Today Starbucks announced their mobile app for BlackBerry, in the US. I know I can be found with a BlackBerry in one hand, my coffee in the other. And now I can have them both in one. This is perfect for those who frequent their Starbucks locations. Check it out…

Which devices:  BlackBerry World 8800, 8820, Bold 9000, 9650, 9700, Curve series 83xx, 85xx, Storm, Storm2, and the Tour.

What features are included?

• Check the balance of your Starbucks Card
• Reload your Starbucks Card with any major credit card
• Pay for Starbucks purchases using the mobile payment feature in more than 1000 Starbucks in U.S. Target Stores and 16 trial stores in Seattle and Northern California.
• Find the nearby Starbuck stores using the store locator feature
• Check your Starbucks Rewards status

This of course requires that you purchase a Starbucks Card. Then register it at Starbucks here for the Starbucks Reward program. After you register, you download the app and sign in with the user name and password you chose. That easy. The green status is achieved after five stars or five purchases. I would like to see this apply to Canada too, since I’m sure the US isn’t the only coffee consuming capital of the world. The Rewards Program applies to both Canada and the US however the  app only works in certain US Starbucks locations only.

Then you can download the app one of two ways. First by texting to the number 70845 with the word “Go”.

Or you can download the app from the Starbucks link OTA here

You can read more details about the app and how it works from the Starbucks Newsroom announcement here.

If you download it and try it, let us know what you think. I have to admit, when I saw this was released it brought a smile to my face, and I can’t wait to try it out.

***Just had to let you know that the app works perfectly fine. You open it, click the Menu button, scroll down to Payment Trial. The next window tells you to use your app to pay. Select Participating Stores and make sure that Enable Payments is checked. Click Search By Zip Code and put in the Zip Code, and click Search. Go back to the main screen with your card and you’ll see the green button that says Pay. Click that. Then you’ll see the screen that displays your bar code of the card and it says Scan Now! Let the Starbucks barista scan your phone and it’s done. Click done and you have paid for your Starbucks! That fast and that easy. ***

It’s really no surprise that Verizon would be getting ready to clear out some of the older BlackBerry devices. GizmoFusion has provided screen shots that confirm Verizon has put the BlackBerry Storm 9530, Curve 8330, 8830 World Edition, and Pearl Flip 8230 to end of life status. As we said it’s really no surprise that Big Red decided to stop selling these devices, as most of them have been replaced by newer versions. The only device that really surprised me is the Pearl Flip 8230, and I would really like to know what will replace it. Myself I would really like to see a new CDMA Pearl smartphone…

Obviously the Storm 9530 was replaced by the Storm2 9550, Curve 8330 by Curve 8530, and 8830 well I guess that would be the Tour 9630. So what’s next for Verizon? We expect to see the BlackBerry 9650 (Tour2, Essex, Bold, or whatever) and hopefully a new Pearl smartphone. Stay tuned for more details…

There is no question that the BlackBerry Curve 8300 series is popular, and sometimes we forget its still being sold. Well OtterBox let it be known that they haven’t forgot about the classic curve users! Today OtterBox released their popular Commuter Series for the Curve 8300/8310/8320/8330. You can grab it right from OtterBox.com for $34.95 USD.

[via Accessorize Mobile]

Well now you can!  TELUS has dropped the price of their Curve 8330 to $0 on a 2 year term.  This is a great thing, because for the longest time you could only get a cheap data phone on a 3 year contract.  This is only for a limited time, but still great while it lasts.

Could it be that WIND Mobile has already begun to make changes in the industry by striking some fear into the competition by offering better deals and no contract offers?  Or could it just be that TELUS is just trying to get rid of old stock to make room for newer, shinier BlackBerry devices?  I guess only time will tell, but what I know is that either way, everybody wins.

Go to your TELUS store today and grab one if you’re still on the edge of CrackBerry addiction and needed a better deal.  It probably won’t get much better than this for a while.

