Phonedig

AT&T BlackBerry Bold users (yay, me) will be happy to know that RIM’s latest update, scheduled to go live this aftertoon, will add Visual Voicemail to their device. Other improvements include:

• 2G GSM option (improves battery life and possibly reception)
• General system optimizations
• Download icons for MobiTV, Mobile Banking, Tetris, and Scrabble

Once the update is available, users can update using their Wireless Update option, download via the web, or install through the BlackBerry Desktop Manager.

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Microsoft and Nokia announced a joint collaboration to bring Microsoft Office Mobile and Microsoft business communications, collaboration, and device management software to Nokia devices. What this means is that you’ll have:

• The ability to view, edit, create and share Office documents on more devices in more places with mobile-optimized versions of Microsoft Word, Microsoft PowerPoint, Microsoft Excel and Microsoft OneNote
• Enterprise instant messaging and presence, and optimized conferencing and collaboration experience with Microsoft Office Communicator Mobile
• Mobile access to intranet and extranet portals built on Microsoft SharePoint Server
• Enterprise device management with Microsoft System Center

Microsoft Office Communicator Mobile should be coming next year followed by the rest of the Office Mobile products. So good news all around for all you Nokia users.

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Opera Software CEO Jon von Tezchner hinted that their Opera mobile browser might be coming to the Android platform. Just to be clear this is the full blown Opera mobile browser and not the already available Opera mini.

Opera Mobile is an excellent browser that renders HTML right on your device. Features include support for widgets, download manager, and bookmark management.

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T-Mobile released the much anticipated Visual Voicemail functionality to its Android-based mobile devices. In addition, an App Pack was made available that includes popular apps such as Sherpa and Flixster. Download here.

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So very sorry all you iPhone users, but Palm Pre just got their unofficial Google Voice app, dkGoogleVoice. Yeah, it’s not official but it works just the same. From the app you can make a call or text using your Google Voice number. It’s still in beta so expect a few bugs.

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Continuing the cat and mouse saga, Palm released the webOS 1.1.0 update for the Palm Pre, simultaneously fixing the iTunes 8.2.1 syncing issue and restoring tranquility unto the troubled world of Pre. Other updates include:

• Emoticons
• Exchange support
• NFL Mobile Live (the newest, 31st app)
• New swipe gesture to move forward through web pages

So, Apple, just how quickly will you be releasing 8.2.2?

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Navigon MobileNavigator for iPhone is now available for download through the Apple App store. The $99.99 app is now available for only $69.99 until August 15th and performs all of the functions you expect in a turn-by-turn standalone GPS. The USA map data (all 2.9Gigs worth) fits onto your iPhone so (very thankfully) NO monthly fees are required. Other features include:

• Reality View Pro
• Lane Assistant Pro
• Speed Assistant
• Day/Night mode
• Home/Favorite shortcuts
• Points of Interest (POIs)
• Voice guided, turn-by-turn directions
• Accelerometer-assisted automatic horizontal to vertical mode
• Multi-touch zooming
• Real signpost display

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Rejoice all you BlackBerry Mac owners who dare to be different–the BlackBerry Desktop Manager will be available to Mac owners this September. With the new BlackBerry Desktop Software for Mac you’ll be able to:

• Sync your iTunes® playlists, calendars, contacts, notes and tasks
• Add/Remove applications
• Update your device when new software becomes available
• Backup and restore your device data with such features like automatically scheduled backups and optional encryption
• Manage multiple devices
• For Mac OS 10.5.5 and above

And who says there’s no love for Mac users…just takes a little more time. Look for it in September.

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Looks like BlackBerry Messenger 5.0 has been leaked on the web. The brand spankin’ new messenger purportedly works on BlackBerry OS 4.5 through OS 5.1. So what are you waiting for? Hit the link and give it a try. According to BGR, the new BBM 5.0 is much improved and features the following:

• Avatar support — set your own avatar using the Camera or saved photo on your device (this is displayed locally as well as shown next to your Messenger name on your friend’s buddy list)
• GPS location integration — you can now set permissions so friends can always see your location, have to request it each time, or never can see it
• Proximity sensor — we’re guessing this will let you know if you’re within a certain distance of friends (pending, of course, you’re both set to share locations freely with each other)
• Set conversation subjects — this will allow you to organize your convos on the main Messenger screen and label them with subjects to keep track of all your conversations
• Homescreen support — you can pin/sticky actual Messenger contacts directly to the homescreen for easy access!

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Hold the freaking iPhone! Wasn’t it just yesterday that Apple announced that their app store had reached the 1 billion app download mark?  Today they issued a press release stating that they’ve already achieved 1.5 billion.  I guess the iPhone 3GS really escalated the handset to that next level of popularity or perhaps the free apps are just getting that much more popular.  At this rate they’ll be at 2 billion before the end of October and probably sooner considering their growth rate.  Can someone chart this please?

Currently, the app store offers over 65,000 apps in 77 countries and has 100,000 developers in the iPhone Developer program.  That’s means we should expect many more apps very soon, right?

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