One of our sources let us in on a little secret. Actually, it is a fairly ‘top’ secret. RIM has apparently already started working on PlayBook OS 3.0. This news comes before RIM has even officially released PlayBook OS 2.0. Nevertheless, it is a good sign that the company is rapidly working to enhance the tablet OS in preparation for BlackBerry 10. Details on PlayBook OS 3.0 are slim at this point, but we’ll do what we do best to get you all of the juicy details.

What could be in PlayBook OS 3.0? Perhaps PlayBook OS 3.0 will utilize TAT cascades in a more robust manner. Maybe we’ll finally see the release of BBM, since it will be absent in the release of OS 2.0. Or, we could see PlayBook OS 3.0 be the true evolution into BlackBerry 10, which will then unite both phone and tablet. Whatever the case may be, keep it locked to N4BB for more info!

Securiguard launches a premium Executive service of SOS Response for customers using Blackberry’s Bold Touch 9900 and additional models. SOS Response is a patented innovative smartphone app that provides 24/7 professional security assistance. When used, it automatically sends valuable images (30 pictures in 30 seconds), the senders’ GPS location and other information to a live 24/7 professionally monitored station. With these visuals, trained operators instantly assess and deploy the ideal response, whether that’s a guard, ambulance, police officer or other service.

“Our customers have asked us for Blackberry compatibility, as well as some additional unique features that further enhance personal safety and security. RIM’s certification to FIPS 140-2 is important to our business and government customers,” said Nigel Bullers, VP of Operations at Securiguard. “SOS Executive can now automatically alert on-site authorities in addition to our fully integrated operations center. We are committed to evolving SOS Response as the best of its class in the personal safety and security field.”

Securiguard is based in Western Canada with offices in Vancouver, Edmonton, Victoria, Nanaimo, Kelowna and Kamloops. Internationally, Securiguard Middle East has established offices located in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, United Arab Emirates. With offices in Vancouver, BC and Santa Ana, CA, EvidencePix Systems Inc. is a leader in secure mobile media using the patented EPIXTRUST platform.

For more information, visit http://www.securiguard.com  or http://www.sos-response.com

Originally posted on BlackBerry Help Blog here.

When I received my first BlackBerry® smartphone, I thought ‘wireless everything!’ – then I learned that there was a bit of configuring needed to get this all set up! However, it didn’t take a long time to get my device up and running without being tethered.

From the home screen on the BlackBerry smartphone, navigate to ‘Manage Connections’ and ensure there is a check beside ‘Bluetooth®’. The next step is making sure your device is ‘Discoverable’. Navigate to ‘Options/Networks and Connections/Bluetooth Connections’. Make sure ‘Discoverable’ is set to ‘Yes’.

Pairing with the computer

There are a few things to consider when you pair the BlackBerry smartphone with your computer. There are a couple of system requirements that need to be met. Although there are a number of third-party Bluetooth driver stacks that will work with your BlackBerry smartphone, the default Windows driver stack is supported. You can check to make sure you are using the correct drivers by reviewing the knowledge base article KB04132.

1. From the Start menu, select ‘All Programs’ and ‘My Bluetooth Places’.

2. Click Add a Bluetooth Device from the top left.

This will start the Welcome to the Bluetooth Setup Wizard, as seen here:

3. Click Next, and the Bluetooth software will search for any detectable Bluetooth devices in the area.

4. When the BlackBerry smartphone is detected, select it and click OK.

Note: If the BlackBerry smartphone cannot be detected, verify that all the system requirements to set up a Bluetooth connection are met.

5. A randomly generated passkey number will then be presented on the computer.

You will be prompted on the BlackBerry smartphone and presented with the same passkey to confirm.

6. Select ‘Yes’ on the device, and ‘Next’ on the computer.

7. This will bring you to the finish screen on the computer and the connect screen on your BlackBerry smartphone.

Depending on the Bluetooth device in your computer, the options available might be different. For BlackBerry® Desktop Manager connectivity, you should not need to select anything here.

From here you can select the ‘Don’t ask this again’ checkbox so you will not be prompted when you move within range of the computer.

8. Once you have selected ‘Connect’, you should receive a request for a connection on the computer itself:

Note: Depending on the default service it connects to, this message may vary.

Connecting to Desktop Manager

After getting connected to the computer, you can open BlackBerry Desktop Manager and it will prompt you to connect via Bluetooth.

Select ‘Yes’, and you’re done! Now you can synchronize, backup, and restore your BlackBerry smartphone wirelessly once in range of your computer!

After spending just a few minutes, you can now sync up your calendars and contacts – also, you can back up and restore when you need to! There are a few resources that are additionally at your disposal if you need to check on system requirements or to ensure the computer is using the correct drivers.

Did you find this article helpful? Let us know what you thought and if you’d like to see more!

As we all have been excruciatingly patient for PlayBook OS 2.0 to arrive, most of you have been on the developer beta version. In the Beta OS 2.0, we found that all Union and some Gameloft games weren’t supported. Today, as we inch closer and closer to the release of RIM’s revamped tablet OS, both companies have updated all of their games to support PlayBook OS 2.0. Head over to appworld and start updating!

• Check out games from Gameloft
• Check out games from Union

Today Research In Motion (RIM) announced the availability of BlackBerry Mobile Conferencing in the UK. The app simplifies joining and scheduling conference calls from BlackBerry smartphones, is another great example of how BlackBerry smartphones enhance communications and productivity. The app is now available for UK users to download at no cost, from BlackBerry App World.

The app converts audio conferencing details into a single “Join Now” button for you to quickly and easily join a conference call from a BlackBerry smartphone in a single click. It also makes it easy to schedule conference calls from a BlackBerry smartphone in an easy two-step process using the BlackBerry Calendar and your conference call profile, which you can easily set up in the app. Many of the leading audio conferencing systems are supported.

Key features: 

• One-Click Join – Before a conference call starts, a pop-up reminder displays a “Join Now” button that, with a single click, dials the conference bridge and enters the appropriate codes to connect the you to the conference.
• Reconnect - If the call gets disconnected or you need to drop off, the app will present a “Reconnect” button, which dials you back into the call with one click.

• Easy Conference Scheduling – You can schedule a conference call complete with conference bridge details directly from the BlackBerry Calendar in an easy two-step process.  To enable this capability, you can set your conference call profile once in the BlackBerry Mobile Conferencing app, including dial-in numbers and access codes, then simply adds the profile as part of the calendar invitation. (The moderator code is kept hidden from participants in the calendar invitation.)
• Optimal Conference Call Number Selection – If multiple dial-in numbers are provided to accommodate participants in different regions, the application can automatically choose an optimal number to use, such as using the local number if you’re within the local calling area rather than a free-free number; or a free- free number if the dial-in number would otherwise be long distance. You can also select or modify a specific dial-in number manually.

BlackBerry Mobile Conferencing is now available to BlackBerry users in the UK and can be downloaded from the BlackBerry App World here.

Check out the video below of BlackBerry Mobile Conferencing in action:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AEFTEVFDPpw

On a BlackBerry? Click here for mobile YouTube video

For more information about BlackBerry Mobile Conferencing visit: www.blackberry.com/mobileconferencing.

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T-Mobile is coming out with a Valentine’s Day promotion this Saturday, February 11th. Customers will be able to get the Bold 9900 (originally priced at $299) and Curve 9360 (originally priced at $79.99) for absolutely free when signing up for a new service agreement and after mail-in-rebate. The promotion is only good for in-store purchases. Get more details on the T-Mobile promotion here.