Ten Best Must-Have Free Blackberry Apps

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There's no doubt that a BlackBerry is a powerful device, offering the chance to do plenty of different tasks on the go. There are also a huge number of third-party applications available that can make the device even more useful.

Adding apps to your BlackBerry is easy too, because they can all be installed 'over the air', either by visiting the app's site with your BlackBerry's built-in browser and downloading the file directly, or by having an email sent to your BlackBerry with a direct download link.

Even better, I have found 10 really useful apps that are free. So read on for some brilliant ways to improve the functionality of your Blackberry without spending a penny.

 1.         Google Mobile

Google Mobile provides easy access to Gmail, Picasa, Google Maps, Google Sync and more. A single interface will gives you one-stop access to Google's Gmail and Maps applications (the latter of which can integrate with your built-in GPS tool, if your BlackBerry has one).

It also includes links to web services including search, Google News, Google Reader, Google Docs (which is read-only on mobile devices), Picasa photos, and your Google Notebook, all of which open in your BlackBerry's built-in web browser. Google Mobile also includes the Google Sync service, which allows two-way synchronisation between your BlackBerry's built-in calendar and the web-based Google Calendar.

2.         XPRSS

If you regularly read RSS feed updates every day with your morning coffee or during the peculiar hold-up when going to work, then you’ll love XPRSS, the best free RSS feed reader available for the Blackberry. This app comes preloaded with a list of the most popular news feeds, and of course you can add as many of your own as you want.

Aside from reading articles that other people write, you may produce your own. If you do have your own WordPress blog, then you’ll want to install the WordPress client. This client lets you do almost everything from managing comments to reviewing and writing posts.

3.         LifeInPocket GPS

If you regularly find yourself on the road and you do have a GPS-enabled phone, then the LifeInPocket GPS app is an all-in-one app that you’ll never be able to live without once you start using it. Based on your location, it’ll show you navigation routes, your nearby friends, nearby businesses including cheap gas or towing services, current traffic levels, current news for your area and much more.

4.         BeamExplorer

Just having this one app on your phone would let you uninstall dozens of other apps.

Aside from the fact that BeamExplorer is one of the easiest file explorers to use, and integrates very nicely with the Bold’s rollover pad, it also lets you create MS Office files on-the-fly. That’s a very rare feature to find for free in a Blackberry app.

5.         Vlingo

One of my absolute favorite apps that I could never really find in the Android Market, is Vlingo. This is one of those rare apps that seem ahead of the curve technologically. It is perfect for in the car, because you can launch applications, update your Facebook or Twitter accounts.

Best of all, when you enable it, Vlingo will read all incoming text messages and emails (up to 50 words) to you so that you don’t have to fumble with your phone while you’re driving.

6.         Victir

Vectir is a remote control app that is available as either a Bluetooth or Wi-Fi install. It’s ideal for those of us that run servers or monitor-less desktops as home and you want to remote-control the PC.

Blackberry doesn’t offer any free VNC-type apps, but if you install the Vectir server on the PC, you can control the Desktop with your Blackberry just like you would with a VNC connection.

As you can see, even the Blackberry offers a decent collection of free apps to get you started with enjoying your new Blackberry experience. 

7.         UPS Moblie for BlackBerry

This free mobile app for BlackBerry lets you track packages sent via UPS and enter shipping information for parcels, as well as locate the closest UPS stores. Packages can be tracked without logging into an account, but more advanced functionality is available after login, including the ability to create new shipments using the "My UPS" address book and determine specific shipping rates and durations. The application also displays your history of tracked shipments, automatically refreshing whenever you reopen the app

8.         Navita Translator for Blackberry

If you've ever found yourself in need of a quick translation and you own a BlackBerry smartphone, Navita Translator is for you. The app's basic interface makes it simple to translate words or phrases that you type into its text field. And Navita integrates with the core BlackBerry messaging, SMS and browser apps, so you can translate text directly from these sources, as well. Its conversion isn't always perfect, but it's still a valuable tool. Navita supports English, Portuguese and Spanish, and it translates into 52 additional languages.

9.         Speedtest for Blackberry

Ever wondered just how fast your BlackBerry's 3G connection is at home compared to its speed in the office? Or wanted to determine whether you get faster speed from your home Wi-Fi network or 3G? Speedtest for BlackBerry gauges wireless download and upload speeds for RIM smartphones on GSM 3G, EDGE and Wi-Fi. I wouldn't get too worked up about the specific numbers Speedtest provides, but it works wells for comparing connectivity speeds, since any inaccuracy in readings presumably affects all measurements equally.

10.       BlackBerry Protect

Your BlackBerry is a valuable tool, so you want to protect it. BlackBerry Protect gives you peace of mind that should you ever lose your device, you can attempt to locate it or even wipe all the data. BlackBerry Protect runs in the background so you won't even know it's there, all while backing up your important data and keeping track of your device. Log into the full-featured web portal to track or lock your device should it be lost or stolen.  

The BlackBerry App World, the official BlackBerry app store, remains awkward and difficult to use, two and a half years after launch, and even in version 3.0 guise. Popular apps often don't pop up in searches because they haven't been certified for a certain model of BlackBerry—even though they may work fine. If you have an AT&T or T-Mobile BlackBerry, you can buy apps and apply the charge to your phone bill, but devices on other carriers still require a separate PayPal account, which has its own issues. 

Fortunately, App World isn't the only place to get BlackBerry apps. The independent store GetJar does a brisk business, and so does Handmark. Besides some apps are only available through their companies' own Web sites.