I have the pleasure of occasionally heading out to cover events and meet with our amazing partners and customers. During these trips, I like to test out the variety of apps available on the BlackBerry App World™ storefront that help with all aspects of this process. With the BlackBerry Travel app, BlackBerry Traffic, and the BlackBerry 7.1 OS update to BlackBerry Maps you get three essential apps for surviving out there in the harsh wilderness of business travel. Let’s take a look at the updates and how they can help you too.

BlackBerry Travel

A long-time favorite of the BlackBerry community (and us employees too), the BlackBerry Travel app is designed to allow you to plan, book, manage, and share your trips. The BlackBerry Travel app includes features to help keep your travel plans in sync. Automatic trip scanning can scan your Messages application automatically, and exports all supported travel email messages to the BlackBerry Travel app.

For example, let’s say that the airport you’re departing from gets overtaken by wild bears and your flight gets delayed. Don’t fret – BlackBerry Travel will notify you of delays or cancellations for your flights as they occur, and help you find alternate routes and book a new flight. You’ll also be able to make a limo reservation ahead of time to take you to your final destination right from the app. Keep in mind you’ll need a data plan that includes browsing for this app – then head over to BlackBerry App World to grab it!

BlackBerry Traffic

You know that point when you’re caught in traffic on a foreign highway and you’re deeply regretting renting a car? This is where BlackBerry Traffic saves the day. Beyond calculating your estimated time of arrival based on current traffic conditions – and suggesting alternate routes to avoid traffic tie ups – the app now provides turn-by-turn voice navigation through your smartphone’s speaker, or a Bluetooth®-enabled hands-free device or car system. Not only are you less likely to get lost with this app, but now you’ll also have friendly guidance to get you where you need to go all while keeping your hands on the steering wheel. The voice navigation also helps ensure a safer journey, allowing you to focus entirely on the road. By the way, BlackBerry Traffic works just as well on your daily commute back at home.

BlackBerry Maps

You’ll be more confident in your travels with BlackBerry Maps at your side. Displaying your route, distance and estimated travel time are only a few of the features of this app. My personal favorites are the ability to share maps through email or BBM™, bookmarking favorite or common destinations, and contextual search (e.g. “Pizza”).

With the updates in BlackBerry 7.1 OS, you’ll now be able to discover special offers, deals, and coupons from nearby vendors. This is particularly good for managing that expense account smartly during a business trip.

Updates to BlackBerry Travel app and BlackBerry Traffic, as well as the BlackBerry 7.1 OS update of BlackBerry Maps, are designed to make life easier for business users while on the go. Others features of the BlackBerry 7.1 OS update that can help business users include Mobile Hotspot, Universal Search, BlackBerry® Tag, Wi-Fi® Calling (where available), FM Radio, and BBM™ 6.1. Check out the blog post on the Inside BlackBerry Blog for more details or head over to the BlackBerry 7.1 OS web site.

Of the three apps highlighted (BlackBerry Travel, BlackBerry Traffic, BlackBerry Maps), which do you use most often? Share in the comments.