I don’t remember the last time I was chatting online though instant messaging. Really, I would say most of my conversations happen with my Blackberry used as a medium. What about you? Think about it. What better way is there to keep all of your friends, family and other contact all in one place? Here you have all of these apps installed, and all of them are ready to keep you connected. You have one for Twitter, another for Skype, another for Facebook and another for… hmm well that’s not very efficient is it? I mean, here I have all of these applications ready to help me commence in my rants and ramblings, but I don’t think my thumbs can take the typing AND navigating. Not to mention my poor BlackBerry is running low on memory. Perhaps I should cut back a little. Nah! Maybe I should find one app to cover my social networks!

That’s where an application like IM+ comes into play. This application becomes the hub to your online life (or in some cases your ONLY life). You can easily manage your accounts with some of the major players of the social networking game. Twitter, Google Talk, Jabber, you name it. Set your status to busy and have a look.

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The number of Twitter users is continually increasing at an alarming rate. Some use it for the forces of good and others...not so much. I remember writing a review over a year ago about OpenBeak, (previously dubbed TwitterBerry) and briefly explaining what Twitter was. Now, it’s so quickly adopted. Personally, I enjoy using Twitter over Facebook, as I find it less time consuming (unless you’re addicted). So for those who follow me on Facebook…sorry for not being active. One of the many, many reasons why I enjoy Twitter is having access to breaking news and events; not just from the news. Users can upload media, along with their tweets.

I’m also happy to see so many Twitter applications out there for BlackBerry that add a fair amount of functionality while on the go. Adam has done a fantastic job with the Ultimate Twitter Client Roundup; which covers many of the well known clients. Seeing how I haven’t worked on a Twitter client review in quite some time, I thought I would delve into the recently released Tvider. Tvider is designed to simplify the way you tweet images, audio and pics; let’s see if this birdie can fly.

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The next stop in our Ultimate Twitter Client Roundup is Twixtreme from Xtreme Labs. Twixtreme hasn't been around all that long, but more and more users are picking it up and seem to be happy with the interface and features. It doesn't have the full-blown features of some older clients (or nearly as many options) but it does have a great look and some cool animations. The guys at Extreme Labs are still hacking away and sneaking in some updates, so I'd say Twixtreme will stick around for a while, although it may not be everyone's first choice for a BlackBerry Twitter Client. Check out the video for a quick walkthrough.

• More information and download of TwiXtreme >> 

OpenBeak (formerly TwitterBerry) is probably one of the best known Twitter clients for BlackBerry. When Twitter first started its monumental rise, TwitterBerry was one of the few clients available for BlackBerry, and everyone who was jumping on the Twitter wagon got in on the action. New clients began to show up, and TwitterBerry quickly fell to the back of the pack. It didn't totally go away, and now rebranded OpenBeak, it still hopes to capture users with its simple features and ease of use. Take a look at the video above for a quick overview of OpenBeak's features (or lack of) and see how it compares to the other clients in our Ultimate Twitter Client Roundup.

• More information and download of OpenBeak >>

So far we've checked out UberTwitter and Seesmic for BlackBerry in our Ultimate Twitter Client Roundup, and now we move along to TweetGenius. The first true "premium Twitter client" for BlackBerry, TweetGenius raised the bar with its smooth UI and animations, as well as its features and ease of use. It caught a lot of flack for being a paid app, but true Twitterholics coughed up the dough and have been loving it ever since. Check out the video for a look at all of the cool features. If you're ready to step it up and want to purchase TweetGenius, head over to tg1.beejive.com.

• More information and download of TweetGenius >>

The second installment of our Ultimate Twitter Client Roundup brings us to Seesmic for BlackBerry. At this time Seesmic is fairly new to the scene, but it already shows tons of promise and the updates keep coming. It doesn't have an overload of features, but its speed and clean interface make it a strong player. The ability to view timelines, mentions, DMs and even lists add to the fun that is Seesmic. Check out the video above for a quick walkthrough.

• More information and download of Seemic for BlackBerry >>

A long time ago (in a land far, far away) we did a quick comparison of all the Twitter clients available for BlackBerry in our BlackBerry Twitter Client Roundup. At the time there were only six available (that we knew of, and some were still in beta) so it wasn't too hard to tackle. Some were just kind of "there" and didn't work all that well, so there were really only a few that stuck out. A few months later we revisited with some new additions in out BlackBerry Twitter Client Roundup Part Deux (where we first saw Ubertwitter) and took another look at all the available clients. Since then, some have come and gone (or were forgotten), some never left beta and some became the top BlackBerry Twitter client. While RIM is brewing their own native Twitter app, there are a number of other great clients, both paid and free, that are worth taking a look at.

For part 1 of our Ultimate Twitter Client Roundup we'll take a quick look at Ubertwitter, which seems to be the client of choice for BlackBerry users. I love the layout and feel of the app, as well as the insane amount of features that are packed into it. In addition to the standard timeline, mentions and DMs, Ubertwitter allows you to use multiple accounts, view lists, trending topics, edit your profile and much more. Take a look at the video above to see what Ubertwitter is all about, and check back as we continue to look at all of the other Twitter clients available for BlackBerry in the coming weeks.

• More information and download of Ubertwitter >>

It seems as though the need for availability and connectivity is becoming increasingly important. This is true in both personal and professional lives. How do you keep connected to the people you know? Are you constantly on Yahoo! Messenger? How about living on Facebook or MySpace? You're probably chatting away on Google Talk or even using Skype. Whatever you decide to help you stay in touch and on top of the latest, you also want to try and keep things simple and organized. The last thing you want to do is find yourself tripping over multiple applications.

