Industry research firm Gartner just released its latest data on mobile phone sales for the first quarter of 2012. There are some interesting points to be pulled out of this report that I wanted to address. We have to work through a bit of data first, but we'll bring it back to BlackBerry very quick.

Samsung dominates Android. Gartner's data says that Korea-based Samsung shipped over 40% of all Android handsets last quarter. So that still leaves 60% of the market to other vendors, right? Yes, but according to Gartner none of these other vendors make up more than 10% of Android volume. None.

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The folks over at Android Central have dropped some information about Verizon and their 3G grandfathered unlimited data plans. Right now, it may not mean a whole lot to BlackBerry users as the changes are only limited to those on 3G plans who are going to 4G plans when upgrading their devices. It is worth noting though, due to the fact that 4G LTE equipped BlackBerry smartphones and PlayBooks are on their way.

Verizon has plans to kill the current unlimited data add-on and force users to a shared pool of tiered data. Speaking at today's 40th annual J.P. Morgan Technology, Media, and Telecom conference, Verizon Communications CFO Fran Shammo stated that all customers will be migrated off of current unlimited data plans and on to a new data-share plan to launch this summer. "Everyone will be on data share", according to Shammo. As people renew contracts and move to new 4G LTE smartphones and other devices, their current data plan will no longer be available. There was no mention what would happen to current LTE subscribers, but we imagine they too will be pushed towards the new sharing plans.

Again, if you're making use of a BlackBerry right now and looking to upgrade to a new one, you should be ok and not be affected by these changes. However, if Verizon picks up a 4G LTE BlackBerry sometime in the near future, you'll have some choices to make.

Source: Android Central

If you haven’t had a chance to open up App World on your BlackBerry smartphone and download those free BlackBerry 7 apps, then I suggest you do so soon. RIM has just sent out a reminder via their social networking sites that the promotion for the free applications will end on May 31st. The promo started in the U.S. back in March and then was later expanded to include Canada. In the promotion, RIM had included some of the top selling apps that showcase some of the BlackBerry 7 features, apps like BeBuzz, Screen Muncher, BeWeather, and more totaling about $77 in free stuff which is okay in my books.

Free Premium apps courtesy of BlackBerry

• BeWeather
• Endomondo Sports Tracker PRO
• Pinball Deluxe (however unavailable for my device/os)
• Rubik's Cube
• Mahjong Solitaire
• Cribbage
• Color ID
• Screen Muncher
• iSpeech Dictation Pro
• iSpeech Caller ID Reader Pro
• iSpeech FB Chat Pro
• Aces 3D Pool
• Aces Traffic Pack
• PBA Bowling 2
• Fixmo Tools
• Next Dual Pack
• Popup

If you’re able to cash in on the promotion I suggest you do so as it ends on May 31st. I’ve personally downloaded them all, I may not need them now, but I may want them later. The question I really would like to ask is, which apps have the CrackBerry Nation downloaded?

Discuss more in the forums

For all you lucky developers out there with a BlackBerry 10 Dev Alpha in your hands, RIM has now confirmed via the @BlackBerryDev Twitter account that an update for the device is nearing. The device, which was given out to developers during the recent BlackBerry 10 Jam has, as of yet, never received an update so it will be interesting to see what RIM adds in.

We're getting the update for BlackBerry 10 Dev Alpha ready - make sure your requests are in the issue tracker - http://bbry.lv/m9szVj  ^AK

As we saw recently, RIM has been showing off aspects of BlackBerry 10 OS using the device though, it's assumed they'll not add too much of that on the Dev Alpha but rather, just include the basics for developers to work with.

If you're a developer who doesn't yet have a Dev Alpha to test on, you'll want to check out the BlackBerry 10 Jam World Tour dates as the devices will be handed out at those events in limited supply.

RIM seems to be on a bit of a patent kick lately (more than normal at least) and this time around has landed one for a phone-charging holster. The device is pretty much a standard phone holster that has a second battery for charging your phone. When your phone is in the holster, it would be charged from a second battery so you would always have some extra juice on the go  -- of course that means charging two devices instead of one before you head out. We've seen some third party options that are very similar, but this could be something cool in the RIM arsenal.

