RIM has announced today a partnership with the well known mapping and navigation company, TomTom. TomTom offers real-time mapping, navigation and traffic data and will now power the popular BlackBerry Traffic application. This is a sure sign of good things to come on the navigation front for BlackBerry 10, and I for one can't wait to see what's in store.

Press Release

NEW ORLEANS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--TomTom today announced that Research In Motion (RIM) is using TomTom's award winning real-time traffic services for BlackBerry® applications. BlackBerry® Traffic is now powered by TomTom HD Traffic, giving customers access to the most accurate, comprehensive and up-to-date traffic information on the market. Additionally, TomTom maps and location content is used in BlackBerry® Maps, and for BlackBerry® Locate Services, which gives 3rd party software developers access to the mapping and traffic information for their own apps.

"Through our strategic relationship with RIM, we are enabling the future of mobile travel with powerful location content and real-time information, including HD Traffic," said Nuno Campos, Vice President of Sales and Marketing for TomTom Licensing. "TomTom's market-leading real-time traffic information will provide BlackBerry customers with the best mobile travel experience."

"We're thrilled to work with TomTom to leverage their industry-leading traffic and travel content for BlackBerry Traffic and BlackBerry Maps, and to enable access to those capabilities for BlackBerry developers as well," said Martyn Mallick, Vice President, Global Alliances and Business Development at Research In Motion.

According to a recent study, TomTom's traffic information saves commuters 50 minutes of travel time per week or approximately 40 hours per year. With HD Traffic, BlackBerry customers will be able to select the best route to their destinations in an effort to not only save time but also fuel.

Source: Business Wire Via: TNW

Recently I made a road trip down to Virginia Beach for a wedding. Usually I know the roads I am traveling quite well, but in this case the route was very foreign to me. I have never been a fan of carrier navigation apps (mainly because of the monthly price) and have just used Google Maps if I found myself in a bind. Luckily, when I purchased my Hummer last year, they threw in a free GPS unit (refurbished of course) and I have kept it in my vehicle should the occasion arise where I would need it. Enter BlackBerry Traffic. I have heard of the app before, but never tried it or even read up on it extensively, due to the name. To me, the name made it seem like the app served one purpose, to keep you up to date with the traffic in your current region. I don't think it is such a far fetched assumption, but boy was I wrong....

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Tis the time of year to be in the giving and helping mood. I know all of our friends here in the CrackBerry Nation would like to do their part in one way or another. 

Our friends at TeleNav have teamed up with Toys For Tots this holiday season for a great cause. Owners of certain BlackBerry devices with TeleNav GPS can now download Santa's voice for your device. The cost is a very reasonable 99 cents, and all proceeds are forwarded directly to the Toys For Tots program. 

The following BlackBerry devices are compatible with the Santa voice:

AT&T:
BlackBerry Bold 9000

Sprint:
BlackBerry Pearl 8130
BlackBerry Curve 8330
BlackBerry 8830
BlackBerry Tour 9630

T-Mobile:
BlackBerry Bold 9700

Verizon:
BlackBerry Storm 9550
BlackBerry Tour 9630 

While you're at it, make sure you register for the CrackBerry / TeleNav contest, where you could win a one-year subscrition to TeleNav, a $100 ShopCrackBerry.com gift certificate, and a $100 donation in your name to Toys For Tots. 

**  Safety Note - CrackBerry.com does not endorse or support Ghost Riding **

The Holiday season is here, all of us here at CrackBerry are in the giving spirit. We kicked off things with our CrackBerry Colorware Contest, and now we've teamed up with TeleNav to bring you CrackBerry's Telenav Giveaway. We figured we'd deviate a bit from the normal contests make this one a bit more interesting. The holidays are about getting together with friends and family, so we're taking a social approach on this one. For your chance to win you'll have to do the following:

• Follow both @crackberry & @telenav on Twitter
• Fan both CrackBerry & TeleNav on Facebook
• Tweet this on your Twitter account: Hey @Crackberry - I want to win the @TeleNav bundle! 

That's all there is to it! It's a bit of work, but it's worth it! If you win you will receive a one-year subsctiption to TeleNav GPS Navigator, a $100 ShopCrackBerry.com gift certificate, a car charger and device car mount. In addition, we'll also be giving a $100 donation to Toys For Tots in your name. We'll also draw for two second place winners that will also receive a one-year subscription to TeleNav GPS Navigator. So what are you waiting for?! You only need to enter once, and winners will be announced on December 24th - so get going!

• See @crackberry on Twitter >>
• See @telenav on Twitter >>
• CrackBerry Facebook Page >>
• TeleNav Facebook Page >>