BlackBerry Protect Preview

Upon downloading and registering with the application, you will be given the option to back up your data. After the initial data is backed up, the application will only incrementally back up new data. You can then set how often the device will automatically back up information to the server, as well as set the device to only back up using a Wi-Fi connection, to preserve data usage on a cellular network. BlackBerry Protect can back up the contacts, calendars, tasks, memos, bookmarks and texts.

You can restore a set of backup information either from the BlackBerry Protect application on the device, or from a dedicated web portal where you can manage many aspects of BlackBerry Protect. The backup files can even be used to restore your data to a new device.

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Of course, if you really don’t know where your phone is, you want to protect your information from random eyes. BlackBerry Protect can take care of this as well. From the web portal you can hit a button to lock your device. You can also change the current password on the device, if you decide that maybe “1234” wasn’t such a great password idea after all.

You can also use the “View Current Location” feature to help you find a lost device. Blackberry Protect will use the BlackBerry device’s built-in GPS to locate the device and display the information on a map. This is especially helpful if you lost your device during a long day of errands, or a long night of bar-hopping, since you won’t have to go back to every place you stopped to check for your device.

Unlike similar products for other devices that cost almost $100 a year, BlackBerry Protect is completely free for BlackBerry users. This is a ton of functionality for a free application, and RIM should be commended for this.

As of July 2010, BlackBerry Protect is in closed beta in the BlackBerry Beta Zone, with the promise of open beta and release date later in the year. Once it is available, you can find Blackberry Protect in the BlackBerry App World.