[ YouTube link for mobile viewing ]

Box on BlackBerry 10 brings mobile cloud storage, access, and collaboration to a whole new level. With deep integration into the BlackBerry 10 platform, you’re able to instantly access files and media from your Box account via the File Manager, share files from your device straight to the cloud, and even open and edit them with apps like Documents To Go.

How will you use Box on BlackBerry 10? Share in the comments below.

(Shameless self-disclaimer: I’m a file hoarder of the worst sort. PowerPoint presentations on the enterprise road map from 2007? Still got ‘em. Press release from BlackBerry Pearl smartphone launch? In my media kit folder. Photos from my high school Euro-trip? Purple hair…what was I thinking?!)

Luckily for me, with BlackBerry 10, I now have access to my digital underworld of perfectly organized online file folders, spanning the far depths of my carefully curated folder collection.

Now that BlackBerry 10 has launched, we can officially spill the beans. Some of our favorite online file management and collaboration tools come not just pre-loaded, but deeply integrated into the BlackBerry 10 platform! With the graceful swipe of a fingertip, all BlackBerry 10 smartphone customers can now easily flow on over to a wide array of well-known and secure cloud storage and collaboration tools – Box and DropBox in particular.

With these tools, you can attach files from the cloud straight from the BlackBerry Hub, without needing to switch apps or leave your “compose” screen. There’s also the ability to press the “share” button (ie. when viewing a photo, file or video), and add that file directly into your cloud storage space. Using BlackBerry Balance, there is also the ability to see files from both your personal and work profile, if your work space is unlocked.

We’ve also designed it so that when you’re looking at content with File Manager, or when opening documents in Documents To Go, you can browse all of your cloud accounts too. Even your “recently used documents” include your latest cloud files!

For those who’ve already jumped on the cloud storage bandwagon – virtual high five! Points to you for your file-saving and sharing prowess. For those who have yet to experience the time-saving benefits, you are definitely going to appreciate why these tools have become so popular with the IT and business crowd. Using cloud storage apps like Box and DropBox means you can easily save, share and store files, all safely and securely in your own personal online file storage space. These tools allow you to virtually share your folders with friends, colleagues and business partners – no more need to exchange an old fashioned USB stick or be the culprit of sending the 20MB PowerPoint attachment that clogs up everyone’s inbox (queue collective sigh of relief).

At BlackBerry, we know our customers are powerful multi-taskers, always on the go with places to be and people to see. That’s why integrating cloud-based file sharing tools directly into our BlackBerry 10 platform was an easy decision. When drafting an email on your BlackBerry smartphone, having the ability to quickly flow over to your file management center and choose your file storage app of choice, is not only super convenient – but also a quick way to get stuff done. Through my testing of the file storage and sharing capabilities, I also quickly figured out that when drafting an email or document, all you have to do is click the attachment icon to add attachments – this happens instantly – straight from the cloud! Built on a core BlackBerry 10 cornerstone of removing the need for the old in-and-out paradigm, there was no need to switch between my file storage app and my email to add the attachment. Everything I needed to access to add my attachment was all at my fingertips by tapping the attachment icon!

I also prefer to travel without my laptop. With BlackBerry 10, I use cloud storage to simplify my life. By bringing my photos, docs, PowerPoints, spreadsheets and videos anywhere I go with my BlackBerry 10 smartphone, I can easily share my files wherever I am in the world. Last week, I was in a meeting and didn’t even need to bring my laptop to present a blog story idea to my colleagues. I was able to pull up my PowerPoint presentation via my cloud storage app of choice on my BlackBerry 10 smartphone. I quickly plugged in my micro HDMI cable, opened my cloud storage app and presented to everyone on our office projection screen – all from my BlackBerry 10 smartphone.

The possibilities are endless for staying organized with BlackBerry 10.

Have you tried out any of the file management apps mentioned in this blog post? If so, how has the experience been? Let me know by commenting below!

“Cloud storage” – whether we call it that in our everyday conversation or not – is spreading like wildfire for both personal and business uses. In the office, almost every workflow involves working with files or documents, and passing them between employees through digital means. At home, we love to share photos with friends and family, or make sure that we have access to our files from a variety of computers and mobile devices. We’re always moving, we’re wearing many hats on any given day, and we want our digital content to come with us.

We’ve been working very closely with Box to bring a brand new experience to BlackBerry® 10 – deep integration with the cloud storage solution on many levels, right out of the box (no pun intended). From Documents To Go®, photos, videos, and more, you’ll be able to hit a “Share” button that includes social networks, messaging, and cloud storage services like Box. Additionally, you’ll have the ability to browse and interact with your Box folder from within the File Manager application. We caught up with the Box team at BlackBerry® Jam Americas 2012 to learn more – check out the video below for the full scoop!

[ YouTube link for mobile viewing ]

Box functionality is integrated on many levels with the platform. We believe that it’s important to have quick and integrated access to the services that you use rather than having to close and open apps to get things done. It’s all part of the flow of BlackBerry 10.

Do you use cloud storage solutions? How will mobile integration with these types of services improve the experience for you? Share in the comments below.

A large part of cloud is about the mobile web experience and being able to access information and services online, without requiring an application to reside locally anywhere – bringing with it true agnostic access (as in, you can access it regardless of what you are using as long as your browser supports all of the standard web goodies).

There are lots of great business/productivity type services out there available as mobile web options. With the mobile web you can, and probably already do, manage your finances through online banking or online trades, check the status of an eBay® auction or your Etsy site, upload an image to these sites or upload a video to YouTube®, all through your BlackBerry® smartphone or BlackBerry® PlayBook™ tablet.

I have also heard from small business owners that the mobile web and their BlackBerry device allow for seamless operation between their marketing efforts and customer responsiveness through services like Facebook® or Twitter® regardless of where they are. Some businesses have taken this one step further by integrating their blog into the mix. The BlackBerry PlayBook tablet allows them to capture a picture or video of what they want to illustrate in their post; they log into the blog admin account, write the post, and then upload to their blog all from the same piece of hardware. Or additionally, keep the blog service open and take additional photos for uploading or editing as required – ah, true multitasking, something all of you small business folks have mastered out of necessity. Things like Wi-Fi® access while on the road and the ability to view and interact with services like Google® Analytics really allow you to take advantage of the mobile web.

[Karl Allen-Muncy, CuteGecko Inc.]

We were really excited to hear about this small business on the road during the summer – so we hooked them up with a BlackBerry PlayBook tablet so they could stay on top of their business while taking a little break from office life! Here is the story of how they are using their new BlackBerry PlayBook tablet to keep working and engaging with customers/community while travelling across the country.

Which mobile web services do you use in your business? Do you have a preference for apps over mobile web, or does it depend on what the task is?

Previous Posts in the Series:

• SMB Cloud Series #1: “Cloud Storage” for Your Small Business