BlackBerry Tag was announced back in October but we haven't really seen much of it in action since. However with the rollout of BlackBerry OS 7.1 to carriers, more users will be able to take advantage of this cool NFC feature on their devices. BlackBerry Messenger 6.1 includes the ability to add contacts via BlackBerry Tag, and you'll be able to do things like send photos, videos, contacts, browser URLs and more via other BlackBerry Tag enabled apps. Check out the video above for a quick walkthrough and to see BlackBerry Tag in action.

The latest BlackBerry Messenger update is due out later today and will be bringing along some fun new features. Version 6.1 of BBM will offer support for BlackBerry Tag (coming in BlackBerry OS 7.1). This will allow users to invite contacts to BBM simply by tapping their device (which must support NFC). Users will also now be able to enter a status of up to 160 characters in their profile - more than double before. Animated avatars, new emoticons, the ability to add a profile picture from the BlackBerry Camera and colored chat bubbles will be included in this version as well. The release is expected today so stay tuned for more!

While in Waterloo, Ontario last week visiting BlackBerry headquarters, I got a sneak peek of the upcoming BlackBerry Tag application for NFC-enabled BlackBerry Smartphones. Current NFC enabled BlackBerry Smartphones include the BlackBerry Bold 9900/9930 (on most carriers), the BlackBerry Curve 9350/9360/9370 and soon to be released Curve 9380 and Bold 9790.

While the potential for NFC is pretty huge and awesome -- see this CrackBerry article explaining NFC to learn more -- its real word day to day consumer use is still rather limited. A lot of big players (carriers, banks, merchants, etc.) all need to get their ducks in a row before you start seeing things like NFC phone payment become mainstream in North America. RIM is committed to NFC and is making sure to equip its new phones with the functionality so that as NFC usage increases, BlackBerry is right there.

BlackBerry Tag will be a great RIGHT NOW app that won't require any waiting, but will allow you to start putting that NFC functionality to use as soon as the app becomes available (which we're told is soon!). Bringing two NFC-enabled BlackBerry Smartphones together you'll be able to add each other to BBM, share contact info, files, photos and more. Check out the video above to learn more and see BlackBerry Tag in action, and visit this post for more details on BlackBerry Tag.

Press Release

BlackBerry Tag enables effortless 'tap to share' exchanges of multimedia content and contact info between friends

Friends can also add each other as BBM contacts with a simple 'tap'

DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES--(Marketwire - Oct. 10, 2011) - GITEX – During his keynote presentation at the GITEX conference in Dubai, Research In Motion (NASDAQ:RIMM)(TSX:RIM) Co-CEO Jim Balsillie today unveiled a new way for BlackBerry® smartphone users to connect with one another and share multimedia content.

BlackBerry® Tag, which will be incorporated in the next BlackBerry® 7 OS update*, will allow users to share contact information, documents, URLs, photos and other multimedia content by simply tapping their BlackBerry smartphones together. BlackBerry Tag will also enable friends to instantly add one another as contacts on BBM™ (BlackBerry® Messenger).

"BlackBerry Tag is an exciting and innovative feature that makes sharing contact information and multimedia content effortless and seamless," said Jim Balsillie, Co-CEO at Research In Motion. "BlackBerry Tag opens a new dimension to the BlackBerry platform that is powerful, simple and intuitive and we think it will be welcomed by both users and developers."

BlackBerry Tag takes advantage of Near Field Communications (NFC) technology included in the recently launched BlackBerry® Bold™ 9900/9930 and BlackBerry® Curve™ 9350/9360/9370 smartphones, and these are the first BlackBerry smartphones that will support BlackBerry Tag.

RIM also announced plans to expose BlackBerry Tag through APIs on the BlackBerry platform, allowing software developers to take advantage of "tap to share" functionality from within their own applications.

Continue reading article