Shazam- BlackBerry App World Surprise!!
Posted in News & Rumors on 01 Apr 2009 09:46 by Bla1ze | 82 comments

Shazam-BlackBerry App World Highlight!

With the launch of BlackBerry App World, many users were surprised when they were able to login that one of the most wanted applications for BlackBerry was indeed now available for download.

That's right, Shazam has gone live in what appears to be beta form on BlackBerry devices, sadly it does not seem 100% compatible with all devices, with the Storm getting the regular half screen treatment we have seen from other applications. In any event I'm sure Shazam will be working on that and extending their reach to more then just the BlackBerry App World as well, as you all know by now BlackBerry App World is well..not so worldly as it currently only supports the US, Canada and the UK, Get Crackin on that RIM if you're serious about making App World work. Full Shazam press release after the jump.

LONDON--(BUSINESS WIRE )--Shazam, a leading mobile music discovery provider, today announced the availability of its unique application for BlackBerry® smartphone users; allowing them to discover, purchase and share music anywhere they go. Shazam on BlackBerry smartphones is a featured application available within BlackBerry App World™, the new application store from Research In Motion (RIM) (Nasdaq:RIMM), officially launched at CTIA in Las Vegas this week.

Shazam on BlackBerry will include:

  • Identify music anywhere: from the radio, TV, film, or in a store by simply holding a BlackBerry smartphone towards the music and selecting ‘Tag Now’.
  • Buy music immediately when it’s heard: tag details link directly to Amazon, and other merchants as available, to give users instant access to the music they love and related music merchandise.
  • Share the experience: send tags to friends who share same musical taste via SMS, email or BlackBerry® PIN messaging.
  • Learn more about the music: read track and album reviews, artist biographies and (starting in North America initially) view song lyrics, plus find other music available from the same artist.
  • Options to find similar music: discover other music similar to the track users like, to enhance their music collection and knowledge.
  • Find out what’s hot and popular: access to Shazam music charts generated by millions of other users in country.
  • Music search capabilities: enabling users to easily find music by artist, album or track from a database with over 8 million songs.

“As the global popularity and demand of Shazam continues to expand, we are extremely pleased to deliver a featured application on BlackBerry - one of the most ubiquitous mobile platforms in the world,” said Andrew Fisher, CEO of Shazam. “With Shazam now available on BlackBerry smartphones, users will gain access to a truly unique and enhanced music journey that will change the way music lovers experience mobile music.”

Shazam allows users to identify music by simply holding a mobile handset to a song as it’s playing. Shazam identifies and provides information to the user about the track, artist and album from its ever-expanding music database; currently consisting of over 8 million tracks, including the largest collection of undiscovered music and pre-release tracks. Since September 2008, Shazam has enjoyed a tremendous surge in popularity around the world, growing its user base from 20 to 35 million with more than one million tracks tagged each day.

“We continue to see increasing demand for multimedia applications and services from our customers and we believe Shazam adds multidimensional value to the mobile music experience for BlackBerry smartphone users,” said Jeff McDowell, Vice President, Global Alliances at Research In Motion. “Shazam’s unique features are perfectly suited to the BlackBerry platform. We are very pleased to prominently feature this innovative application in BlackBerry App World.”

BlackBerry smartphone users who download the Shazam application between 1st of April and 31st of May will be given the option to try out the full-featured version on a 60 day promotional basis*; if they want to keep and continue to use Shazam they can pay anytime during the promotion or at the end of the period with a one-off fee of $4.99 / £5.00 / €4.99 depending on location.

Alternatively, if users prefer they can continue Shazaming for free on a limited** feature and tagging basis - available at the end of the promotional period.

* 60 day promotional period starts from the date of user setup. Setup needs to occur within the stated period of the offer.
** Limited means reduced functionality to that in the feature-enhanced version and restricted tagging usage.

About Shazam Entertainment
Shazam is the world’s leading mobile music discovery application - enabling consumers to experience and share music with others across mobile devices and the internet. Since its launch as the first mobile-specific service to help users discover new music six years ago, Shazam has created a new way for users to connect to each other through their music tastes and preferences.

Headquartered in London England, Shazam’s solutions enhance the music strategies of more than 75 carriers across 60 markets globally, including AT&T, T-Mobile and Vodafone. It has deployed across multiple platforms such as Apple, Android, Symbian and Java; and has a customer base of over 35 million.

The Shazam iD Chart, generated by the company’s mobile music recognition service, is constantly referenced by the music industry as a true indicator of market interest in pre-release material and a monitor of the hit potential of a track or artist.

Shazam’s successes have been recognised through numerous awards, including the Mobile Entertainment Award for Best Music Service Provider.

For more information please visit www.shazam.com

The BlackBerry and RIM families of related marks, images and symbols are the exclusive properties and trademarks of Research In Motion Limited. RIM assumes no obligations or liability and makes no representation, warranty, endorsement or guarantee in relation to any aspect of any third party products or services.

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Comments
By: 504Life | Date: Wed, 04/01/2009 - 08:51

Today is going to be a rough day. When I first saw this, I thought it was going to be another April Fool's joke (I've been waiting for this to come out for a while).

