Join Our 3 MILLION+ Members Today! Register Here | Login
 
 
 
 
 
 
Home»BlackBerry Software»News & Rumors, BlackBerry Apps

BlackBerry Traffic 3.0 now available in Beta Zone - Adds voice guidance and more

by Adam Zeis on 14 Nov 2011 01:25 PM
56
 

BlackBerry Traffic

BlackBerry Traffic 3.0 is now available in the BlackBerry Beta Zone. It's been a while since we've seen any updates for RIM's BlackBerry Traffic, but this one brings a much welcome feature -- Now included is voice guidance so you can navigate to your hearts content completely hands free.

New features include:

  • Voice Guidance - New voice guidance helps users reach their destination with completely hands free navigation. The audible-turn-by-turn directions can run over Bluetooth or via your vehicle's speakers. Users can set up the voice instructions with varying levels of detail.
  • Additional Road Information - User can find out if a road is closed or under construction as well as note toll routes that lie ahead!

BlackBerry Traffic is a free solution for those looking for easy navigation on the go. You can download the latest version free from the BlackBerry Beta Zone below.

Check out more in the BlackBerry Beta Zone

Filed Under: News & Rumors, BlackBerry Apps; Tags: BlackBerry Apps, BlackBerry Beta Zone, BlackBerry Traffic, free app
Send to a Friend
 
Login or Register to post comments

56 Comments

Posted by robalanstewart Monday, Nov 14, 2011 191 days ago

Voice guidance? Neat.

 
 
Posted by the_phenomenon Monday, Nov 14, 2011 191 days ago

This app must definitely come to Europe (Netherlands). It's too pity that these programs aren't coming to Europe.

 
 
Posted by 1magine Monday, Nov 14, 2011 191 days ago

It's about time. Other platforms free guidance systems far outclass RIM's. This is a positive step in the right direction. Now fully integrate BB Maps, so you have a mapo view and add voice control as well and this should be fully ready just in time for BBX, to make it entirely obsolete.

 
 
Posted by Rello Monday, Nov 14, 2011 191 days ago

+100

i couldnt have said it better myself. turn by turn in BB maps will be here come BBX. just integrate this into BB maps and here is no need for this app afterwards

 
 
Posted by TinCanFury Monday, Nov 14, 2011 191 days ago

how does this compare to using google maps "dumb" directions (ie no turn by turn voice)?

how about compared to google maps on the android platform which basically becomes a fully functional GPS unit? (understanding that both somewhat require data connectivity, but that google maps on the android can cache rather large map regions).

 
 
Posted by timandmissy Monday, Nov 14, 2011 191 days ago

If you want turn-by-turn navigation, bb traffic has been superior to google maps for bb even before they added voice navigation. The google maps app simply showed you directions and your location on the map. You'd have to refresh in order to find your current location. It is also slow when first starting the app for some reason. Now when comparing it to google maps for android, it isn't even close. I have it loaded up on my playbook using the android player and it just simply outshines nearly every gps I've used.

 
 
Posted by BlackBerry4LifeVince Monday, Nov 14, 2011 191 days ago

I think it's much better than goggle maps for blackberry. Personally I think Bing Maps and Blackberry Traffic are the two best options for navigation.

 
 
Posted by stardomains Monday, Nov 14, 2011 191 days ago

Yes! Love BB Traffic. Voice Guidance is here. I love RIM. They are giving the people what they want. I'm with BlackBerry for the long haul. Viva La BlackBerry!

 
 
Posted by MaxPayne79 Monday, Nov 14, 2011 191 days ago

not in my betazone. no love for the t-dot up in CanCan. :(

 
 
Posted by the brother Monday, Nov 14, 2011 191 days ago

Mr Payne,

Scroll down in the list of open apps, it's there! I just found it and installing...anyone else hourglass-ing at the end of the d'load? In related updates, this app is HUGE. 5MB.

Piece out.

 
 
Posted by the brother Monday, Nov 14, 2011 191 days ago

EDIT: This is now a BBM Connected app! GOOOOO

 
 
Posted by sk8er_tor Monday, Nov 14, 2011 191 days ago

I'm in Toronto and I've got it in my Beta Zone.

 
 
Posted by blackmoe Monday, Nov 14, 2011 191 days ago

This is an awesome update and I hope a Playbook version is released soon.

 
 
Posted by bigpolla04 Monday, Nov 14, 2011 191 days ago

That's brilliant and about time . When is this going to be released in Ireland.

