Today, Microsoft released an update to Bing for BlackBerry. It is now compatible with BlackBerry 6 (the Torch at least) and they have also made performance improvements for OS5 devices. Bing for BlackBerry's new features include:

• Homepage Hotspots- If you have a little time to spend and want to explore the day’s image, point around it until you find a hotspot. Hidden in the image, hotspots are intended intrigue and inform you. If you look, you’ll find four of them every day. Each gives you a chance to find out more about the subject of the image. 
• Flight Status Instant Answer- Enter your flight number and Bing will provide you with the status of your flight.
• Bing Image Search- Search for images on the go.
• What's Nearby- Bing for BlackBerry has a smart experience for finding local listings like restaurants, and attractions using your location.

Bing for BlackBerry is free. Unfortunately it is only available for the 9000, 9800, 8520, 8530, 9530, 9550, 9630, and 9650. Hopefully they will update again soon to include the rest of the BlackBerry devices out there, especially the ever popular 97xx series.

Download Bing for BlackBerry

Source:  Bing

SearchIt by Shaosoft was just to version 1.44 adding many new features. If you have not heard of SearchIt, it is a pop up application that gives you quick search access to many popular sites including custom user defined websites - great for Verizon users who don't want to be stuck with only Bing! New features in this version include:

• Opera Mini 5 and Bolt Browser support
• Live suggestions that pop up as you type your search
• Recent searches are saved and can be accessed by pressing enter in blank search field
• Option to configure menu button
• Paste function: Press space 3 times
• New sites added
• 2nd custom site spot added
• Text selection menu option added: Highlight text in another app, press menu button, and select SearchIt. Text will automatically be put into the search bar.

SearchIt is now on sale for $2.49 until January 23rd at the CrackBerry App Store, and is available for all devices running OS 4.2. The application is great for anyone who would like to search specifc websites easily, and for people on Verizon who are of course stuck with Bing as their only search option. You can find a full introduction to the application here.

• More information and download of SearchIt >>

Some strange happenings on the Verizon front at the moment. The CrackBerry tips box is getting full of users who seem to be having their search engine options stripped from their web browsers, leaving Bing as the only choice for search engines to use. The CrackBerry forums and even the official Verizon forums all show signs of this happening, seemingly for no reason at this time. So, do you have all the regular options? Or is Bing the only choice you have on your device browser? Let us know if the comments.

• Join The Discussion In The CrackBerry Forums>>