Woohoo! For all you social media fiends out there, we’re keeping the updates flowing. Both the Twitter and LinkedIn apps will be receiving an update for BlackBerry 10 smartphones today. The apps will be available for free download in the BlackBerry World storefront. These enhanced apps make it easier than ever to stay connected and do more with your social and professional contacts, while on the go.

I’m sure you can’t wait to check out some of the new features and enhancements you can look forward to when you pick them up. Check out all the details below.

New Features for Twitter version 10.0.3/10.1.3

• Enjoy more content with Universal Search –See more content when you’re searching. You’ll be able to view related profiles, tweets and top tweets, photos and relevant searches all on one page.
• Always Fresh Content – Content that is always fresh and up to date. Automatic caching gives you the current information at your fingertips without having to manually refresh your tabs.

New Features for LinkedIn version 10.0.3/10.1.3

• Find your current contacts on LinkedIn: With the latest update, you can import the personal address book from your BlackBerry 10 device to LinkedIn, making it easier to view and connect to your contacts on LinkedIn.
• UI improvements: We’ve updated the overall design of the LinkedIn application for BlackBerry 10 to improve the user experience. These updates include improved visual styling, better pull down functionalities for refreshes, touch down feedback on clicking list items, and more.
• Follow and learn about companies :An important element of LinkedIn is the ability to connect to companies and subscribe for company related updates and content. The latest version of LinkedIn for BlackBerry 10 allows you to view information about the companies you follow in greater detail, such as:
• How you’re connected
• About
• Jobs
• Similar Companies
• News & Updates
• Other Updates: We’ve made quite a few additional updates to LinkedIn for BlackBerry 10. These include inbox enhancements, deleting and archiving messages, people search improvements, and the ability to update your profile photo from within the app. To get all the details, visit the official app page on the BlackBerry World application storefront.

Do these updates have your mouth watering? Download them now on BlackBerry World: Twitter v10.0.3/10.1.3 and LinkedIn v10.0.3/10.1.3 and let us know what you’re most excited for in the comments below.

Please note the apps may take up to 24 hours to appear in BlackBerry World storefront.

Today, we’re happy to announce that the latest LinkedIn app update for BlackBerry 6 and 7 smartphones is now available for download on BlackBerry World. The new 2.2 version provides more tools to keep you connected to your LinkedIn professional network while on the go. New features to check out include the ability to share updates with BlackBerry Messenger contacts and follow companies.

BBM-Connected Status Updates

BlackBerry Messenger (BBM) has always been an integral component of the BlackBerry platform, providing a valuable communication tool for messaging between friends and business users alike. With the launch of version 2.2, the LinkedIn app for BlackBerry is now integrated with BBM. This allows you to share your LinkedIn posts with your BBM contacts, maximizing the experience over both networks. You will also see LinkedIn updates reflected on the “BBM Recent Updates” screen.

Follow Companies

LinkedIn is a great channel for connecting with companies and receiving information on their products and services, resources, job openings, and other updates. The LinkedIn 2.2 update on BlackBerry enables you to follow the companies you’re interested in by subscribing to LinkedIn company pages.

To download LinkedIn 2.2 for BlackBerry, head on over to the BlackBerry World store front. Note that it may take up to 24 hours for the app to appear, depending on your location. Also, make sure you’re following the BlackBerry company page on LinkedIn for the latest BlackBerry news!

Download LinkedIn 2.2 for BlackBerry 6 and 7 smartphones

What LinkedIn features do you use to stay connected with your professional network? Share with us in the comments section below.

Our LinkedIn Group and LinkedIn Products Page have been abuzz with BlackBerry enthusiasts who rely on BlackBerry to provide solid business devices, and have been waiting to get their hands on the new BlackBerry Z10. Kris Ninnim, Owner and Operator at CK-OMS, writes:

Will Robertson, Product and Services Development Specialist at Bell also provided his positive initial impression:

We’ve also seen some great feedback on Twitter from our @BlackBerry4Biz followers:

@BlackBerry4Biz #BEF13 #BBZ10 Keep moving. Very impressive. Great device to balance work and life.—
Nina G. Caspillo (@ninagcaspillo) February 13, 2013

@BlackBerry4Biz just got my z10 and loving it! Smartphone of the year, 2013. It truly is an outstanding device.—
Tech Man (@techmogulevol) February 10, 2013

Never thought I would type on glass until demoing @BlackBerry Z10 @ BEF13. #incredible—
Michael Grimes (@msgrimes1959) February 04, 2013

To learn more about how you can make the most of every business opportunity with the BlackBerry Z10, check out our video below:

[ YouTube link for mobile viewing ]

Have you had the chance to try the new BlackBerry Z10 smartphone? We’d love to hear your first impressions in the comments below or with a recommendation on our LinkedIn products page.

