Yesterday, RIM announced that they would be giving a free PlayBook tablet to all Android developers who submit an app into App World before February 13th. Today, Alec Saunders, RIMs VP of Media Relations, has announced that ANY developer that submits a PlayBook app by that date is eligible for a free PlayBook. This offer is open to all developers in any country. Hit the link below for all the details and then get to coding!

• Learn more about the Free PlayBook offer

RIM has rolled out the BlackBerry Music Store for BlackBerry Smartphones, which is sponsored and run by 7Digital, to Berry users in Canada and Australia. This is Smartphone version of the store that has run on the PlayBook since launch. There’s no word on when this will be made available in the US or UK, but hopefully support for additional countries will come soon. Some of the features of the BlackBerry Music Store include:

• Browse the catalog by what’s new, top songs, top albums and genres
• Store your music in the cloud via your 7Digital Music Locker easy portability across devices (BB Smartphone and PlayBook)
• Preview a 30-second sample before buying
• Download over the wireless network or Wi-Fi®
• Let friends know what you’re checking out via BlackBerry Messenger, Email, Text Messaging, Socials Feeds, Facebook and more…
• Download directly to your BlackBerry music library

If you’re in Canada or Australia, be sure to grab the BlackBerry Music Store today, especially if you’ve already been using the service on your PlayBook. Like we said before, we hope to see US and UK support sometime soon. Let us know if you’re liking the new store and if you plan to start getting your music from there!

• Download the BlackBerry Music Store

RIM is trying hard to get as many apps as possible onto the BlackBerry PlayBook before OS 2.0 launches. Their latest venture is aimed at Android developers and hopes to entice them with a free PlayBook. All you have to do is submit your repackaged Android application to App World by February 13th and you’ll get yourself a free PlayBook. RIM has made it incredibly easy to repackage your Android apps for the PlayBook, and with the growing number of units out there every day, you’re sure to make some easy money. Hit the link below to get all the details on submitting your Android app to App World.

• Check out BlackBerry Runtime for Android Apps

Source : CrackBerry

Telus is hosting a promotion on the BlackBerry PlayBook from February 3rd through 9th. The 16GB and 32GB versions of the PlayBook will be on sale for just $149.99. Yes, you heard that right, $149.99. This is a huge sale that those in Canada should definitely check out, especially if you’re thinking about making the jump to the PlayBook. Word has it that the 64GB version will remain $299.99, which is still a great deal when considering MSRP.  Be sure to head in to your local Telus location on these days to grab yourself a new PlayBook at this low price!

Source : Mobile Syrup

Rogers has snuck a little treat into App World for their BlackBerry customers. The wireless carrier has teamed up with RIM to provide 6 months of BBM Music to their subscribers for free. All you have to do is download BBM Music to your BlackBerry any time between now and March 30th and Rogers will foot the bill for your first 6 months. There are; however, a few restrictions. The free 6 month offer is only available to Rogers customers and you must either be a new or trial member, if you’re already paying for BBM Music, you’re not eligible for the free 6 month trial. This looks like an attempt by both RIM and Rogers to drum up interest in BBM Music, and it wouldn’t surprise us here at TheBerryFix if other carriers jumped on with similar offers.

• Download BBM Music in App World

Source : CrackBerry

[To view this video on your BlackBerry, Click Here]

RIM has launched a new lineup of BlackBerry “Be Bold” commercials featuring the BlackBerry Bold 9900. These new commercials show everyday people using their BlackBerry Bolds for their everyday tasks and jobs. Along with RIMs new tagline for 2012, “Be Bold,” the commercials introduce two new lines: “I’m about action, not distraction” and “We need tools, not toys.” Take a look at the commercial above and those past the break and let us know what you think. I, for one, hear RIM saying “Be Bold” but airing the same commercials and same marketing as always. Hopefully the new CEO has some new marketing tricks up his sleeve that we will be seeing soon.

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RIM has let us know that BlackBerry OS 7.0 and 7.1 devices are now officially certified for  use by both the US and Canadian Governments. BlackBerry 7 has received FIPS (Federal Information Processing Standard) 140-2 Certification from the NIST (National Institute of Standards and Technology). This top-level certification is required for secure communications by both the US and Canadian Governments and their agencies. This is more good news for RIM, as the security certifications for their BlackBerry 7 and QNX devices begin to pile up.

Last year, RIMs BlackBerry was crowned the number one best selling smartphone in the United Kingdom. This year, RIM has done it again. BlackBerry is the number one best selling Smartphone in the UK for the second year running. BlackBerry averaged 26.7% of all Smartphone sales in the UK for 2011.  The numbers come courtesy of GfK, a UK firm that is dedicated to information aggregation and market research.

News like this helps people to see the big picture for RIM, and not just the North American negativity that we are typically seeing. Sure, BlackBerry use may be on the decline in the USA, but that doesn’t mean sales aren’t strong everywhere else. The BlackBerry is the number one Smartphone in Canada and sales are very strong everywhere else in the world. BlackBerry 7 has been a transition point for RIM, and considering the only market they are losing in is the US market, 2012 and BlackBerry 10 is looking great for the company.