Come on Rimm hurry things up a bit .

 
 
Posted by CrackBerryTorch9800 Monday, Nov 14, 2011 191 days ago

I downloaded this once before and it didn't work in my town. Any idea why it wouldn't work, I live in a town of 110,000 people.

 
 
Posted by eKafara Monday, Nov 14, 2011 191 days ago

Didn't really work in my town of 90,000(maybe 100,000 now) either. Not too sure what the criteria is.

 
 
Posted by Wolf35Nine Monday, Nov 14, 2011 191 days ago

Thanks RIM. I feel as thought you've been reading all those surveys submitted on the beta website. Thanks again!

 
 
Posted by jasonvw Monday, Nov 14, 2011 191 days ago

Installed. Voice sounds somewhat Siri like. :)

Going to test it more on the drive home. BB traffic has always been very good for me. Now with voice nav its that much better. The only thing they need to do now is integrate a map view. Seriously how hard can that be? They already have BBMaps?

 
 
Posted by sk8er_tor Monday, Nov 14, 2011 191 days ago

Awesome! Aside from BBM, this is probably my most used app. Highly reliable and accurate with traffic conditions and now voice commands! :)

 
 
Posted by Propa Monday, Nov 14, 2011 191 days ago

i wish this update had been out this past weekend...it would have came in handy for certain...if this works well i'll be kicking google maps to the curb

 
 
Posted by the brother Monday, Nov 14, 2011 191 days ago

more like GMaps will be kicking US to the curb. First Gmail, eventually all their apps will be Droid (or Droid player) only!

 
 
Posted by thecsman Monday, Nov 14, 2011 191 days ago

Google will kick any of their competitors. Remember their late rival wanted to go thermonuclear on them. Gmaps suck in BB, anyway.

 
 
Posted by BB-Bmore Monday, Nov 14, 2011 191 days ago

telenav has not failed me yet so i think ill hold off :)

 
 
Posted by lnichols Monday, Nov 14, 2011 191 days ago

Hopefully they provide some BB Maps integration at some point in the future too, and get this ported over to the Playbook too.

 
 
Posted by jranciano Monday, Nov 14, 2011 191 days ago

Anyone prefer this over TeleNav? And why?

 
 
Posted by dancadman Monday, Nov 14, 2011 191 days ago

That's any easy one. TeleNav you have to pay for and BlackBerry Traffic is free!

One thing missing is a map view, but I've been using BB Traffic for quite a while and like it a lot!

It's free, give it a try!

 
 
Posted by stackberry369 Monday, Nov 14, 2011 191 days ago

It is free.

 
 
Posted by gordongr Monday, Nov 14, 2011 191 days ago

I've never had to pay for Telenav on my Sprint plan, BB Traffic is kinda nice but in no way does it come close to Telenav

 
 
Posted by decypher44 Monday, Nov 14, 2011 191 days ago

Telenav is free on my Sprint plan.

 
 
Posted by Altarocks Monday, Nov 14, 2011 191 days ago

BB Traffic was great even before voice. Much lower battery drain than TeleNav (I have used both regularly, but this should end my TeleNav use). As for why, that's easy - save $9.99/mth.

 
 
Posted by stardomains Monday, Nov 14, 2011 191 days ago

Just took it for a spin. Worked great. So cool. I love my 9780. He's my bud. Don't tell him but I'm probably going to get a new buddy soon: Mr. 9790.

 
 
Posted by teamfoster03 Monday, Nov 14, 2011 191 days ago

BB Traffic is great and with this update it should be awesome. Cant wait for the drive home to test it out.

+1 for bb Traffic on the playbook with Bridge support for the data.
BB traffic on the Playbook via bridge would ROCK!

 
 
Posted by feldmen01 Monday, Nov 14, 2011 191 days ago

Anyone else notice the directions are for Winterpeg? That's excellent.

 
 
Posted by guerllamo7 Monday, Nov 14, 2011 191 days ago

If this turns out to be able to run via BB servers, like UbiNav (but not at the 50 bucks to buy it) it will be an irresistible driver for people to purchase it. There will be no trottle down or fees added.

This is really awesome news for BB fans!

If they integrate this with BBM, people will know when you will arrive just by checking their BB's.

Go RIM!!!!

 
 
Posted by AnotherBillJ Monday, Nov 14, 2011 191 days ago

If it remains a free app, it'll do quite well. I've tried it and it works well. Nice one, RIM!

