why Do Verizon Smartphones Blow?
WIRED takes a look at why there's no great smartphones on Verizon. The takeaway? Because they can. Having the best network and an exclusive deal with Blackberry seems to be good enough for them. [WIRED] (Photo: Phu Son) -
Here's another free game for iPhone/iPod Touch owners to pass the time this weekend: Wild West Pinball. If you're a Blackberry owner, Bplay has a 30% off sale going on right now—enter JULY in the code box at checkout. [IntoMobile]
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smartphones
Alltel Requires Data Plan For Blackberry Owners Who Don't Use Any Data
Dan likes the interface and ease of texting on his Blackberry, but doesn't need mobile Internet or e-mail. He asked his service provider, Alltel, to switch his service to a Blackberry he already owned, but without a data plan. An employee said that was possible and set it up for him, and Dan texted away happily...until he received his bill, which now contains a hefty data plan charge. Alltel now insists that Dan can't have a Blackberry on their network without a data plan. More » -
where's my money
RadioShack Electronics Trade-In Program Not The Fastest Way To Get Cash
A Dallas Morning News blogger decided to test out RadioShack's new trade-in program, where you mail them your unwanted cellphone, for example, and they mail you a gift card, which you can then turn around and use to buy 7,000 house brand AAA batteries. As you might expect, RadioShack didn't offer him as much money for his Blackberry Storm as he saw them going for on eBay, but the real problem came from the missed deadlines and delays in getting his gift card: what they said would take one week ended up taking 5 1/2 weeks, and might have taken longer had he not emailed them.
"DMN reporter tests RadioShack's gadget trade-in program; RadioShack tests reporter's patience" [Dallas Morning News] (Thanks to Trevor!)
(Photo: Robbert van der Steeg) -
T-Mobile is running a "flip your pearl" promotion right now, where you can trade in your old Blackberry for at least $75 (or another phone for $50) when you buy and activate a new Blackberry from them. Your trade-in phone will have to meet certain conditions for the offer to apply. [FlipYourPearl via IntoMobile]
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blackberry
The $1,821.97 Blackberry Bill
Maybe things are different in your house but in PJ's it's rather disconcerting to receive a bill for $1,821.91 for the wife's Blackberry. U.S. Cellular says that she used 150mb of data and now must pay the price. PJ's wife has no idea what she might have done that would've been that large, and US Cellular can't tell her either. They just want their monies.
More »
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A list of online tech help sites. [New York Times]
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crackberry
Blackberry: Time/Money-Saver Or Productivity Trap?
One interesting fact coming out this week is that Barack Obama appears headed for severe technology withdrawal as he gives up his Blackberry and email communication in general. Poor guy. As if having to deal with the economic crisis and the Iraq war aren't enough — now he's got this! Anyway, the fallout has sparked a debate over that the Wall Street Journal blog The Juggle. The key question: is the Crackberry a useful device that helps you save time and money or is it a life-disrupting distraction that should be limited dramatically at worst, and eliminated altogether at best? More » -
att
ATT Data Network Down, Complain For Credits
AT&T wireless is experiencing some kind of data outage in the Northeast, and if you call up and complain, you can get a $10-$20 credit (YMMV), Gizmodo reports. Let us know in the comments if you're an AT&T user experiencing data outages, where you're located, and if you have any luck snagging credits. If calling 611 from your phone doesn't work for ya, here is a variety of contact information to try.
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recordings
T Mobile: Listen To The Most Pointless Customer Service Call Ever
Kapil's brand new Blackberry arrived with a battery that won't charge. He wants T-Mobile to exchange it, but he says T-Mobile wants to replace it with a refurbished Blackberry instead of a new model. Kapil is fighting back, but even at the executive support level all he's found are rude, uncooperative T-Mobile employees who keep saying there's a process, and that someone will call him back—which never happens. Kapil refused to hang up on the fourth day and demanded to know what happens next after nobody calls back, which seemed to confuse and anger the T-Mobile rep he was speaking with. And for those of you who can't listen in, we've transcribed some of the juiciest parts. More » -
breaking
Massive North American Blackberry Outage
Blackberry smartphones are screwed up! There's a massive outage going on in "the Americas" says RIM. More » -
airlines
JetBlue Testing Inflight Email
Good News: Starting Tuesday, JetBlue is testing a new system that will let you check email and use IM while in the air.
Bad News: You can only use YahooMail and YahooMessenger, or your WiFi-enabled Blackberry.I would be wiling to pay, hm, maybe up to $15 extra to be able to use airplane WiFi that accessed the entire internets. Crackberry and diddlymail (Yahoo) users will be thrilled. The rest of us will have to wait.
JetBlue to Test Inflight Email, Instant-Messaging Services [WSJ]
(Photo: MeghannMarco) -
unsubstantiated rumors on the internets
Is AT&T Crippling The Blackberry So It Doesn't Make The iPhone Look Bad?
Over at Blackberry Cool they're claiming that an AT&T insider told them AT&T had bullied RIM into crippling the Blackberry's GPS features so it wouldn't make the iPhone look bad in comparison. More » -
AT&T experiencing coast-to-coast data service outages, reader Michael writes, with users unable to connect to EDGE via iPhone or use data via Blackberries. Reportedly, it should be fixed within 1-2 hours. (P)
blackberry
New York, 9:37 AM
Sun Nov 22
8 posts in the last 24 hours
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