If you’ve got a BlackBerry Bold 9700 or Curve 3G (or Curve 85xx) then you know the selection of cases on the market is huge. Case-Mate recently unveiled their Pop Case a new lightweight formed fitted case made of plastic and soft rubber materials. They’re now available for both the BlackBerry Bold 9700 and Curve 85xx/93xx series smartphones for $29.99 each. You can read up about Case-Mate’s new Pop Case on their website here.

[via Accessorize Mobile]

CES 2011 has been pretty packed with BlackBerry PlayBook news so far, but that hasn’t stopped OtterBox from launching a new series of cases for the BlackBerry Curve 85xx and Curve 3G 93xx series smartphones. The new Reflex series is inspired by the crumple zone of a car, and takes a hit, then springs back into its original form. These cases are only available for the Curve 85xx/93xx series (and iPhone 4) for now, and will be available soon for $44.95 each from OtterBox.com. You can check out the full press release and see the iPhone 4 model at Accessorize Mobile.

Leveraging OtterBox’s knowledge and expertise in device protection, the Reflex Series unites two resources – polycarbonate and TPE rubber – in an unprecedented single layer concept. Inspired by the crumple zone of a car, this case not only takes a hit, it recoils and springs back, ready to protect again and again. The most important part of a vehicle during an accident is the occupant. The same concept is applied to the construction of the Reflex Series case, protecting its precious smartphone cargo in the event of drops, dings or bumps.

Keep an eye on OtterBox.com for the new Reflex Series, they should be posted shortly.

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. ***

This doesn’t really come as a huge surprise, but CellPhoneSignal is reporting that T-Mobile USA is getting set to launch a third color of the popular BlackBerry Curve 8520. T-Mo is said to be launching a fuchsia colored 8520 on May 19th. This redish fuchsia color joins the black and white colored Curve 8520′s already available on the carriers lineup. So expect an official announcement from T-Mobile mid-next week…

The BlackBerry Curve 8530 is a CDMA smartphone, which sports a full QWERTY keyboard, 2.0 megapixel camera (without flash), and runs BlackBerry OS 5.0. The Curve 8530 also comes equipped with Wi-Fi and dedicated media keys on the top of the device.

If you did end up grabbing one of these new Pink Curve 8530′s you may also want to consider the new OtterBox Strength Case, which supports Breast Cancer. More details on the OtterBox Strength Case can be found on OtterBox’s website.

Download OS 5.0.0.654 for BlackBerry Curve 8530

It’s been rumored for a while that TELUS off-spring, Koodo Mobile would be launching BlackBerry service on their low cost brand. Today Koodo announced that they will be bringing the popular entry level BlackBerry Curve 8530 to their lineup. Koodo plans to offer the Curve 8530 for $300 outright or $150 with tab (contract-less). They didn’t announce any launch dates, besides saying this Spring. We heard rumors that Koodo may launch the new BlackBerry service late May, with plans focused on social networking. Stay tuned for more details when they arrive.

Press Release:

The BlackBerry Curve 8530 smartphone makes writing text messages, emails and Facebook updates easier than ever

TORONTO, April 28 /CNW/ – Koodo Mobile, Canada’s decidedly different, pay for what you need wireless company, is thrilled to announce the addition of the BlackBerry Curve 8530 smartphone from Research In Motion (RIM) to its line-up later this Spring. Koodo is introducing the BlackBerry Curve in response to consumer demand for a social media friendly, QWERTY handset.

“Since launching as Canada’s back to basics wireless company, Koodo has focused on providing exceptional value by sticking to communication essentials like talk and text,” says Kevin Banderk, Chief Koodo Officer. “For many Koodo customers, easy mobile access to email or social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter has become an essential communication need. The BlackBerry Curve 8530 offers these customers a high-quality smartphone with a full-QWERTY keyboard for easy interactivity with popular social networking sites.”

The BlackBerry Curve 8530 smartphone comes in charcoal and is expected to retail for $300, or $150 for new customers who put the smartphone on their Tab. Existing customers who have paid their Tab in part or in full can also use the Tab to get the new BlackBerry Curve 8530 smartphone. Unique to Koodo Mobile, the Tab is an alternative to fixed-term contracts that allows customers to put up to $150 of a phone’s price on their Tab. Ten per cent of each monthly bill is then credited to the Tab. If the customer decides to leave, they simply need to settle their Tab. Some existing customers who have paid off their Tab may be eligible to receive the BlackBerry Curve 8530 smartphone at no additional cost.

For more information about Koodo Mobile phones and plans, visit koodomobile.com. For more information on the BlackBerry Curve 8530 smartphone, visit www.Blackberry.com/curve.

About Koodo

Launched in March 2008, Koodo Mobile is Canada’s simple, affordable and flexible mobile alternative for those who just want to talk and text. Koodo Mobile offers a transparent approach to cellular service with per-second billing and no fixed-term contracts. Service plans are pre-packaged or build-your-own. Customers have the option to purchase a phone or take advantage of the revolutionary Koodo Tab. Visit koodomobile.com for information and retailers.

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

[via MobileSyrup]

• Download OS 5.0.0.610 for BlackBerry 9000

• Download OS 5.0.0.610 for BlackBerry 8900

• Download OS 5.0.0.610 for BlackBerry 8520

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.

[Sources: CrackBerry and BBLeaks]

It’s no doubt that the new BlackBerry Curve 8500 series has been designed for the consumer, and OtterBox knows that. OtterBox is known for their awesome protective cases, and today they announced new colored additions to their Commuter Series for the Curve 8520 and 8530. OtterBox has posted five new colors including Slate, Green, Red, Gray and Blue, all of which are expected to launch soon for $34.95. You can head over to OtterBox.com and registered to be notified when they launch.

[via Accessorize Mobile]