With rising concerns for privacy these days, advertisers are having an increasingly difficult time gathering personal consumer data. MobileRL, an Israeli start-up, is looking to change or “revolutionize” the way information is collected for ad purposes. The Israeli company wants you to download software onto your phone which will allow them to turn it into an eavesdropping device. Your phone’s microphone can be turned on at any time, at MobileRL’s discretion, so it can listen to what’s going on at any given time. This new “data collection tool” is obviously going to need user consent since you have to download it yourself, so that might mitigate most legal issues (unless you live in a place where they can force something Read the rest of this entry »

There’s practically zero doubt remaining that RIM has a next-generation Tour in the works, but if you’re one of those tin foil hat wearers, you’ll be glad to know that at least one of these things really, truly exists.Boy Genius just got his paws around the Tour2 9650 (shown left), and aside from the optical trackpad replacing the trackball (and the addition of a WiFi module), there’s not much new here. Oh, except that presumably quicker CPU — we’re guessing to-be owners will dig that. We’re

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Diehard BlackBerry users often compare BlackBerry Messenger to a potent drug. And just like a drug, coming down from a BBM high can be rough — so rough, in fact, that RIM’s claiming that a couple recent releases are responsible for “an unanticipated database issue” that stone-cold knocked out data servicefor many of the world’s subscribers yesterday. Folks using versions 5.0.0.55 and .56 are being strongly advised to upgrade to 5.0.0.57 immediately, but in the meantime,

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Gonna be a long day for BlackBerry users: RIM’s confirmed to multiple outlets that its BIS servers are acting up and that email services are being delayed — and we’re actually hearing that they’re just down, period. BlackBerry Messenger still works, though, so you can still BBM your BFF or whatever the kids do nowadays. No word on service restoration, but we’ll update you when we find out.

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Freshbooks is a new piece of software that lets you manage invoices, clients and track billing hours from your BlackBerry. The app is currently in beta, and you can download it now to try out for yourself.

Features include:

• Time Management – Easily upload time on the go. Use a timer to track time as you go, or manually enter hours.
• Client Management – Use your BlackBerry to call or email clients. Map client addresses directly on your BlackBerry. Search capability for quick access to hundreds of clients
• Invoice Management – View full invoice details, enter payments and send invoices from your BlackBerry.
• Account Management – Use multiple accounts on one BlackBerry. Staff and admin usage adheres to FreshBooks priveleges.
• Use Offline – No signal? No problem, just upload later.

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Look’s like the Wireless Power Consortium can add another one of the big boys onto its list of powerful allies. Research in Motion’s come on board as a member of the organization, which now includes 21 manufacturers. The Wireless Power Consortium’s noble quest, you’ll remember, is to develop a wireless charging standard, which it calls the Qi. The group also announced simultaneously that it’s successfully finished the second round of prototype testing. RIM’s support is adds Read the rest of this entry »

It’s been quite a few months since we’ve heard anything fromKlausner Technologies, but it looks like the company has finally decided on its next set of targets that are allegedly infringing on its now infamous visual voicemail patents. As announced in a pair of expectedly terse press releases, Klausner says that both RIM and Motorola have now crossed into lawsuit territory with the Blackberry Bold 9700 and Motorola CLIQ, although it isn’t specifying what sort of result it’s looking Read the rest of this entry »

Looking for a BlackBerry for yourself or a special someone that’s unique but not in a Colorware sort of way? Then you might just want to consider ponying up for this new limited edition BlackBerry 9700crafted by the folks at Monocle in partnership with RIM. It’ll cost you a hefty £950 (or just over $1,500), but that will get you the gift of confidence that this is one of just 100, along with some suitably luxurious touches like a custom leather strap, a reminder of its rarity on the back, Read the rest of this entry »

They may not let you actually drive the car James Bond-style, but it looks like there will be some apps for the iPhone and BlackBerry launching alongside the Chevy Volt, with apps for other devices apparently also a possibility. That word comes from Chevrolet’s soon-to-be-retiring VP Brent Dewar, who unfortunately had little to say about the apps themselves, but did briefly flash the above slide during a presentation at the LA Auto Show last week. The apps will apparently let you control Read the rest of this entry »