Did I say there would be no exciting announcements from RIM at CTIA this year? I was wrong! Mike Lazaridus, co-CEO of Research in Motion, and Dustin Moskovitz, co-founder of Facebook, today announced the launch of Facebook for BlackBerry Smartphones at the CTIA Wireless I.T. & Entertainment show in San Francisco. Our CTIA correspondents Dieter and Chris took in the announcement (and snapped a bunch of photos for your viewing pleasure) and were quick to get the news to me. Thanks guys!
This native application goes way beyond the standard browser-based access previously available to mobile Facebookers. With the new Facebook app, all of the benefits of BlackBerry "push" technology are utilized - notificiations (emails, new wall posts, pokes) made on the site will immediately appear on the BlackBerry. Furthermore, the application also allows users to take a photo (assuming you're on a Pearl or Curve), upload it to the site with captions and tags, invite friends, manage events, manage albums, and even update status while on the go. The app is available for download by all BlackBerry users for free (go to www.blackberry.com/facebook/mobiledownload), and will also ship already installed on new BlackBerrys. T-Mobile will be the first carrier to deliver the goods.
“Facebook is one of the fastest growing web destinations among BlackBerry smartphone users and it has become an important element in the evolving fabric of personal communications,” said Mike Lazaridis, President and Co-CEO at Research In Motion. “Facebook and RIM share a vision for enhanced mobile communications and social networking based on open, standards-based platforms and this has allowed us to produce a rich mobile application for Facebook users that leverages the push-based architecture, multimedia features and industry-leading usability of the BlackBerry solution.”
I'm off to download it and start playing. I'll be back with more once I get some good Facetime with Facebook. In the meantime, let us know what you think of the app!
* Updated: I just finished installing and playing with the App for an hour. I posted a quick review in the CrackBerry Forums. *
Read RIM's Press Release for Full Details >>
See Photo Gallery of Facebook Launch >>
Discuss Facebook for BlackBerry in the Forums >>
| CTIA Wireless I.T. & Entertainment 2007 Facebook Gallery | ||||
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Photos Courtesy of Chris Kingree. Note taking Courtesy of Mike Overbo. Thanks Guys!!! | |||
