I love it when updates start coming around. Verizon issued their update yesterday for the BlackBerry Bold 9560. Some enhancements have been made and if you have the BlackBerry Bold, it’s a great time to update it. The update is v6.0.0.524, Platform 4.4.0.438. What’s new?

Here’s the updated differences regarding each feature:

Calls- Push to Talk groups appear consistently regardless of their online status.

Email and Messaging:

1. Supports Mobile Originated EMS messages.
2. Send SMS messages without error message interruption.
3. Russian language text messages display correctly.
4. Successfully send or edit text messages with a media file attachment.
5. Send recorded videos in a MMS message without audio interruption or delay.
6. Successfully preview maximum-length recorded videos and send as a text message.
7. View cursor properly when scrolling through sent BlackBerryMessenger messages.
8. New messages will accurately display in the Inbox.

System enhancements:

1. The list screen displays properly when running applications.
2. After restoring a backup file, all contacts appear correctly.

Web Browsing and Data Enhancements:

1. Includes BlackBerry Balance, enabling you to securely separate yourbusiness and personal data, applications and information.
2. Improvements to BlackBerry browser.

Additional Device Features:

1. Successfully scroll to the next day when in Day Calendar view.
2. “<Content Protection Enabled>” no longer displays in Subject and Description fields of Calendar events.

I like the changes that came with this version, including the text messaging and the browser. It somewhat resembles the PlayBook the way it looks when you click Go To. The only thing I noticed I don’t care for is that the charging indicator on the battery icon doesn’t show the lightning bolt, but you can tell it’s charging as the battery icon “fills” but it’s not apparent anymore.

You can download the update via web to install through web or the BlackBerry Desktop Manager from the following link:

Update your BlackBerry Bold 9650 here

Or do the update as an OTA from the BlackBerry, just be aware it takes a while to download and two hours to do the backup and install and during those two hours, no calls, emails, or messaging will take place. Go to Options/Device/Software Updates, click on the Software Updates and it will tell you if you have an update available.

If you’re a Verizon customer and have one of the handsets mentioned, there’s a software update for you for OS 5.0, OS 6.0 is still MIA for these devices. While announced to be released 6 PM EST, the actual update came earlier via OTA. If your handset hasn’t shown it yet, we’ll tell you how to get it.

For the Bold and the Tour, the current new update is 5.0.0.975. To get the update via OTA, you scroll and click on Options/Advanced Options/Wireless Update and click next. Be sure and have a full or near full battery as the upgrade will take approximately two hours and will prompt you a few times when it shows you the available update, and to download and whether to install it now. I haven’t noticed too much of a difference other than Visual Voice Mail has been updated. There’s no changelog yet, and on the vzw site it still shows the previous version update in pdf. This must not have been a major update. I’ve noticed in previous ota updates that when it’s a major update you will still be prompted to update when you connect your BlackBerry device to your BlackBerry Desktop Manager on your pc. The reason being is that the update is so large it isn’t included in entirety on the OTA and so there’s still some available updates. When you’re doing the ota, you can also customize the ota and what’s installed. I didn’t see that with this update. If you update, please share any differences you notice.

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. ***

We have good news! Verizon has unleashed an update for the BlackBerry Tour to v5.0.0.732. The update is available now and you can either update OTA, online with the Web Loader, or the BlackBerry Desktop Manager. Updating your Tour is highly recommended and would be in your best interest? Why? Check it out…

According to the Verizon website, the software upgrade included the following:

Enhancements:

The following Improvements have been made:

• Push to Talk alert tone responds faster.
• Push to Talk answering capabilities have been improved.
• The Push to Talk key now responds when receiving Push to Talk calls.
• Video-message audio and video playback has been improved.
• Improvements to audio when placing a phone call while using a headset.
• The Voice Activated Dialing functionality now recognizes Japanese.
• Song progress bars now scroll more smoothly.
• Your device will now connect to GSM/UMTS networks more easily.
• VZ Navigator® “Say it” menu has been improved.
• Text message display has been improved when using the Japanese language.
• Data service reception has been improved.

If you need assistance in performing the update, and would like step by step instructions on how to do the update you can find them at the website here

Verizon Tour Support

Find more information on Verizon’s support of the Verizon BlackBerry Tour here

Both BlackBerry and Verizon are encouraging the update, so if you have the Tour, update it now

To update your OS OTA you can do the following:

1. Be sure the phone is charged at least halfway or more.
2. Go to Options/Advanced Options/Wireless Update and continue on.
3. Keep in mind that the OTA takes a little longer than doing it online.

You can update the software online by going to the site here:

BlackBerry Online Update

I’ve noticed that clicking on links seems improved. If you notice any differences and noticeable improvements that aren’t listed, please share.

