Top tips to make your BlackBerry more efficient, fail-safe and longer-lasting
The RIM BlackBerry is the lifeline of many small businesses; without its email and meeting capabilities many businesspeople would struggle to function. So we’ve come up with a few hints to get the most out of your mobile device and achieve even more while you’re on the move.
Back-up
RIM is about to launch a new BlackBerry security product, called BlackBerry Protect, that will remotely wipe your phone if it’s lost or stolen.
It will also back up your data and can even help to find the device. However, until it’s launched BlackBerry users have a choice of good third-party back-up apps:
The BlackBerry Desktop (http://uk.blackberry.com/services/desktop/) software package, available for download from the BlackBerry website, can be used to back up and restore your device over a USB connection. However, several other options are available from the BlackBerry App World.
Backup ($9.99 BAK2u http://appworld.blackberry.com/webstore/content/2224) will automatically back up your address book, calendar, task and memo lists, and will then send the back-up file to a pre-defined email address. The back-up file can be restored to another BlackBerry with the installed app.
txtForward ($9.99 Electric Pocket http://appworld.blackberry.com/webstore/content/1974) sends copies of every incoming and outgoing SMS or PIN message to a pre-defined email address, and you can also reply to the messages via email.
Efficiency
While the BlackBerry allows you to view files it doesn’t let you edit them, which is where these utilities come in:
Wi-Fi File Transfer ($4.99 Chocolate Chunk http://appworld.blackberry.com/webstore/content/1975) is a simple and quick way to move files to and from your PC or Mac using the BlackBerry’s Wi-Fi connection.
Documents To Go V2.0 (Model dependent from $29.99 Dataviz http://www.dataviz.com/products/documentstogo/blackberry/) allows you to create and edit Microsoft Word, PowerPoint and Excel files on the go. Also included is a desktop application offering file synchronisation and transfer. A 30-day view-only trial version is available from the BlackBerry App World.
eOffice 4.6 Mobile Office Suite ($14.99 QuickOffice http://appworld.blackberry.com/webstore/content/788) creates and edits Microsoft Office documents including .doc, .xls, .xlsx, .ppt files and allows you to view PDF, fax and image formats. A free trial version is available.
Battery life
The fastest way to maximise your battery life is to turn off features that are not required, particularly Wi-Fi and Bluetooth – or you can get an app to do it for you. With SuperPower ($2.99 Toysoft http://appworld.blackberry.com/webstore/content/5705) you can configure up to 64 schedules to turn Bluetooth and Wi-Fi on and off. For example, you could set it to turn the functions off when you go to sleep, and on again when you wake up.