Source: USPTO Via: Engadget

OK CrackBerry Nation. This is it. Today is my birthday... I just hit the big THREE TWO... and this year, instead of me getting a birthday present I wanted to give an awesome gift to one of our readers. The present? My slightly used but never abused $2,000 Porsche Design P'9981 Smartphone from BlackBerry. It's exclusive. It's expensive. It's hawt. Heck, it even won an award this past weekend for 2012 Smartphone of the Year. 

We gave everybody three ways to enter in the Win CrackBerry Kevin's Porsche Design BlackBerry Contest - you could either leave a comment to that blog post, follow @crackberrykevin on twitter, or follow +Kevin Michaluk on Google Plus. The lucky winner was chosen at random from over 5,000 comments, 29,000 twitter followers and over 4,000 people on Google Plus. So that's it... Let's get to it...

And the Winner of CrackBerry Kevin's Porsche Design BlackBerry is....

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In preparation for the full review of the new BlackBerry Curve 9320 here at CrackBerry, we thought we would give you a little teaser of what's to come. Although I am not doing the full review myself, I felt that a UK perspective on RIM's latest creation wouldn't do any harm.

Let's face it, here in Great Britain the BlackBerry has been the country's best selling smartphone for the last two consecutive years, and a big part of those sales are due to the Curve lineup of the 8520 and 9300. The 8520 is pretty ancient now and although the 9300 was upgradable to BlackBerry 6 that too is now running an out of date operating system.

So that's where the new guy steps in. No, not me ... I meant the Curve 9320.

With some improvements in hardware over its predecessors -- such as a bigger battery, more ROM and RAM -- and along with a better camera, it is a welcomed addition to the BlackBerry lineup. However, it is the OS where things have really stepped up.

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If you're at all a fan of tower defense style games and haven't yet tried Vampire vs Hunter, you won't want to miss this. For a limited time, Vampire vs Hunter is on sale for just $1.99 -- over 60% off. The game lets you play the hunter while you fight off vampires, zombies and werewolves through various levels and difficulties. This one makes for a great time killer and will keep you busy for hours.

Features:

• Engaging audio and visual experience
• 3 unique game boards
• 45 levels of intense vampire hunting gameplay
• Progress and earn new weapons and defences to fend off more challenging enemies

You can grab Vampire vs Hunter in BlackBerry App World from the link below.

More information/Download Vampire vs Hunter

Listen up soccer football fans. With Euro 2012 just a few weeks away, did you know you can keep up to date with all the action right from your BlackBerry?

ScoreMobile FC is the perfect free app for mobile users to stay up-to-date with all the action from the tournament in Poland and Ukraine, and this week it gets an update improving its experience.

The app, from the makers of ScoreMobile - one of the world's leading free sports apps with more than 3.6 million unique users each month - is already a must-have for the hardcore football fan thanks to its in-depth coverage of more than 100 leagues and competitions.

Although the most popular football app in the UK, it is time to spread the word to BlackBerry users worldwide with one of the biggest global soccer tournaments looming on the horizon. If you think the app will just show you scores you are so wrong. It has a vast array of features -- ScoreMobile FC is BBM connected so sharing up to date scores and news with your buddies has never been easier. Whether you are using a Bold, a Torch or a Curve the application both looks and works like a dream. With a host of customisable notification settings, missing out on up to date football news is a thing of the past.

ScoreMobile FC is offering a host of great features to ensure you never have to miss a kick during one of the world's biggest football tournaments, including:

• Free customizable push alerts (including goals and key incidents).
• Daily video "vodcasts" featuring special guests.
• Sync tournament fixtures to your calendar.
• Up-to-the-second live scores.
• Live blogs or text commentary for EVERY game.
• Comprehensive list of match times, tables and statistics.
• The latest Euro 2012 news, previews and post-match analysis in video format.
• "Bet Now" feature, allowing UK-based users to place real-time bets via licensed betting and gaming provider William Hill.

The latest version of ScoreMobile FC should be available in BlackBerry App World starting tomorrow.

More information/Download ScoreMobile FC