Download OS 5.0.0.662 for BlackBerry Tour 9630

It’s been long rumored that the next generation of the Tour smartphones, will be branded into the Bold family. Originally the 9650 or Essex was suppose to be called the Tour 9650, however recent reports called it the Bold 9650. It seems that mobile phone part supplier TrueSupplier is now listing the BlackBerry 9650 housings on their website, and it shows every sign of being part of the Bold family. If you look on the back plate of the device it clearly says Bold.

If you need a slight refresh, the BlackBerry (Bold) 9650, will replace the current Tour 9630, and is rumored to feature an optical trackpad and Wi-Fi. Other than that we don’t expect to see any other hardware revisions on the device. With any luck we will see the Bold 9650 launch on Verizon, and other CDMA networks within the next month or so.

[via CrackBerry]

Verizon finally got around to announcing OS 5.0 for the BlackBerry Tour 9630 is launching tomorrow. The OS update will also bring Push to Talk service to both BIS and BES users, and will allow Tour users to PTT other Verizon PTT customers. Users will also receive a 90-day free trial of Verizon’s Push to Talk with a proper voice and data plan. You should be able to update your Tour 9630 via BlackBerry Desktop Manager or OTA from your BlackBerry starting tomorrow (March 30th).

Press Release:

BASKING RIDGE, NJ — Verizon Wireless today announced that Push to Talk will be available for the BlackBerry® Tour™ 9630 smartphone on March 30. It will be available for both BlackBerry® Internet Service and BlackBerry® Enterprise Server customers using the BlackBerry Tour smartphone.“Extending Push to Talk to the BlackBerry Tour from Verizon Wireless offers business customers a single device for instant communication plus the enterprise-grade security and robust business communications capabilities people have come to expect from a BlackBerry smartphone from Verizon Wireless,” said Mark Bartolomeo, vice president – global enterprise marketing for Verizon Wireless. “These features, coupled with the nation’s most reliable wireless network, mean customers have the ultimate in productivity tools.”

Customers can add Push to Talk to their service plans by calling 1-800-VZW-4BIZ or online via My Business Account at www.verizonwireless.com/myverizon or Verizon Enterprise Center at https://enterprisecenter.verizonbusiness.com. BlackBerry Internet Service customers – typically consumers – may request the service by calling 1-800-2 JOIN IN or visiting the My Verizon site online at www.verizonwireless.com/myverizon.

Once Push to Talk is added to their service plans, customers can download the application from the Application Center or through VZStart on their handsets. The convenience key on the left side of the device will automatically become the Push to Talk button when the application is downloaded.

Verizon Wireless offers a number of Push to Talk phones, including the CASIO® G’zOne Rock™, CASIO® G’zOne Brigade™, Samsung Convoy™ and Motorola Barrage™. Push to Talk provides instant two-way communication for field workers in industries ranging from construction to public safety and offers the following benefits:

• Communicate with one person or a team with the push of a button
• Initiate and participate in group calls with up to 50 participants
• Check colleagues’ availability for a Push to Talk call with the Presence feature
• A single device and phone number for both Push to Talk and voice calls
• Online contact management tool for the entire organization

Starting March 30, Verizon Wireless will offer a 90-day promotion for free Push to Talk service when customers activate a qualifying voice plan and BlackBerry data plan.

For more information about Verizon Wireless products and services for business, visit www.verizonwireless.com or contact a Verizon Wireless Business Sales Representative at 1-800-VZW-4BIZ.

About Verizon Wireless
Verizon Wireless operates the nation’s most reliable and largest wireless voice and 3G data network, serving more than 91 million customers. Headquartered in Basking Ridge, N.J., with 83,000 employees nationwide, Verizon Wireless is a joint venture of Verizon Communications (NYSE, NASDAQ: VZ) and Vodafone (LSE, NASDAQ: VOD). For more information, visit www.verizonwireless.com. To preview and request broadcast-quality video footage and high-resolution stills of Verizon Wireless operations, log on to the Verizon Wireless Multimedia Library at www.verizonwireless.com/multimedia.

The BlackBerry and RIM families of related marks, images and symbols are the exclusive properties and trademarks of Research In Motion Limited.

Download OS 5.0.0.591 for BlackBerry Tour 9630

Something you need to remember: This OS is not an official OS released by RIM or any network. Before installing this OS we strongly recommended you do a full backup of your device, just in case something happens. We take no responsibility for any harm caused to your device or data from installing it. Other than that best of luck.

[via CrackBerry]

Apparently HowardForums member “codwil” sent MTS an email asking them when they will see some more up to date smartphones, and this was the reply he received:

“Thanks for your email. We currently plan to launch both the Blackberry Storm 2 & the Tour 2 in late spring early summer 2010. We are also currently in talks with several manufacturers in regards to the Android phones but unfortunately nothing is nailed down at this point, we are looking at a tentative launch date of an Android unit in Spring 2010.”

So it looks to be a pretty good Spring for MTS! Any readers here from Manitoba who have a comment?

[via MobileSyrup]

So what do you think? Should RIM continue going with the Tour series for the next model, or should RIM switch over the Bold family, making it the Bold 9650?

[via CrackBerry]