Just like we’ve seen with Verizon and AT&T, T-Mobile has joined the club and pushed itself its own category in BlackBerry App World for its customers.  This wasn’t overnight and apparently has been out for a few weeks now.  Most of the applications on the list are generic as many users have access to them.  Mobile Security is an app T-Mobile partnered up with Asurion for and that’s on the list as well.  Other apps include Flixster, OpenTable, Aces Jewel Hunt and more!  There doesn’t seem to be a category set on Sprint yet, but we’ll see if that happens.

If you recall, Boost Mobile launched the BlackBerry Style 9670 a few months back.  The device was short-lived, as it didn’t sell as well as expected.  Still you could get the device at many stores, so there wasn’t much of a shortage when Boost told dealers they would be cutting back on the device.  We just got word from a Boost Mobile corporate store that Boost has nailed a deal to get more BlackBerry Style devices to sell to its stores again.  Policies are a bit different this time.  Device returns are not permitted if the customer does not like the device.  According to the tipster, there has to be a malfunction of some sort to get an exchanged device or return in general.

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Since the announcement of the acquisition of T-Mobile from AT&T, it’s been nothing but issues for the company to get settled.  The news is starting to roll out now, but it looks like AT&T has pulled out from the buyout now, more or so a mutual agreement with Deutsche Telekom as stated in a memo sent out to T-Mobile employees.  Here’s the full memo:

Today AT&T and Deutsche Telekom announced they have mutually decided to terminate their agreement for AT&T to acquire T-Mobile USA. This announcement effectively ends the acquisition process launched March 20, including the regulatory approvals process with the Department of Justice and the Federal Communications Commission. Additionally, with the termination of the agreement, T-Mobile will receive certain spectrum licenses and a 3G roaming agreement from AT&T, and AT&T will pay $3B to our parent company, Deutsche Telekom.

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The BlackBerry PlayBook sales are back once again.  This time Sprint is offering it for only $199.99, but only after Christmas.  The dates scheduled are between December 26th through January 7th.  So if after all the PlayBook sales in various retail channels you didn’t pick one up yet, here’s your millionth chance to.

 

Source: CrackBerry

Fido in Canada is known to carry BlackBerry smartphones way later after the device launches from the manufacturer.  This time around we’re surprised to see that the company has stepped up their game and launched the BlackBerry Curve 9360.  Ok so it’s a basic lower end BlackBerry smartphone, but is still a great device and carries a feature some other OS 7 devices don’t- NFC.  The BlackBerry Curve 9360 gets OS 7 preloaded, 800MHz, 5MP camera, 480 x 360 screen resolution with 3G and WiFi capability.  Fido is selling the device for only $30 on a 3 year contract.

BlackBerry Curve 9360 from Fido >>

Source: MobileSyrup

Usually AT&T is the difficult carrier to deal with.  It was such a hardship with BlackBerry Bridge on the BlackBerry PlayBook and then NFC being blocked on the all new BlackBerry Bold 9900.  AT&T has tweeted up that they will be offering two free months of BBM Music to its customers- sweet!  The tweet reads that you should check your media folder which should have a link to download BBM Music and get the free two month trial.  Otherwise you can download it from BlackBerry App World.

 

Thanks j_wizzy for the tip!

Last week CarrierIQ was definitely among one of the bigger trending topics when it comes to the mobile industry.  CarrierIQ was claimed to be existent in all mobile devices where carriers would be able to snoop messages sent received for their customers.  BlackBerry smartphones were accused to have CarrierIQ software, but RIM suggested that they do not install any of that on their smartphones.

TmoNews published a document today showing that CarrierIQ software is installed on the BlackBerry Curve 9360, Bold 9900, and Torch 9810.  But T-Mobile claims it is not snooping on what you’re doing.  This is what’s mentioned in the document:

• Battery performance: If a customer’s device battery appears not to be holding a charge, T-Mobile can determine if the issue is the battery, charger or device
• Dropped calls: If a customer attempts to make a call and the call fails, T-Mobile can determine whether the cause was the handset or the network
• Application failures: If a customer uses an application, preinstalled or downloaded from a third-party marketplace, and the app fails, T-Mobile will be able to troubleshoot that app failure, which may be perceived by the customer to be the device freezing/crashing

Does the info drive you away from T-Mobile or not concern you at all as a customer?

The BlackBerry Bold 9790 had its first launch in Indonesia, leaving the rest of the world hanging for a little bit until other carriers got the opportunity to pick it up and offer to its customers.  Now we’re seeing Virgin Mobile Canada is up for picking up the Bold 9790.  It’s a good sign since we can assume it will be branching off to other carriers as well.  It would have been a shame to see the 9790 go through the same exclusive as the Torch 9800 did in the United States last year with AT&T.  The BlackBerry Bold 9790 gets a 1GHz processor, 3G connectivity, NFC chip built-in, and a 5MP camera.  It’s not the best under the hood but falls somewhere in the middle.  Pricing hasn’t been confirmed yet, but MobileSyrup who got the leaked photo suggests it will be between $450 and $480.

NFC is included in various BlackBerry smartphones, but we still have no actual use for it just yet.   Research In Motion and the carrier Telefonica are currently testing NFC (Near Field Communication) in Spain.  The carrier has been looking into testing NFC and chose the BlackBerry for it due to its high security.  Below is the full press release.

WATERLOO, ONTARIO and MADRID, SPAIN–(Marketwire – Nov. 23, 2011) -

Telefónica Digital and Research In Motion (NASDAQ:RIMM)(TSX:RIM) today announced a pilot program of the Telefónica Wallet for BlackBerry® smartphones.

In collaboration with local banks and retailers, Telefónica will roll out the Telefónica Wallet for BlackBerry to 350 employees at its headquarters in Distrito Telefónica, Spain. Those taking part in the trial will be able to make payments in a simple, easy, safe and convenient way by simply tapping their NFC-enabled BlackBerry smartphone against a reader. Employees that are part of the NFC pilot project will also be able use their BlackBerry smartphone (in lieu of a security card) to gain physical access to the Telefónica headquarters office.

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The BlackBerry Curve 9380 has made its way to Telus in an official launch yesterday.  Folks in the region can expect to pay $49 on a 3 year, $269 on a 2 year, $319 on a 1 year, and $369 outright with no contract.  The Curve 9380 is the first touchscreen device in the Curve family.  It brings out basic specs, but far better than Curves we’ve seen in the past.  You get 800MHz, 480 x 360 screen resolution, NFC, and a 5MP camera.  Click the link below to check out more on the device at Telus.

BlackBerry Curve 9380 at Telus >>