RIM debuts BlackBerry OS 7.1 at CES

Rating: New BlackBerry Maps app supports coupons

BlackBerry maker, Research In Motion (RIM), took advantage of CES 2012, Las Vegas to showcase the latest version of its OS – 7.1. The biggest surprise will come for owners of Curve 9360 or 9380 models which will suddenly boast an FM radio. The radio circuitry was always there – but RIM hadn’t got around to implementing it. Unlike internet radio, FM radio doesn’t burn up your data allowance. 7.1 will also leverage the NFC capabilities of models which support it via the new BlackBerry Tag. The new OS also catches up with Android in allowing owners to turn their handsets into mobile hot spots – enabling device to take advantage of a 3G connexion via Wi-fi. An interesting development is the inclusion of coupons in the new BlackBerry Maps app. BBM has been improved, too.When users launch the new BlackBerry Maps application they can discover special offers, coupons, and discounts from nearby vendors.

Better still, users can immediately act on the deals offered to them by clicking to either call the vendor or clicking to get the best route to where the deal is offered nearest.

The new BlackBerry Tag feature BlackBerry users share information and content using NFC.

Just tap two handset together to enable BlackBerry smartphone, users can make sharing.

Users can invite a friend to BBM plus exchange contact information, documents, URLs, photos and other multimedia content.

The new version of BBM (6.1) boasts a whole host of new features and you don’t have to be running v 7.1 to enjoy the. So check for the upgrade right away.

For example, users can now set the picture for their BBM avatar directly from the camera app – simply snap a picture and select ‘Set as BBM Display Picture’ from the menu.

Within 7.1, the Universal Search capability has again been enhanced and now includes an auto-suggest feature that intelligently filters Bing search results to offer users a variety of relevant Web sites.

If you’re unsure whether your BlackBerry handset is fast and powerful enough to support v 7.1. RIM provides a simple way of checking here.

All you need to do is connect your handset to your computer via a USB lead and the system should recognise it. [Don't set you handset to be remote storage, though].

One there’s a working connexion, press the button onscreen and you’ll find out whether there are any OS updates available for your particular device. In some countries, some operators have released v 7.1 yet. So you might have to try again later.