RIM Makes BlackBerry 7.1 OS Official

Today, Canadian mobile phone maker Research In Motion went official with the latest version of its mobile operating system, namely BlackBerry OS 7.1. 

The new platform release is meant to offer increased socialization features to users, so that they benefit from more ways of staying connected with their friends and family while on the go. 

Users will be able to discover new things at ease with the new OS release, while also being able to share them with their contacts. 

Moreover, they will benefit from updated applications, including new versions of BBM, BlackBerry Traffic, and BlackBerry Travel. 

BBM has reached version 6.1 and features BlackBerry Tag integration, enabling users to invite friends to BBM through simply touching NFC enabled BlackBerry smartphones. 

The new version of BlackBerry Travel makes trip planning far easier than before. It makes it more pleasant as well. 

The app will notify users when the flight was delayed or canceled, while helping them find a new flight right away.

As for the new BlackBerry Traffic, it delivers turn-by-turn voice guidance, as well as estimated time of arrival (ETA) based on traffic conditions. 

The new versions of BBM, BlackBerry Traffic and BlackBerry Travel were already made available for download via the BlackBerry App World as well, the mobile phone maker announced. 

The new OS flavor also comes with BlackBerry Maps, offering users the possibility to easily discover special offers, coupons and discounts from nearby vendors. 

RIM has also announced that the new BlackBerry 7.1 OS update will start to arrive on devices around the world today, and that the deployment should be completed in a matter of weeks. 

Some of the main features that the new OS flavor will provide users with include:

Mobile Hotspot: Turn your BlackBerry 7.1 OS device into a Wi-Fi router anywhere, anytime! The new OS seamlessly provides Internet access for up to five Wi-Fi devices, including laptops and tablets.

Universal Search: For this new release, we wanted to focus on the intelligence of our system and our apps – in other words, we wanted to create an intuitive experience that does the thinking for you. For example, Universal Search now has a new auto-suggest feature that that intelligently filters Bing search results to offer you a variety of relevant Web sites based on your search terms.

BlackBerry Tag: Share contacts, media and files, and even invite friends to BlackBerry Messenger (BBM) through a simple touch. BlackBerry Tag unlocks near field communication (NFC) capabilities for everyday use and makes sharing a lot faster and much more personal.

Wi-Fi Calling (where available): With BlackBerry 7.1 OS, you’ll be able to make Wi-Fi calls using your carrier’s Wi-Fi calling service (aka UMA-lite or GAN-lite). Wi-Fi calling allows you to save your talk time minutes and make phone calls over any Wi-Fi network. Not all carriers offer such a service so check with your carrier for availability.

FM Radio: The BlackBerry 7.1 OS update will let BlackBerry Curve 9360 and 9380 smartphone customers enjoy FM radio. The Curve models include a built-in FM radio so you can tune in to local FM radio stations. Simply plug in your headset to boost the reception (it acts as the antenna). Plus, no data usage or data plan required!

RIM is displaying all of these enhancements and new applications in BlackBerry OS 7.1 at the 2012 International Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.

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