RIM founder and CEO released a YouTube service update announcing that service is being stabilized, but did not estimate when the service will be restored worlwide.

Blackberry user received the following popup message on their smart phones when they tried to use Internet and email services …

Unable to connect to the Internet,
please try again later.

If the problem persists please
contact your service provider.

[OK]

The co-founder of BlackBerry has told users he is sorry for disruption but cannot say when service will be back to normal.

Apple, Inc. also had problems with the rollout of iCloud, including email glitches and long delays in installation of iOS 5 for users of older iPhones, iPads and iPod touch devices.

RIMM stock …
Apple, Inc. stock …
Google stock …

The BlackBerry PlayBook, due to be available April 19, 2011, supports up to 1080p video playback, features a 3 MP front-facing camera for video chatting over Wi-Fi and a rear-facing 5 MP camera that records 1080p video. The PlayBook has a 1024×600 WSVGA, 7-inch display and 3D graphics acceleration, as well as HDMI-out.

The unit is smaller than Apple’s iPad 2, which has a 9.7 inch display (1024×768).

See also …
us.blackberry.com/playbook-tablet

While including the usual PDA applications (address book, calendar, to-do lists, etc.) as well as telephone capabilities on newer models, the BlackBerry is primarily known for its ability to send and receive e-mail wherever it can access an atmosphere wireless network of certain cellular phone carriers. It has a built-in keyboard, optimized for “thumbing”, the use of only the thumbs to type. System navigation is primarily accomplished by the trackwheel (or “thumbwheel”), a scrolling wheel with a “CLICK” function, located on the right side of the device. Newer models are now utilizing a trackball in the middle of the device as Research In Motion has moved from the trackwheel to the trackball. Some models (currently, those manufactured for use with Nextel, TELUS, and other iDEN networks) also incorporate a two-way radio. Some BlackBerry devices don’t depend on mobile phone service coverage and are Wi-Fi compatible like similar handheld devices that are on the marketplace.

Modern BlackBerry handhelds incorporate an ARM 7 or 9 processor, while older BlackBerry 950 and 957 handhelds used Intel 80386 processors. The latest GSM BlackBerry models (8100 and 8700 series) have an Intel PXA901 312 MHz processor, 64 MB flash memory and 16 MB SDRAM. CDMA BlackBerries are based on Qualcomm MSM6x00 chipsets which also include the ARM 9-based processor and GSM 900/1800 roaming(as the case with the 8830).  The devices are very popular with some businesses, where they are primarily used to provide e-mail access to roaming employees. To fully integrate the BlackBerry into a company’s systems, the installation of BlackBerry Enterprise Server (BES) is required.
On April 11, 2007, RIM announced the number of BlackBerry subscribers had reached 8 million.

BlackBerry Operating System
RIM provides a proprietary multi-tasking operating system (OS) for the BlackBerry, which makes heavy use of the device’s specialized input devices, particularly the thumbwheel. The OS provides support for MIDP 1.0 and WAP 1.2. Previous versions allowed wireless synchronization with Microsoft Exchange Server’s e-mail and calendar, as well as with Lotus Domino’s e-mail. The current OS 4 provides a subset of MIDP 2.0, and allows complete wireless activation and synchronization with Exchange’s e-mail, calendar, tasks, notes and contacts, and adds support for Novell GroupWise and Lotus Notes.

Third-party developers can write software using these APIs, and proprietary BlackBerry APIs as well, but any application that makes use of certain restricted functionality must be digitally signed so that it can be associated to a developer account at RIM. This signing procedure guarantees the authorship of an application, but does not guarantee the quality or security of the code.

More information …
BlackBerry.com
Research in Motion

Published on: Dec 21, 2007 @ 6:32