Our Mobile CRM application was recently featured by PC World as one of the "10 Must-Have Apps for your BlackBerry", which we were very happy about! It made me realize that this year could really be the tipping point in which BlackBerry users start using more than just email, texting and phone on their devices. Many people talk of the "killer app" - and it's not any one app itself, but the fact that you CAN use applications on smartphones. I think that the #1 reason contributing to the rise in smartphone apps is:

Consumer apps on iPhone are all the rage - both the diversity and sheer number of available applications. Some of them are completely useless (like the animated beer drink) but let friends show off funny things on their iPhone to their buddies. Some of them are really cool, innovative, and unique, and only available on iPhone, like Shazam.  And probably the most important here is that it allows something that BlackBerry can't do - people brag about what they can do with their iPhone.  iPhone and the App Store have leveled the playing field - allowing anyone with a good idea to write software - not just the big software development companies.  And, they have done something else - they have made owning software cool again.  That drives people to make more software to fill more niche needs - and in the end it's the consumer that wins.

In response, we see BlackBerry, Windows Mobile and others, racing to open their own app stores for vendors to feature their software for download.

On a personal note, an app recommended to me by guys at RIM was WorldMate Live - a tool to help travelers track their flights, hotel, and itineraries in one spot. Great useful app for BlackBerry business users! And one that I feel was missed on the PC World list.

So with that - what applications are you using on your BlackBerry (not including email, phone, text, or messenger)?

• Mobile CRM
• Field Service apps
• Auto vehicle tracking
• Other business applications
• Voice enhancers: ie - YouMail, iSkoot for Skype
• Social Networking: ie - Facebook, TwitterBerry
• Other