Sucks it isn't Storm compatible yet (what's new) but will give it a go anyway.

By: rescue15truck | Date: Wed, 04/01/2009 - 10:03

you need to disable compatibility mode. in options> advanced options> applications> shazam> menu then disable.
It works great

By: Spotmark | Date: Wed, 04/01/2009 - 08:57

on my Storm because I can't get it to close.

By: jlawler4 | Date: Wed, 04/01/2009 - 11:50

Yeah I know you have to hit the cancel button to close it in disable compatibility mode I think, or enable compatibility mode and deal with the tiny screen, then you can drag your finger down the menu to move the selection. It's not great.

By: quailallstar | Date: Wed, 04/01/2009 - 09:06

Its not free :( Rather a free trial

By: Davo79 (not verified) | Date: Wed, 04/01/2009 - 09:14

Shame that the iPhone gets it free and we get a free trial. Won't bother purchasing.

By: connorcorneil | Date: Fri, 04/03/2009 - 15:54

Ok for all of you that dont think the app is free.......... you people need to do some research and not infer everything. the app is free you have a trial period to test it out you can also pay to get extra options and the iphone will have to do this so dont have a cow there store is just set up different than app world.

By: lamonicaj | Date: Wed, 04/01/2009 - 09:11

Glad this app came to blackberry!! Now my iPhone friends can stop showing off.

Seriously, this is very useful....I can't count how many times I've been in my car and catch a song mid-way and wish I knew what it was....here's my solution!

By: avt123 | Date: Wed, 04/01/2009 - 16:21

iPhone users might not be able to show off, but they also don't have to pay to use it with full features.

By: Yesterdays Shoveler | Date: Wed, 04/01/2009 - 09:19

I don't know if the ability to order a CD online is what I would consider "giving users instant access to the music they love"...

By: timbatty | Date: Wed, 04/01/2009 - 09:36

Since its only in beta and a free trial i wont waste my money on this, iPhone gets it for free, why spend 10$ or what ever they want to charge, its a cool app, but I really dont need to know what song it is, and if I want to buy the album from amazon...would rather it be a direct download to the phone, but meh...we will have to see, running it until the free trial runs out...

By: Rch1214 | Date: Wed, 04/01/2009 - 09:39

its 4.99 to buy the full thing. I think that the "plus" version will allow us to download the tune we tag or send tags to friends, but I would bet that if you don't pay you will still be able to identify songs, you just won't be able to do anything with that tag.

By: 1jaxstate1 | Date: Wed, 04/01/2009 - 09:46

No way should we pay for a App that others get for free. Please dont' buy this App, it's the only way to get the message across to them!!!

By: CrazyUSMarine | Date: Wed, 04/01/2009 - 09:52

Trying to install in, but its telling me that I have to allow recording on my phone. Anyone know how to set this?

By: cbanks1 (not verified) | Date: Wed, 04/01/2009 - 10:04

Having the same thing happen to me... and the charging
thing is a joke. Why charge us????

By: wezra | Date: Wed, 04/01/2009 - 10:33

Downloaded this onto my Bold... then got an error message that it needs to record to my phone (what ever the heck that is). I went into the Phone and reset all the Permissions to Allow... but it didn't do a thing. I uninstalled the App. Obviously this is not ready for BB prime time.

Message to the developers of this... make sure you get it right before opening it up to BB users. I for one don't like my time wasted on stuff like this!!!

By: buster3535@ (not verified) | Date: Wed, 04/01/2009 - 11:14

http://www.blackberryforums.com/general-9500-series-discussion-storm/183...

Basically go into options>advanced options>applications>shazam>menu: edit permissions>interactions>recording>allow

By: CBanks1 (not verified) | Date: Wed, 04/01/2009 - 12:02

this worked thanks

By: davidnyc | Date: Wed, 04/01/2009 - 09:59

Works great on my 8900.... so far it's identified even obscure remixes of other bands. (it identifies it as the remix!)

By: indymeh | Date: Wed, 04/01/2009 - 10:02

is their server down already?

By: MuDvAyNe | Date: Wed, 04/01/2009 - 10:09

Stop complaining. How many of you are actually going to buy the song or the cd through the program?

By: Yesterdays Shoveler | Date: Wed, 04/01/2009 - 10:34

If it was truly instant access that I could use to download the song or album right then and there, I'd make a couple purchases a month. If I have to order the CD and wait for it to ship? Meh.

By: indymeh | Date: Wed, 04/01/2009 - 10:12

gotta download it through the app store

By: indymeh | Date: Wed, 04/01/2009 - 10:24

just gonna wait till the trial runs out then erase it and download again

By: bhk8743 | Date: Wed, 04/01/2009 - 10:45

I might download if I can erase it and re-use the program under a trial... I think BB's have a security recognition thing that does not allow this though...

By: shutterbuggy | Date: Wed, 04/01/2009 - 10:41

Every time I reached the "set up" screen and clicked allow, it totally froze my Bold. I dont need the hassle. I have deleted it...

