Blackberry Links

 

www.blackberry.com/googletalk
This is Google's Instant Messenger program. It is a good backup to the Blackberry Messenger that we already use. The advantage to this program is that you can also access it from your desktop. So you can be sitting at your desk and be instant messaging your co-workers who are out in the field. It allows you to communicate with anyone who has a Google or AOL ID, so you're able to communicate with other people who might not have Blackberries and who can't use Blackberry messenger (You can get a free Google ID by going to www.gmail.com and choosing "Sign up Now.").

http://www.google.com/ig/mobile
The link above is Google's interactive homepage. I have this set to open automatically when I go into the web browser on my Blackberry. I like it because it has great searching capability. You can easily search for businesses, new stories, etc., and it will bring up the most relevant info based on the location that you specify in advance. You'll need a Google ID to get the most out of this site. If you don't already have one, you can get one by going to www.gmail.com and choosing "Sign up Now." The best part about this site is that it will re-format other sites that come up in the search results, so that they show up better on your phone.

http://www.google.com/intl/en/mobile/mail/stp-js.html
This link will enable you to install a Gmail program on your phone. It is different than accessing Gmail via your Browser, as it is much more functional, allowing you to search archived mail. The best feature of this is that some attachments show up a lot better than they do with other email accounts. Sometimes I will receive a message on my Blackberry, and forward it to my Gmail account, so that I can open the attachments inside the Gmail program.

http://www.google.com/mobile/gmm/index.html
The link above is for Google Maps. Different than the map program that is already on your phone, this application utilizes your device's GPS (if you enable the feature in your Blackberry options menu). This means that you can either manually enter an address, OR pick one of your contacts from your phone and choose "Show on Google Maps" and it will provide MapQuest-like directions, automatically choosing the starting point for you.

http://ctabustracker.com/bustime/home.jsp
This link will show you real-time arrival info for several CTA bus routes (available beginning April 7), including:  #35, 39, 43, 49 (Western), X49 (Western Express), 54B, 55A, 55N, 62, 62H, 63W, 94, and 165. More routes will be available in May.

www.mobile.blackberry.com
This site has cool stuff that is specifically designed to be used on Blackberries.

http://wap.myfoxchicago.com/index.php?page=source&sourceId=1710 and http://www.abc7togo.com/
These are the sites for the Chicago Fox and WLS Channel 7 affiliates.  Unlike the regular address that you would put into the browser of your computer, these sites are specifically formatted to show up correctly on your Blackberry.

 

Please feel free to share this info with anyone else who might find it useful.  Also, if any of you have found other sites or useful tips & tricks, please pass them along.  Thanks!