RobLock by Xim Technologies, LLC, has released it’s next version, and it’s only available to Verizon US handsets. I’ve done a review on RobLock before, as it’s a security app that is reasonably priced and keeps your BlackBerry safe. It is theft recovery software complete with data backup solution.

Now here’s what the absolute 2.0 features:

GPS and cell based device tracking, using Google Maps; the ability to communicate with your lost or stolen phone by SMS, email, or web interface; be alerted by sms or email if the SIM card is changed; the ability to recover your contacts from a lost phone; remote wipe the ENTIRE device AND media card; remote lock and alarm; remote call back; remote popup text messages; does not require BIS/BES for complete wipe.

Now here’s where 3.0 is different. It has a unique backup system. It has remote backup and restore; view and export backup online; schedule automatic backups; restore to a new device; and secure data handling on top of the RobLock Theft and Recovery System. For recovery, we’re talking calendar, tasks, memo, up to fifty emails, and your contacts.

As I have the absolute v2.0 of RobLock, they notified me about their newest version, so I had to try this out. I have to admit, it’s impressive. While v2.0 is only $9.95, the newer v3.0 for Verizon has three tiers of pricing. $2.95 per month, $15.95 bi-annually, or $27.95 per year. Not bad when you think about the backup system and the security it provides.

I downloaded this version on my Tour 9630, and it went very smooth. I was able to download it with no issues whatsoever. Upon installation, it’s red button icon. You have to set an acct online and on the phone. After setting up the account, the icon will open with your password to reveal the Roblock Theft Recovery System and the Roblockup Data Backup Solution. You have backup and restore. In the Theft Recovery System, you can even have an email contact to email for your phone.

Now should you lose your phone or if it gets lost, you are given different options. You can lock the phone with or without a siren, wipe it, even have the phone silently call you in hopes that you may be able to figure out who has your phone, or where it is by it’s surroundings. Even better, how bout tracking it GPS?  You can change the device, you have the power on your phone. And you have options to back up information. It’s a great solution for on hand backup, for protecting your mobile information, and knowing it’s safe.

Using the Control Panel, I couldn’t wait to put it to the test. After registering and activating the account, you open it up and you have the Overview. This is general information such as the email, the phone, Connection, Profile, Subscription, and change device.

Next is your Commands. First is Where. You can see the coordinates of your phone, first by tower information and then by GPS information. Next is Lock Phone and you have the choices of with or without alarm. Now even if it’s on vibrate or mute, you can be sure the alarm will still sound and it will be loud! The police siren is a nice finishing touch. Next is Unlock. This allows the previous command to be taken off. Next is Remote Wipe, and thankfully you have to confirm before you do, so just checking out the control panel won’t erase your phone. Next is call back and this is where you have your phone call another phone. It’s silent so if it’s stolen, the thief has no idea. Display Text, this one is really fun. You can display what you want the person to read and the text will appear in the front of the phone. Of course all these commands show you as they are being directed to the handset, and also if they are successful. I successfully tested each one, except to wipe my handset. It was really impressive how fast it works. Tracking my BlackBerry was fun, and it was neat to see tower information.

Last is Backup. You can view backup you have already created. There is BackUp Now so you can decide what you are going to back up: Memo, Calendar, Contacts, Call Log, Tasks, and Mail. There is Restore Backup so you can decide what will be returned. Last is the Scheduler so you can decide when to back up on a regular basis.

Overall, RobLock is very easy to use and extremely convenient. v3.0 is currently available to Verizon handsets, but hopefully will be open to other handsets as well. It’s easy to use on your phone and on the PC, and has the options. I tested. I can see this as an asset to anyone who is interested in security on the phone. Again, strictly for security.

If you currently have a Verizon Wireless BlackBerry, you are able to subscribe to the service, and if not, v2.0 absolute is available still.

You can download RobLock v3.0 for monthly, bi-annually, or annually here >

You can download RobLock v2.0 absolute for $9.95 here >

For more information, feel free to read more on RobLock by Vapssky here >

[rating: 5/5]

Thanks to Tony, from Cocky Culture, who just let us know about Crimson, a brand new theme for the BlackBerry. It is a dark red theme with a skull and cross bones. It has class and a gothic feel to it. The theme is available from the BlackBerry Sync Store for $3.95 until Sept 25th!