On Twitter, BlackBerry Enterprise Service 10 has been welcomed with eager anticipation from the day it was announced:

BlackBerry Enterprise Service 10 is out today. The server is free to download and can admin iOS and Android devices too. Pretty impressive.—
Simoη Dingle (@simondingle) January 23, 2013

‏@BlackBerry4Biz We upgraded to #BES10 a couple of days ago. Smooth like butter. blck.by/ViZrwO ^L—
Alan Quarry (@aquarry) January 29, 2013

Well! That was a piece of cake! Installed @BlackBerry4Biz Enterprise Service 10! We are ready for BB10s on Monday! http://t.co/WjSyNQMv—
Neil (@NeilHyndman) February 10, 2013

We’ve also appreciated the feedback we’ve gotten from reviewers on LinkedIn. Todd Striegel, Senior System Support at Coca-Cola Bottling Co. Consolidated, writes:

K&K Electronics LTD Product Manager Nina Bogdanova also shares positive feedback:

To learn more about how BlackBerry Enterprise Service 10 can help your business with management, productivity, and secure interaction with corporate data, check out our interview with Jeff Holleran, Senior Director of Enterprise Product Management at BlackBerry:

[ YouTube link for mobile viewing ]

If your organization is using BlackBerry Enterprise Service 10, we’d love to hear from you in the comments below or with a recommendation on our LinkedIn products page.

The LinkedIn app update makes it even easier to stay connected on the go by allowing you to sync and merge your LinkedIn connections with existing BlackBerry contacts in your address book. And, with the new “Groups and More” tab, you can view saved and recommended jobs and access, add, view and participate in the groups that matter to you most.

Jobs

The new LinkedIn “Groups and More” tab allows you to access even more key areas of LinkedIn right from the navigation screen, including jobs. With this feature, you can easily access the jobs you’ve saved and browse ones that are recommended for you. And remember, when you’re done looking at jobs you can get back to the main navigation screen by tapping the LinkedIn logo at the top left-hand corner of the app.

Groups

LinkedIn 2.1 makes it even easier to stay up-to-date with the groups that are most important to you. The “Groups and More” tab makes it simple to access groups that you’ve already joined and participate by viewing and adding content. You can also easily view pending group memberships and access a list of groups that LinkedIn recommends for you and join them with just one tap.

Contact Sync

With the new Contact Sync feature, finding out detailed professional information about the colleagues in your next business meeting is as easy as looking them up in your address book. The app allows you to connect your existing BlackBerry contacts with your LinkedIn connections, and where no contact exists, the app can optionally create a new one for you. This helps to make keeping track of your business connections and interactions easier than ever.

We can’t wait for you to try these new features that make the new LinkedIn app even more interactive and in turn make you more productive. Download LinkedIn 2.1 for BlackBerry smartphones today to ensure that you have the latest tools to put your professional network in the palm of your hands.

Once you’ve gotten the update, check out our BlackBerry for Business discussion group on LinkedIn – a place for professionals, administrators, and business owners discuss the latest on BlackBerry solutions and trends, as well as a touch-point for you to speak with us directly.

Which new feature are you most excited to try out? Let us know in the comments below.

Note: The LinkedIn app for BlackBerry smartphones requires BlackBerry OS 6 or higher, as well as a Wi-Fi connection or data plan in order to function properly. Learn more about regional availability and language preferences on the BlackBerry World storefront.

Many of us, particularly readers of this blog, use our BlackBerry® smartphones and tablets to get things done at work or on the road. We’re business users, and while we do love all of the personal apps and social experiences that the devices offer, we’re also passionate about productivity and staying on top of our tasks. One place that we all come together is the BlackBerry for Business discussion group on LinkedIn.

Beyond editing the BlackBerry for Business Blog, I also have the pleasure of being the community manager for this LinkedIn group. The discussions are always spirited and engaging, and range from app recommendation requests to discussions on maximizing ROI from BlackBerry solutions.

10,000 Members!

Our little group is not so little anymore – we just recently hit 10,000 members, and I’d like to share a quick video message with the group and the BlackBerry for Business blog to express how much we appreciate all of the contributions and participation. Check out the video below:

[ YouTube link for mobile viewing ]

If you haven’t checked out the group yet, be sure to head over to http://bbry.lv/BlackBerryforBusiness and check it out! To get you hooked, here are a few of the discussion topics that have recently been posted – come on in and share your thoughts!

• Just Announced: The official BlackBerry 10 launch event will be on Jan. 30, 2013!
• Does anyone have a good note taking app for the PlayBook?
• How safe is your mobile data?
• Will my BlackBerry Services work on Wi-Fi if I am on international roaming? I don’t have an international data plan.
• A day in the life of my BlackBerry PlayBook

Are you ready to dive in? Head over to the BlackBerry for Business discussion group and get started. And again, THANK YOU to all of the members – let’s work on that next 10,000!