If you're looking to incorporate a multi-community mobile social messenger into your communication carousel, Nimbuzz will help you stay in touch with everyone from one place. No switching between programs, no confusion as to who is using what. It's simplified socializing by swiftly shootin' the sh-um...poop in smartphone style (how's that for alliteration?). The social butterfly in you is just dying to read more, isn't it?

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Guess what’s just around the corner? Lunch boxes polished, stationary warmed up, backpacks adjusted - it’s almost time for school! Some anticipate the ring of the school bell, others dread it. I chuckle every time I see a Staples commercial playing ‘It’s the most wonderful time of the year.’ We’re not there yet, but in a couple of years, our little guy will be joining the ranks. Whether you want to admit it or not, there’s always a sense of excitement around the issue, even in the smallest amount. Be it a new year, new school or a new level of education, your mind races with new possibilities, as well as new worries.

Besides the standard school supply purchases, perhaps a BlackBerry Smartphone has found its way to you. If you haven’t heard already, there are a vast number of applications available to you. After gathering some well thought out opinions, I’ve come up with the main concerns students may face, especially those new to College or University. Based on that, I’ve also picked some applications and solutions that will help you deal with said concerns. Make sure you take notes; who knows if there will be a test on this.

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Lately, I've been getting more and more into the social side of BlackBerry life. Sure, CrackBerry.com has allowed me to find friends who share the same addiction, but I do like to take a peek at other sites as well. I was a slow adoptee of FaceBook and now I continue to grow my social network with sites like Twitter.

For those who aren't familiar with Twitter, it lets you connect and communicate with others using, what they call, one question; "What are you doing?" You are able to use your Berry to keep up with Twitter and its Tweets through SMS.

To make accessing Twitter easier, Orangatame Software offers a free beta application called TwitterBerry. Instead of using SMS, you can use data to maintain your social butterfly ways. So, whether you are sending direct messages, replying to tweets and direct message or updating timelines, TwitterBerry should keep you from being bogged down by your online social life.

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With ShoZu, your friends and communities are just a click away...

It was only a matter of time until it happened. I still remember when I received my first BlackBerry years ago (a 6210 a-thank you). A few of us were found, as with any new toy, playing with our BlackBerrys with such fervor. I may have heard a barely audible "Get a Life!" in the background from some passer-bys. Now, with all of the online social applications we can access on our Berrys, I say phooey to you. I shake my BlackBerry in your face and say "Get a life? I got one, right here!!"

Still feeling quite social after my review of SpotJots, I decided to take on another mingling marvel. I'm showin' ShoZu, to you. All you need is ShoZu, a BlackBerry with a camera and a life. Now you can transfer photos to over 30 online communities, including Facebook, YouTube, Friendster and Google Picasa.

Grab your Berry and let's go! Let's show these non-Berry users how we live!

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"Because life doesn't happen behind a desk..." sigh, I love it.

Summer time is inundated with vacations, parties, barbeques and days at the beach. If you have time, you may want to try squeezing work in as well. As this time of year drags you out into the sun, your online social networks try to drag you back to your screen's warm, glowing, warming glow. Thank the powers that be, that you can rely on your trusty BlackBerry to keep you in touch.

You have a slew of applications available to you, in terms of keeping in touch. I recently scooped up SpotJots Mobile: BlackBerry Edition, which grants me access to my online social world. Ten23.com offers SpotJots as a location-based networking tool to help you keep your friends in the know. SpotJots also allows you to share your "jots" with other online accounts, including Facebook, Twitter and MySpace.

Let's get into this spatial social solution, shall we?

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When we are in front of a computer and quickly want to exchange a couple of messages with a friend, we all use instant messaging services such as ICQ, AOL, YAHOO!, MSN, etc.., but when we are away with our BlackBerry, we usually rely on email or text messaging. Well, why should we? What we all need is an Instant Messenger software for our BlackBerry devices. And wouldn’t it be nice if using the same IM software, we could get an Instant Messaging solution that connects to all services? We found it! IM+ Mobile Instant Messenger developed by Shape Services is a complete messaging solution that allows you to exchange instant messages within the most popular IM systems such as MSN, Yahoo!, AOL, ICQ, Google Talk and Jabber. And best of all, it works between mobile devices and PCs in real-time.

Installing the software is easy; WAP and BES versions are available. The first time you launch the software, it will run some tests with the server to properly setup the type of connection. About a minute after installation, we were able to exchange our first instant messages.

A single contact screen brings up all of your contacts from MSN, YAHOO!, ICQ, AOL and Gmail. These can be sorted by contact or grouped by service depending on your preferences. Offline contacts can also be viewed or hidden; you are in full control. A configuration option to automatically start IM+ is also available, insuring that you are always connected. You can pretty much do all the things you are already doing with your IM solutions on your PC. I particularly like the option to run IM+ in the background at all times: you are connected, you can use your BlackBerry with other applications and when an instant message comes in, it pops up on your screen!

In summary, IM+ has many options to choose from and a large set of functionalities, yet it remains very intuitive. All the features you need are right where you expect them to be.

IM+ sells for $49.95, one time fee, no ongoing subscription.

## This Article Was Originally Published by AllBlackBerry.com