By: MattTheMan78 | Date: Wed, 04/01/2009 - 10:45

This app is free on the iPhone and we are being charged to use it on our Blackberries... not cool at all. Not only that, but they couldn't even make it work on the Storm. They make a touch screen version already!!!!!! and it's free!!!! I sent Shazam an email through their contact us page to voice my discontent at these shenanigans. I encourage everyone else to do the same.

By: Joleb | Date: Wed, 04/01/2009 - 10:58

This is the reply to my e-mail to Shazam with regards to the App working with the Storm.
---------------------------------------------------------
Hi

Thanks for your interest in Shazam. We have only just launched the application
and apologise it isn’t yet available for your model. We are always looking to
improve our apps, so hope to make available soon.

By: 1jaxstate1 | Date: Wed, 04/01/2009 - 11:03

After reading the end of a long page. The program is free, only the enhanced version will cost money.

By: MattTheMan78 | Date: Wed, 04/01/2009 - 15:35

Check out the FAQs at http://www.shazam.com/music/web/pages/blackberry.html ... The "enhanced" version is the version that iPhoners get for Free! The "free" version that we are stuck with will only allow you to tag 5 songs per month. Remember, don't waste them all in one night...

By: jonkjon | Date: Wed, 04/01/2009 - 11:03

I looked on app world and i can't find it. What category is it under?

By: kmalone | Date: Wed, 04/01/2009 - 11:04

I guess I don't see the lure of getting this. I have never been in a position that I needed to know a song name that bad or couldn't remember to look up on itunes or other later on. If I can't remember it, the song must not have been that great.

Not only does it seem like a low end marketing ploy they want us to pay for the privelege for them to tell us the name of the song.

Get a piece of paper and pen and save your money.

By: RobUM2011 | Date: Wed, 04/01/2009 - 11:13

You're all complaining for nothing... It is free. You will have to pay for a premium version if you choose to do so.... Identifying the song won't cost you a cent.

By: avt123 | Date: Wed, 04/01/2009 - 16:24

Yea, the dumbed down version is free. You have to pay for its full features unlike iPhone users who get the full package for free.

By: RCNunya | Date: Wed, 04/01/2009 - 11:15

You would think it would be under most popular, but I can't find it under music or with a search.

@kmalone If you don't know the artist or the song, how will you look it up later?

By: Anonymous2 (not verified) | Date: Wed, 04/01/2009 - 13:17

I've never had trouble identifying a song by typing one or two lines of the lyrics into Google.

By: Mel_D (not verified) | Date: Wed, 04/01/2009 - 11:22

I couldn't find Shazam in App World either. You can download it from this link though.

http://appworld.blackberry.com/webstore/content/933/Shazam

By: Mel_D (not verified) | Date: Wed, 04/01/2009 - 11:26

I forgot to mention that you can only download it from your BlackBerry using that link.

By: DCBerry | Date: Wed, 04/01/2009 - 11:33

And the link you gave, Mel D, doesn't seem to be working for me. Just redirects me to a page to download App World.

I have a Storm, if that's making a difference. Any help would really be appreciated!

By: Mel_D (not verified) | Date: Wed, 04/01/2009 - 13:09

You have to open the link in App World. Send yourself an email with the link in the message. On your BB, open the message, highlight the link, hit the BB button and there should be an option in the menu that says "Open in BlackBerry App World".

By: pjurbina | Date: Wed, 04/01/2009 - 11:41

I am disappointed that this program is a "free" trial. It is a free application for all other phones. What a rip off.

By: Rintintinx (not verified) | Date: Thu, 04/02/2009 - 11:54

Free - what a rip off!!

You guys make me laugh

By: heyn21 | Date: Wed, 04/01/2009 - 11:44

so does anyone know yet how to get this on a storm?

By: jonkjon | Date: Wed, 04/01/2009 - 11:48

I think they must have taken it down. At least for the Storm.

By: kram941 | Date: Wed, 04/01/2009 - 11:58

WORKS GREAT ON MY STORM. You have to change two settings then it will work fine.

The program is number 1 on the top 25 apps if you are looking to download it.

By: jonkjon | Date: Wed, 04/01/2009 - 12:03

#1 is "Level" on my device....

By: kram941 | Date: Wed, 04/01/2009 - 12:37

Thats odd. Level is number 10 on mine...I would like to know why they differ.

By: Holysmokesbatman (not verified) | Date: Wed, 04/01/2009 - 12:08

It's a nice app I had it on my centro. It's not worth getting upset over... the novelty wears off. I usually caught the tale end of song by the time I grabbed my phone and got on the internet the song went off. Also I couldn't recieve phone calls while it was listening. It's ok but its not worth boycotting them over the premium service.

Running out of memory because off all the free trials I'm downloading today is driving me crazy!!! RIM let us save and launch 3rd party apps from the memory card!!! Now that something to get mad about!! LOL

By: RCNunya | Date: Wed, 04/01/2009 - 12:13

Could this be location based at all? I mean why some people seem to see it and some dont?

By: HellKatzX | Date: Wed, 04/01/2009 - 13:53

I think you're right, I found it instantly with a search

 
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