Note: LinkedIn, the LinkedIn logo, the IN logo and InMail are registered trademarks or trademarks of LinkedIn Corporation and its affiliates in the United States and/or other countries.

From all of our conversations on our LinkedIn® Group and Company Page, Twitter®, and here on the blogs, we know that you’ve been patiently waiting for a LinkedIn app for your BlackBerry® smartphone. Today we’re excited to announce that the day has come! A free LinkedIn app for smartphones running BlackBerry OS 6 and 7 is now available for download; get it here.

With LinkedIn you can put your professional network at your fingertips. The new LinkedIn app for BlackBerry smartphones lets you access many of the LinkedIn features that you love from the desktop experience and stay connected while on the go. Read on for an overview of the features that are included in the app.

New Features

Navigation Screen

The app lets you easily access key areas of LinkedIn through the navigation screen, which includes access to an update feed, your profile, inbox and messages, and your professional network of connections. You can tap the LinkedIn logo at the top left corner of the app to get to the navigation screen at any time.

Profiles

The new LinkedIn app gives you access to a Personal Profile view of your profile or that of a connection. In this area you can view not only personal information such as name, headline, company, and location, but also professional experience, education, certifications, and recommendations. If you are like me, you’ll like to check out who’s viewed your profile – just like on the desktop version. This feature is located in the Profile tab within the app.

Inbox

LinkedIn messages are a great way to get in touch with new connections and to keep in touch with your existing network. Access your inbox from the LinkedIn app for BlackBerry smartphones to receive and respond to invitations and messages on the go. Information displayed for each message includes the name and profile image of the sender, a message subject, and the time that has passed since the message was received. Clicking on the message displays the full text. You can also accept or ignore invitations to connect from within your inbox.

Network

You can check out connections in your network and launch their profiles from the Network area. You also have the option to grow your network through a Connections Search or scan through ‘People you may know’ to find out who LinkedIn recommends you connect with.

Recent Updates

You will find under “Recent Updates”, a list of activity from your Connections, companies that you follow, and news from your network, which allows you to stay in-the-know by checking out Recent Activity, Likes/Comments on Updates, or by reading insightful articles on LinkedIn Today.

We hope that you’re as excited about this app launch as we are. Be sure to download the LinkedIn app for BlackBerry smartphones today to get the latest updates from contacts, access the info that you need, reach out to colleagues, and much more.

Of the Inbox, Updates or Network; which will you use the app to view most often and why? Share in the comments below.

Note: It may take up to 24 hours for the app to appear in BlackBerry® App World™. The LinkedIn app for BlackBerry smartphones requires BlackBerry OS 6 or higher, as well as a Wi-Fi connection or data plan in order to function properly. Learn more about regional availability and language preferences on the BlackBerry App World™ storefront.

LinkedIn™ is well known as a social network for expanding and maintaining professional relationships. Lately, many LinkedIn users have also been turning to the social networking tool as a way to connect directly with brands that frequently update their LinkedIn profile and groups with product updates, company news, and information about events.

In case you haven’t done so already, two great ways to connect with Research In Motion® (RIM®) on LinkedIn are the Research In Motion company page and the BlackBerry® for Business discussion group. Follow RIM on LinkedIn by clicking on the “Follow” button on the right side of the Research In Motion company page so that you don’t miss any important news or updates.

If you are already connected with Research In Motion, many thanks! Our Company Page is a hub of information that focuses on providing updates on our company, products, resources, sales contacts, and more.

To be more specific, on the main page, you’ll see that we’ve been using status updates to share news, product information, and case studies. In addition to this, the Products and Service tab is full of fantastic information that provides product descriptions, sales contacts, and customer reviews for many of our products. If you’re in the market for a 4G LTE™ BlackBerry® PlayBook™ tablet, a new BlackBerry® 7 OS smartphone, or looking to upgrade to BlackBerry® Mobile Fusion, take a look at the Products and Services tab and see what others are saying about our products — there are over 600 recommendations! You can provide your own product recommendations on this page and let us know which features you love too.

Another way to connect with RIM on LinkedIn is through the BlackBerry for Business group. This group is a community comprised of business professionals and IT decision makers who contribute to an information hub of best practices, advice, case studies and knowledge sharing, all relating to using BlackBerry for and within business.

Some of our recent discussion topics include: smartphone functionality twenty years from now, concerns in business mobility, and BlackBerry Mobile Fusion. I really cannot say enough about the insightful information and tips that this group shares with each other. To become a member, click the “Join Group” button at the top of the BlackBerry for Business group homepage.

We love talking to members of our community and hearing their stories, feedback and advice. Join us on LinkedIn and share you experiences!

