Installing applications on your BlackBerry Smartphone

There are two ways to get applications installed on your BlackBerry. You can download the file to your computer, connect your device via USB, and let the Desktop Manager install the file for you. A much simpler way is by using Over the Air downloads, or OTA's. Here we will go over the best methods for installing applications on your BlackBerry Smartphone. Read on and get it done!

Several different ways exist for getting OTA installations. You may find an app mentioned in a forum post. Clicking on the download link will take you to the .jad download. In some cases, these will be beta builds; these apps may have bugs and glitches in them. You should always consider what and from where you are downloading before committing.

Two other options are BlackBerry App World and an online app store such as ShopCrackBerry.com. At ShopCB, you can search through thousands of free and paid apps to find the one you'd like. If you wish to purchase a paid app, you will be asked to provide your PIN. Each BlackBerry has a unique Personal Identification Number. One of the fastest ways to find your pin is to simply open a blank email and type "mypin." Your BlackBerry will replace that text with your PIN number. Use this 8-character code to complete your purchase.

Shop Crackberry.com's App Store

You can visit this store by going to http://software.crackberry.com in your computer's browser. A mobile site and mobile app are also available and are covered in a different article. After browsing for a bit, let's imagine you come across CrackBerry Wallpaper Changer. It's free, and you want that app for your phone. Free downloads work a bit differently; you won't need your PIN.

Click Free Download

Enter your phone number to receive a text message or your email address to receive that kind of message. This should be an email address that you have access to on your phone because you want to open the email/text message on your BlackBerry.

When you receive the email or text message, click on the link to be taken to the download page. Click Download to begin installing your new application

BlackBerry App World

Getting new apps from BlackBerry App World is just as easy. The steps start out the same; find an app you would like to download. BlackBerry App World lets you browse by featured apps, categories, and even top 25 downloads. BlackBerry App World comes installed on most BlackBerry's; if you don't have it, you can install it by visiting https://appworld.blackberry.com/webstore/?countrycode=US&lang=en from your smartphone's browser.

Once you've found an app you want, just click Download. Depending on your software version, you may be asked to log in using your BlackBerry ID. If you do not have one, you can create one inside the application by clicking "Create a BlackBerry ID" at the top. Once you've logged in, the application will download and install immediately.

When you first run the new application, you must grant permissions. The process is slightly different between OS 5.0 and OS 6, but the principle is the same. You are allowing the application to access different parts of your BlackBerry. For example, a maps program needs permission to access your GPS data. Granting Trusted Application status means that you give permission to the program to access what it needs. If you don't allow this status, the application will simply pop up a message box each time it needs access to a secured feature.

There you have it. Two different ways to get new applications installed on your BlackBerry over the air. OTA downloads let you get what you need without having to fiddle with wires. Of course, there's always more reading on BlackBerry App World, the Shop CrackBerry store, and wireless features of your BlackBerry.

It's all right here in the BlackBerry 101 Lectures.