The description says:

Cocky Culture has a variety of themes, very unique and very original. We’ve posted the review of Conquest, which is a fave of mine.  The theme I’m reviewing is Rocker Chic. The theme is very rock styled and classic. And there couldn’t be a better time for a new theme, especially with the fifty percent sale!

Themes by Cocky Culture are half off for one more day. So as I go into detail about the theme, keep in mind that you can even find two for the price of one!

This is the description given for the theme:

Rocker Chic is an edgy, progressive design that maintains its sense of femininity all the while pushing a harder, edgier look. Everyone deserves to feel like a Rockstar, even your Blackberry!

I downloaded the theme to my BlackBerry 9630 Tour. The theme is dark yet vibrant. It sports wings behind a heart that is edged in black, like an antique valentine. The battery bars are displayed in lavender. The wings are like burnt sienna. The heart is a dark red and in the right lobe sits a skull within the heart. There’s a blotch of white in the background. Five icons sit on the bottom, messages, contacts, calendar, browser, and media. Those are default, but they are able to be personalized to the five you’d like to show. When the menu is pulled up, the background is a salmon pink, and has antique like etching in the background. It reminds me of my great grandmother’s table cloths. The designed icons have black edging around them. When pulling up messages, for example, the menu is a darker salmon.

Now here’s another surprise. When you get a message, a heart appears in the corner of the icon, such as a message, or im. Even the browser has decor from the theme. It didn’t slow my Tour down, and adds personality. There are eleven different Premium themes that Cocky Culture has available, Rocker Chic being one of them.

This theme reminds me of a rocking Valentine every day. Now I rate according to how appeasing the theme is, which is very, the customer service which Tony is outstanding, and how my phone reacts to it, which was great. So on all counts, I give this theme 5/5. Conquest is really nice too, I can dress my phone with themes to show my mood or feeling of the day.

If you hurry today, you can grab the theme for fifty percent off, if you use the following code: 2d50off .

You can download Rocker Chic from Cocky Culture here >

Compatible with BlackBerry handsets: 83xx Curve series, Curve 8900, 8700, 88xx World series, 82xx Flip Pearl series, Storm 95xx series, Tour 9630, Bold 9000

Compatible OS: 4.5, 4.6, 4.7

[rating: 5/5]

Our friends over at Elecite sneaked out a new BlackBerry theme to kick off the week. It’s called Spear and is for most of the newer models including the BlackBerry Bold 9000, Curve 8350, 8500, 8900, and Tour 9600 series. Spear features 8 customizable icons, with an over-sized digital clock on your home screen. It’s available today for $6.99 from Elecite.

Check out Spear and Elecite’s other Premium Themes at Elecite.com >>

Great news for Pacman lovers! BlackBerry OS announced a free version of Pacman for the BlackBerry. And I have to admit, it’s just like the arcade version. It comes complete with a high score list, mp3 sounds, and support for trackball and keyboard. It’s available for the Tour on down to the Pearl, but unfortunately the Storm is not included.

You can download the Pacman OTA for the Tour, Bold, and Curve 8900 here >

You can download the Pacman OTA for the World 88xx, Curve 83xx, and Pearl 81xx here >

****the links no longer work, we apologize to our readers, but not all good things last forever.

[via: BlackBerry OS]

With the recent release of Plazmic Theme Builder for the BlackBerry Tour and 8520. Our friends at Elecite have just re-customized about 10 themes to work with the new BlackBerry Curve 8500 series, plus the 8350i. Some of Elecite’s most popular themes such as Analog, Ascarii 2..0, Ulterior, Droid, Leopard, Eerie, iBerry, Inspirat, xBerry & Grunge are now all available on their site. All themes start at $6.99 each and look awesome on your new toy!

Check out Elecite.com and check out the hot new themes >>