Connect with RIM through social media:

• Follow our Research In Motion company page on LinkedIn
• Join our BlackBerry for Business group on LinkedIn
• Follow @BlackBerry4Biz on Twitter®
• Subscribe to the BlackBerry Channel on SlideShare®
• Subscribe to the BlackBerry Channel on YouTube®

I recently spoke with several small business owners and entrepreneurs at the Top 100 SMB Influencers event in New York City, and one consistent theme that emerged from these conversations was how successful businesses use various forms of direct customer feedback to improve their services and products. Social media and Customer Relationship Management (CRM) provide a platform for consistent and direct engagement between businesses and their customers and prospects. Research In Motion Limited (RIM®) also embraces customer and developer feedback tools.

If you’re not already aware, the BlackBerry® Beta Zone represents one of our flagship communities for providing feedback on new products and solutions. An example can be found in the BlackBerry® Mobile Conferencing app, which has brought integration and enablement for BlackBerry® smartphones to manage conference calls and bridge information. Mobile Conferencing was introduced to the BlackBerry Beta Zone on April 8th, 2011; launched on BlackBerry App World™ storefront on June 3rd,2011 and updated on August 11th, 2011. User feedback played a significant role in product development for this app.

First, the BlackBerry Mobile Conferencing app was designed with an understanding that we as business teams are constantly hosting or joining conference calls, often using BlackBerry smartphones on the go or from a home office. Mobile Conferencing was the answer to the issue of having to both record and input conference information on a regular basis.

A significant amount of feedback was obtained through the BlackBerry Beta Zone from users of this app; one user in particular had concerns over the amount of conference profiles available (the original being 5), and voiced this within the community. Additionally, there were requests to improve the conference information detection algorithms to better automatically pull the information from meeting invites. The Beta Zone community managers then provided this feedback to the product development team, who increased the functionality of the app to include 10 profiles and enhanced the detection algorithms in the recent update. These are just a few examples of how forum posts by users, practically engaged with a solution, were communicated back to RIM and then included in a product update.

During some of my social community management activities over the past few months, I’ve been seeking feedback and ideas, as well as having some great conversations with BlackBerry users and business owners who face unique challenges in their daily work. Over on our BlackBerry® for Business discussion group on LinkedIn® , we’ve had discussions about features, apps, accessory wish lists, general feedback, touch screens vs. physical keyboards, and many more. It’s truly been great to see how BlackBerry solutions are being used in everyday life and work, as well as to connect directly with customers and provide an avenue for real discussion.

Where can customers provide feedback on BlackBerry products and solutions?

• BlackBerry Beta Zone
• BlackBerry Social Communities (including LinkedIn)
• BlackBerry App World Product Reviews

Does your business engage in social customer feedback? Share in the comments below.

Hello all! You may recognize me – I’m Luke, a community manager on our BlackBerry® for Business LinkedIn® discussion group. I just wanted to take a moment to share some of the exciting things that are currently happening in our LinkedIn community!

The discussion group has been growing very quickly, with new conversations, ideas and members popping up every day. I’ll highlight two discussions in particular that have been really neat to be a part of, but first I just want to take the opportunity to thank the members of our social communities. It’s great to have a group of people who are using our products and who are willing to engage with us in feedback and discussion. It’s definitely encouraging to see these social properties grow and thrive.

Check out the following two discussion highlights and once you’re finished, head over to the BlackBerry for Business group on LinkedIn to join the conversation!

“BlackBerry PlayBook in Business”

This thread was started to get a feel for how the BlackBerry® PlayBook™ tablet is being used in real-world, everyday business life. We always hope to understand how the BlackBerry PlayBook tablet is being used by end users, learn new areas of application and to be aware of how various companies and industries are making use of our products in general.

The result has been phenomenal – many users have shared their personal experiences, discussed the variety of tasks performed and given their thoughts on the variety of features. I believe that there’s something here for all of us to learn in terms of how the BlackBerry PlayBook tablet can be used and how it is being used by individuals, groups, consumers, and professionals.

“What feature would you most like to see in future BlackBerry PlayBook tablets that has not been already promised?”

This is where corporate social media gets really exciting. This discussion thread is user-generated, and holds a goldmine of feedback on the BlackBerry PlayBook tablet. Many group members have shared what they already enjoy, but also what they hope to see in the future.

This feedback is constantly being consolidated and made visible within Research In Motion® (RIM®). In this group, everyday device users can have a say in the products that they’re using! The perspectives have been really great to be aware of, stemming from a wide variety of industries and use demands that individuals have as they apply the BlackBerry PlayBook tablet to their specific line of work.

These are just two of many great discussions occurring daily on the BlackBerry for Business LinkedIn group – and elsewhere on our social channels. I just wanted to share this piece with you to drive awareness and to thank everyone involved in these conversations that are helping to spread knowledge and improve the BlackBerry platform products of the future.

What are you waiting for? Head over and join the conversation.