5 Great Blackberry Apps for a Realator

Are you owner of a “Crackberry” or are you considering adding this powerful little tool to your real estate arsenal? The BlackBerry is a SmartPhone that seems virtually designed for the busy broker, Realtor and agent, with plenty of customizable features and support for downloadable applications that can make your life a lot easier while you’re on the road.

1. Google Maps

One of the main attractions of a BlackBerry is its support for Google Maps. Downloading the Google Maps application means that you have access to all the locations and searching capabilities supported by Google. It’s a great way of finding directions to the next home and quick solutions for finding gas stations, restaurants and hotels on short notice. Google.com/mobile.

2. Opera Mini

There are times when the BlackBerry Browser just doesn’t work. At all. Opera Mini is a great browser for accessing those websites not designed for mobile access. With a zoom in/out feature, you can quickly jump to the area of the website you need to examine in detail. OperaMini.com.

3. Facebook

“Wait a minute,” you say, “Isn’t that just for fun?” Not for the many real estate professionals who keep up with friends, family AND clients on their Facebook page. Many people have a Facebook account for their professional life that’s separate from their personal one. They generally upload pictures of listings, make contacts, find out more about their clients’ needs and involve themselves in the thriving real estate communities that Facebook supports. Facebook.com.

4. Twitter

Another app that one might think is more suited to leisure time, Twitter actually improves search engine optimization and could become an agent’s best friend as far as Google is concerned. A carefully optimized Twitter page could net you a following and clients. Updating from your BlackBerry takes seconds. Twitter.com.

5. Homes for Sale

Developed by J. Rockcliff Realtors, this app uses your BlackBerry’s GPS to home in on your location and sends you information on the homes near your location. You can quickly access the sales price, size of home and property, tax information, photos and special features using only your Blackberry to locate you. This is an award winning application you can download for free at Rockcliff.com.

These are only 5 of the great tools that BlackBerry can support. Keep your eyes open for more developments, especially in the real estate sector.

Author: Josh Sloan

How does a Blackberry Work

How does a blackberry work? Some people may be confused or overwhelmed when it comes to using a blackberry. Other people wonder about how exactly does a blackberry work? Blackberry cellular phones use “Push” technology. The original Blackberry was the first wireless device to boast the new push technology at the time. So now you might be asking what exactly is push technology about?

Push technology lets you automatically download e-mail, news, and other updates instead of having to manually download anything. For instance, if you receive an e-mail on your e-mail account your Blackberry will automatically download the e-mail for you. This is a great convenience since you don’t have to do any work. Push technology is related to RSS feeds. The term RSS stands for Really Simple Syndication. RSS feeds are used frequently on PCs. Internet users can request to subscribe to RSS feeds from websites. This means that every time a website has new content you will be notified of this new content.

In essence, Blackberry wireless devices make use of these RSS feeds and that is how content is automatically downloaded to your blackberry. Push technology works in context with Blackberry’s own server, known as the Blackberry Enterprise Server (BES). The Blackberry device continually synchronizes itself with this server in order for it to recognize any change in downloadable content (e.g. e-mail).

At this moment in time Blackberry is the only mobile phone company to offer push technology. Many people involved in the world of business are very fond of Blackberry wireless devices because of being able to access e-mail, internet, and other content. Is a blackberry for you? You decide!

By Omair Haneef

Protect your Blackberry

When Research In Motion released the first BlackBerry in 2002, they never anticipated how popular the unwieldy device would become. Blackberries were originally PDAs with a focus on push email and web browsing using the built-in QWERTY keyboard. The current series of this corporate smart phone integrates numerous wireless information services that include internet faxing, text messaging and mobile telephony. BlackBerry’s spotlight on convergent media allowed it to combine a range of applications for immediate sharing of information especially useful for the business community. The portability of every communication medium wrapped into one mobile device was the USP of the smart phone.    For every BlackBerry fan, the number one priority remains protection from wear and tear.  BlackBerry accessories  like cases and skin packs keep the smart phone safe. A sleek case is also convenient, with a belt clip-on attachment or  BlackBerry holster  making quick and easy access possible. Customize your experience by choosing BlackBerry faceplates, lanyards and wrist straps that make carrying the phone easy and fun. The protection that a case or cover provides is invaluable. Whether it is moisture, dust or dirt, the right protection can keep your BlackBerry up and running 24/7.    When you purchase a BlackBerry, you’re enabling total mobility. Unfortunately battery life can get in the way. A  BlackBerry charger  for USB or vehicle attachment means the smart phone can be fully charged and ready to go, wherever and whenever. However, the sleekest option in BlackBerry charging would be the Sync Pod – a charging dock that allows users to connect their phone to a PC for a data exchange while it is being charged up. For the more cautious, a BlackBerry battery replacement is the safest option to keeping your phone going in case of an emergency.

Author: Mike Smith