Source : CrackBerry

In an interview with CrackBerry, RIM’s new CEO, Thorsten Heins, was asked was asked about licensure of both the BlackBerry Operating System and BlackBerry Messenger. His response may surprise some of the BlackBerry faithful who know Mike and Jim’s stance on licensing the BlackBerry OS. Here’s what Heins had to say:

“You should never rule this out; business is very very dynamic. It’s dynamic on the device side as well as on the software side. So never say no to anything. We’re constantly exploring our room to maneuver and our room to explore other businesses so I wouldn’t say categorically no to it. There is a time where this might make sense, and I have a team looking into this. I’m not saying I won’t license. People are again putting this in a black and white spot. I’m open for licensing if it makes sense. But it’s not what I was hired for; I was not hired to build a licensing company. I was hired to take BlackBerry to new heights. And that’s what I will do with my team.”

So far, I’m liking everything that the new CEO has to say. His initial response is that yes, if there was a profitable licensure request, RIM very well may go ahead with the process. I also like what he has to say about BBM. I personally think that moving BBM cross platform would allow for more people to experience the power of the service and get BlackBerry on their minds. Then when BlackBerry 10 launches, the BBM licensure may draw new customers. That is however, only my opinion. Heins makes sure to close out this answer by saying he wants to “take BlackBerry to new heights” and “not just build a licensing company.”

Source : CrackBerry

We have been hearing from RIM for quite some time that PlayBook OS 2.0 would be ready and launching in February. They never gave us a specific date in February, but I have always thought it would be mid to late in the month. It’s looking like I may be right, according to Best Buy. According to BBOS, employees at Best Buy locations all around the US and Canada are being told to prepare for the rollout of the OS for PlayBook on February 21st. I have even personally called and visited a few Best Buys and gotten either late February or the exact date for February 21 as the date from employees.

We must take this with a grain of salt, especially since we all know how carrier and tech store employees tend to carry on rumors over facts. However, with PlayBook OS 2.0 being such a big launch for the company, the employees may need to be let in on it a little earlier to get prepared. This launch will be highly publicized and marketed, something we have already seen from RIM in the first month of 2012. Now, I know most were skeptical at the launch date, especially considering RIM’s less than stellar track record of product release announcements followed by delays. It looks like this time, February may be correct and RIM my hit a specified launch date for the first time in a long time. All of this combines gives us great hope in RIM and the BlackBerry for 2012. They are finally living up to customer expectations, as well as their new slogan, #BeBold.

Source : BBOS

The last bit of information that we get from the plethora of leaked slides this morning is about the BlackBerry “Knight.” This device is the Porsche Design BlackBerry P’9531 and it looks to be nearly identical to the P’9981 that has already launched around the world. The P’9531 looks to be a North American version for the exclusive Porsche Design line and we could see it launching on any of the North American networks between March and May this year. Hit the break for some more details on the P’9531.

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Source : BGR

We’ve been detailing all the information from the leaked batch of RIM slides device by device, but in this post we’re going to take a look at the big picture for RIM in 2012. What you see above is the device launch roadmap for RIM in 2012. Yes, I know the dates on the slides say 2013, but that’s because RIM likes to use fiscal quarters, which are a year ahead. Let’s take a look at what’s to come this year from RIM.

First, we’ll discuss what’s probably the most important thing on the slide. There’s a box in the top right corner of the slide that says “Device” and has the words “Next Gen OS” above it. Can you guess what that is? It’s the forst BlackBerry 10 device! The roadmap has it releasing in October or November, something that the rumor mill has been confirming for a while now. The next big device to look at is the BlackBerry PlayBook 3G+. This is a fully refreshed PlayBook with HSPA+ connectivity. This device is currently slated to launch between March and May of this year. Head past the break for more information on decoding the BlackBerry 2012 roadmap.

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Source : BGR

What’s this we have here? Leaked specifications on the upcoming BlackBerry Curve 9220? The Curve 9220 is another device coming to the Curve lineup from RIM. This device will accompany the Curve 9320 to the hands of BlackBerry customers in emerging markets. The specs aren’t too shabby for a Curve, featuring a 2.44″ display, 512 MB of RAM, and WiFi b/g/n, the curve looks to be a great device for first-time BlackBerry owners. We haven’t confirmed if the new BBM key will be features on this device, but it’s a possibility. Look for the 9220 to launch sometime in March, April, or May of this year.

Source : BGR

Another of the leaked slides from today shows off RIM’s White series of BlackBerry devices. It lists the current family of the Torch 9810, Bold 9900, and Curve 9360, alongside the upcoming additions to the family, the Bold 9790 and Curve 9380. The white option is a highly desired option that not only RIM is embracing, but many other manufacturers are, as well. If you’re a fan of White devices and you want a Bold 9790 or Curve 9380, then you may want to hold off till Q2 to get your hands on one.

Source : BGR

You know how here at TheBerryFix.com we’ve been telling you about the BlackBerry ecosystem expanding and that 2012 will be a huge year for RIM? Well, here’s one piece of the puzzle falling into place. We have some leaked information on the BlackBerry Wireless Media Server. What is it, you ask? It will be a network similar to Apple’s iTunes in the Cloud, where your BlackBerry media is shared over a wireless connection with your computer,  television, or game console. This looks like a great new feature to add to the BlackBerry and will be an awesome compliment to BlackBerry 10. There’s another slide with more information on BlackBerry Wireless Media Server past the break.

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Source : BGR