Top Free Blackberry Applications

Information Services (411)

buzzd: Originally began as a web launcher app, is now a full-fledged app for your phone. It is a social networking portal that allows you to discover bars, restaurants (including Zagat Rated), and events in your area, and share your experiences with others. It will acquire your position using your phone's internal GPS (if supported), or using cell-site location (signal triangulation).
Poynt (Beta): A nice app that allows you to search for local businesses, look movie times and theaters, reviews, and even purchase tickets. Program works via GPS, or pre-defined locations, like Beyond411.
Beyond411: Great application that can work on its own or with Google Maps, in can even be used in conjunction with the GPS on your phone. You can also set up multiple profiles like Work and Home to simplify your area-specific searches.
Google 411: Ok, I know this one isn’t an application, but it’s a great, free (minus minute usage), voice-activated service that Google offers, which works great when you are driving with hands-free. Just add 1-800-GOOG-411 (1-800-466-4411) to your phone's address book (can even be used on landlines), and use that instead of 411 when calling for directory assistance.

Google Maps: Allows you to view maps, and satellite-view images (including street view). It can even be used with your phone’s GPS, or triangulate your location within 1100+ft using cell phone towers. Additionally, it will also allow you to get driving directions and search for nearby businesses. Another feature that comes with the latest version, is "Latitude", which allow you to dynamically update your location on Google, share it with friends, and see them on your map as well.

Opera Mini: It may not be Firefox, but it’s a great, lightweight program that outperforms the blackberry web browser. It even features zooming. Unfortunately, you cannot set it as your default web browser. For those of you who do not have access to the new Blackberry browser that comes with the v4.5+ OS, this is a great alternative.

Google Reader: Allows you to view your favorite newsfeeds from your phone, mark content that you wish to view later, share with your friends, and tag your feeds by categories that you set up (Now rolled into the new Google Mobile app).

YouTube: (ONLY FOR THE STORM) The new Blackberry storm supports the YouTube site out of the box, but does not come with a dedicated application like the iPhone does. So, Google has answered our pleas and released a dedicated client that allows you to not only view the existing content on the site, you can: Access your favorites & playlists, share & rate videos, perform keyword searches, see related video suggestions, and even upload your own videos directly from your phone.
SlingPlayer: Got a SlingBox and want to view your home video streams while your on the road? Sling Media has answered the call and released a public beta of its client player for the SlingBox.

Google Sync: Allows you to wirelessly sync your address book and calendar with your Google account.

Google Search: A quick-launch search box that will display the results in your web browser (Now rolled into the new Google Mobile app).

Google Mobile: As you were reading above, Google Mobile is a new product that rolls all of the previous, standalone icons into a single product. They were mainly targeting the apps that are web links and not actual programs, which explains why you will still see separate icons for Maps, Talk, and Sync. This also replaces the Google Mobile Updater app, and is used to install new products, such as Maps and Sync. The only app that cannot be installed or managed through this app is the beta for Google Talk. I would imagine that if it ever reaches a final product, it will be managed in this manager.