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RIM Gives Voice to Its BBM Customers By Jennifer LeClaire November 14, 2012 2:15PM     RIM customers can initiate a BBM Voice call directly, or instantly switch from a BBM text chat to talk, and back again. A split-screen feature lets customers talk and text at the same time. For example, they can send a picture to their contact while talking with them. They can also check other RIM BBM text chats, e-mail, or navigate to other BlackBerry apps.   Related Topics RIM BBM BlackBerry Latest News What's in Store for Apple's iOS 7? Reality TV's New Stars: Small Biz Soundbars Up the Ante on TV Sound Google Glass Raises Privacy Concerns Pentagon Gives iOS 6 Security OK Research In Motion is working as hard as it can to leverage its unique assets. One of the most popular is BlackBerry Messenger, or BBM. In a move to appeal to customers who want to save minutes on their calling plans -- or just reduce roaming fees -- RIM is offering BBM customers to make free voice calls to other BBM customers around the world over a Wi-Fi connection. RIM positioned it as an ideal solution, dubbed BBM Voice, for times when you want to hear a friend's laughter instead of reading "LOL" and claims the solution takes the social networking experience to a whole new level. But is RIM merely grasping at straws or is the ailing company on to something? Switch From Text to Talk In case you aren't familiar with BBM, it's an inexpensive service for BlackBerry users. BBM gives smartphone users the ability to chat with other BBM users with the assurance that their message was delivered and read. The new version of BBM now lets users chat over Wi-Fi. Practically speaking, that means BBM Voice users can switch instantly from texting to talking or talking to texting or talk and text at the same time. The solution may catch on in developing markets where unlimited voice service can be cost-prohibitive. "The new BBM Voice feature is for when you're traveling and you want to call home without worrying about phone charges," said T.A. McCann, vice president of BBM and Social Communities at RIM, noting that the new service drives deeper social engagement and greater collaboration. "It's for when you have news you can't wait to share, for quickly explaining complicated details, and collaborating with colleagues. Whenever your ideas are too big for text, there's BBM Voice." Split Screen Feature Here's how BBM Voice works: Customers can initiate a BBM Voice call directly, or instantly switch from a BBM text chat to talk, and back again. The split-screen feature lets customers talk and text at the same time. For example, they can send a picture to their contact while talking with them. They can also check other BBM text chats, check e-mail, or navigate to other apps while engaged on a BBM Voice call. BBM provides a visual indicator that shows when contacts are available for a voice call. And BBM Voice is compatible with any accessories a customer has now for making voice calls on their BlackBerry smartphone, such as a Bluetooth or wired headset. Customers can also use BBM Voice over their BlackBerry smartphone's speakerphone. If it's not an ideal time to talk, customers can simply choose to respond by texting back. Michael Disabato, managing vice president of Network and Telecom at Gartner, said current BlackBerry users will love it so long as they don't have to buy a new handset. "If I have to buy a new BlackBerry anything to get this service, now you put me in the market for another brand," Disabato said. "If I am going to go pay for a new device , then I am going to look at an iOS device and Android and Windows Phone 8. I'll be in the carrier's store surrounded by all the goodies. This will be a good thing for RIM unless it's forcing a handset. Then it's the wrong move."   Tell Us What You Think Comment: Name: Also Visit: iPad Info Center Billions of Bytes Mobile Device Now Apple Info Center TopTechWire.com Panasonic Toughbook® mobile computers are engineered to withstand drops, spills, dust and grime, and to perform in the harshest environments. Rugged reliability, low cost of ownership and accolades from reviewers are just a few of the reasons why Toughbook computers keep winning over the world's toughest users. Click here to learn more.  Mobile Phones 1.   BlackBerry's Q5 for Emerging Markets 2.   Upbeat BlackBerry Unveils Q5 Phone 3.   T-Mobile Gets Exclusive on Lumia 925 4.   BlackBerry BBM Goes Cross-Platform 5.   Android Extends Its World Dominance BlackBerry's Q5 for Emerging Markets Curve.successor aims at young consumers. Average Rating: Facebook Hints at 'Home' Evolution Now available on two more devices. Average Rating: Firefox OS To Also Go for High End First premium phone coming from Sony. Average Rating:

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Network Security Spotlight

Syrian Electronic Army Hacks Financial Times The Financial Times is the latest victim of the Syrian Electronic Army, a group that supports Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. The U.K.-based newspaper said a blog and its Twitter accounts were hacked.   Patch Tuesday Hyper Focuses on IE 8 Microsoft on Tuesday issued 10 security bulletins that fix 33 vulnerabilities. These updates include MS13-038, which will address the Internet Explorer 8 issue described in Security Advisory 2847140.   Surge of Venture Capital Buoys Tech Security Sector With companies and governments spending billions to repel cyberthreats, a surge of venture capital is pouring into companies developing cybersecurity technologies, the front line of the conflict.

Enterprise Hardware Spotlight

U.S. Defense Department Gives iOS 6 Security OK In a vote of confidence for Apple's iOS devices, the Defense Department has given the all-clear for employees to use iPads and iPhones for work. But only those running iOS 6, and only if issued by the government.   Cisco Surges After Profit Exceeds Analysts' Estimates Networking equipment giant Cisco's net income jumped 14 percent in the latest quarter as revenue at all four of its divisions rose for the first time in a year and a half, as tech spending increases.   HP and SAP Team To Advance HANA Database Technology The two tech leaders are working on a system that SAP says could fundamentally change the database market. HANA is SAP's technology that keeps data in-memory, for super fast processing.

Mobile Enterprise Spotlight

What's in Store for Apple's iOS 7? There's been talk recently that Apple's products are beginning to coast on their glorious past. So, with Apple's big Worldwide Developers Conference opening next month, speculation about iOS 7 is heating up.   Google Glass Raises Congressional Privacy Concerns The buzz around Google Glass continues, but it's not all good. Some in Congress have questions. "We are curious whether this new technology could infringe on the privacy of average Americans," their letter to Google says.   Windows Phone Now No. 3 in Market, BlackBerry No. 4 Has Microsoft Phone moved into a coveted though distant third place for smartphone platforms behind Google's Android and Apple's iOS? A new report says yes, while BlackBerry has slipped to No. 4.

Enterprise Technology Spotlight

U.S. Could Use Cyberattack on Syrian Air Defenses The Pentagon has cyberattack capabilities that allow the U.S. military to help blind Syrian air defenses without firing a shot -- abilities central to a debate over whether to intervene in the 2-year-old civil war.   HP and SAP Team To Advance HANA Database Technology The two tech leaders are working on a system that SAP says could fundamentally change the database market. HANA is SAP's technology that keeps data in-memory, for super fast processing.   Cloud Computing Gains Another Competitor with Google Amazon Web Services and Microsoft Azure now have a full-on rival in Google, with its I/O announcement that it is opening its hosted Compute Engine environment for virtual machines to all comers.

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