 
 
Posted by KenV54 Monday, Nov 14, 2011 191 days ago

I DLéd the app--worked on the 2nd try. first time I got a 507 error failure.

But now I can't get BB to send me a keycode. It didn't send one with the DL, and I've tried twice manually through the My Account Keycodes site in the BB Beta Zone. And yes, I've checked my spam folder. So--can't run Traffic without a keycode.

 
 
Posted by KenV54 Monday, Nov 14, 2011 191 days ago

OK--finally got the keycode by following the instructions in the BB Beta Forum for Traffic.

The whole beta download process is pretty cumbersome, it seems to me, with all the Agree screens you have to go through, then the less than automatic keycode generation.

 
 
Posted by andrewmcwhirter Monday, Nov 14, 2011 191 days ago

Voice! Neato! I hope they have a version lined up for BBX, and of course the PlayBook. A lot of work going into developing a java app that will never work on bbx.

 
 
Posted by imcurved Monday, Nov 14, 2011 191 days ago

Can't wait to try it out.

 
 
Posted by tprime Monday, Nov 14, 2011 191 days ago

wow tbis will make a great app perfect.

 
 
Posted by jvictor77 Monday, Nov 14, 2011 191 days ago

Tested and works great! This is the feature that was missing!

 
 
Posted by jasonvw Monday, Nov 14, 2011 191 days ago

Well did a quick test while driving home. Worked very well. Voice prompted every turn without any issues.

 
 
Posted by walnuts1024 Monday, Nov 14, 2011 191 days ago

Did the same. I did decide to send feedback to them for one small thing. When arriving at your destination it is very helpful when told the side of the street of the arrival point.

 
 
Posted by chiniki Monday, Nov 14, 2011 191 days ago

anyone figure out how to get the voice guidance to play through bluetooth earpiece?

 
 
Posted by HofstraJet Monday, Nov 14, 2011 191 days ago

Will check on my way home how BB Traffic voice commands are transmitted, but generally to do anything besides make a phone call on a BT headset, the headset needs to support A2DP.

 
 
Posted by anthogag Monday, Nov 14, 2011 191 days ago

You think they'll have an Obama version?

 
 
Posted by Philly38 Monday, Nov 14, 2011 191 days ago

voice directions work great with my Jawbone ERA on my Bold 9700 OS 6.

 
 
Posted by HofstraJet Monday, Nov 14, 2011 191 days ago

Jawbone ERA supports A2DP, as do the Jawbone Icon series. Prime and earlier do not.

 
 
Posted by Apocalypso Monday, Nov 14, 2011 191 days ago

Hooray! Its about time RIM added this feature. It only made sense. I've been envying Andriod users with their Google Maps App that has had voice guidance since its inception.

RIM gets a big two thumbs up from me for this update. Hopefully they'll keep it free and users won't have to pay a subscription fee once they release the official version in App World.

 
 
Posted by Taxi2base Monday, Nov 14, 2011 191 days ago

Thank you Rim.

 
 
Posted by swimmer160 Monday, Nov 14, 2011 191 days ago

RIM just managed to include 1 of 2 complaints that I had with this app. Voice guidance was a much needed addition to this, and now that it is, this is nearly perfect. Integration into BB Maps is the last thing I think this app needs in order to be one of the best navigation apps on the mobile market.

 
 
Posted by zensen Tuesday, Nov 15, 2011 190 days ago

do a nokia and get a decent map integration in there!

 
 
Posted by BarracudaBob Tuesday, Nov 15, 2011 190 days ago

It is nice to see that RIM is listening to what people want. I am a little concerned that AT&T will somehow force them to block this for their subscribers. Hopefully RIM will start taking a harder stance against the carriers. Android has full navigation on AT&T so why shouldn't Blackberry.

I did find it odd that the voice directions started BEFORE I selected a route, but I suppose the first turn is probably the same for any route most of the time.

 
 
Posted by crownr0yal Tuesday, Nov 15, 2011 190 days ago

Hangs and I have to do a battery pull every time I attempt installation. Sad.

 
 
Posted by flyingdutchman7588 Tuesday, Nov 15, 2011 190 days ago

For the people who tried this out already, are the voice guided directions spoken as street names or distance?

 
 
Posted by DaddyFizzle Wednesday, Nov 23, 2011 182 days ago

Just downloaded the BETA, it seems pretty good. Going to try it out later today!