We first tipped our hat that Skype was coming to BlackBerry 10 back at the global launch event on January 30th. Now I’m happy to announce that Skype is available for the newly launched BlackBerry Q10. BlackBerry Q10 and Skype are the perfect pair allowing you to chat with other Skype users from the palm of your hand.

While you’re on the go with your BlackBerry Q10 and the Skype app, you’ll enjoy the ability to have:

• Free face to face video and voice calls
• Instant messages
• low cost voice calls and text messages to landlines and mobiles over WiFi® or wireless network connections.

Skype System Requirements:

Skype runs on the 10.1 Operating System on the BlackBerry Q10. As this new version of the BlackBerry 10 operating system launches on the BlackBerry Z10 in the coming weeks, BlackBerry Z10 owners will have the ability to download Skype for BlackBerry from BlackBerry World. We will be talking more about BlackBerry 10.1 on BlackBerry Z10 at BlackBerry Live, so stay tuned and keep it locked to Inside BlackBerry for more information.

Did you just pick up your brand new BlackBerry Q10 and want to give Skype a try? Download it from BlackBerry World and Let us know what you think about the app in the comments below.

A few weeks back we took a look at some of our favorite, or most anticipated apps for BlackBerry 10 and Melanie M. mentioned that she can’t wait to get BlackBerry Travel on her new BlackBerry Z10. Good news for her (and everybody else who’s picked one up) BlackBerry Travel is now available for BlackBerry 10.

If you’ve been using previous generations of BlackBerry Travel, you’ll know that it is definitely a must have for travelers. I’ve written a few times in the past about how the app makes your life easier while on the go. You can plan, book, manage, and share their travel arrangements with friends, colleagues and on social and professional networks while on the go.

BlackBerry Travel for BlackBerry 10 includes all of the great features that make travel simple for BlackBerry customers including: Automatic Trip Scanning, Travel Notification in BlackBerry Hub, Hotel and Car Rental Booking, Itinerary Management, Social Sharing, Search Flights, and Time-Saving Tools. On top of that there are also some new features added as well.

Check them out here:

• Trip Status Sharing – It’s now even easier to post your trip updates on BBM, Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn. With Trip Status Sharing, you can keep your friends and colleagues up-to-date on your travel adventures immediately as they unfold.
• Flight Status Sharing – BlackBerry Travel has always kept you up-to-date with real-time flight statuses and with BlackBerry Travel for BlackBerry 10, you can share this information with your colleagues, friends and social networks. If your flight is delayed, cancelled or changed terminals, you can easily and quickly inform others and make sure they know when and where to pick you up from the airport.
• Price Alerts, Change Offers and Upgrades – The new Price Alert service with BlackBerry Travel for BlackBerry 10 helps ensure you’re always getting the best hotel deal. It will put your mind at ease and automatically notify you if there’s a better price for the hotel room you booked, a comparable hotel for a cheaper price, or if there’s a much better hotel for slightly more. In many cases, you can cancel your original booking without penalty and re-book the better deal through BlackBerry Travel.
• BlackBerry ID – With BlackBerry ID, you’ll never have to login to BlackBerry Travel again. You’ll have instant access to all of its features as soon as you launch the app. Even on your first time using BlackBerry Travel, BlackBerry ID will automatically fill in the registration form for you.

If that’s got you excited, you’re not alone – and better yet it’s available as a free download on the BlackBerry World storefront. Planning any trips in the near future? Be sure to share the excitement with us in the comments, and if you’ve got any tips for using BlackBerry Travel, we’d love to hear your story.

Please note the app may take up to 24 hours to appear in the BlackBerry World Storefront.

Yes, Team BlackBerry, WhatsApp Messenger has arrived in the BlackBerry World storefront for BlackBerry 10 devices, and we couldn’t be more excited! WhatsApp Messenger is a cross-platform mobile messaging app which allows you to exchange messages without having to pay for SMS. WhatsApp Messenger uses the same internet data plan that you use for email and web browsing, so there is no additional cost to message and stay in touch with your friends as long as you stay within your data limits!

WhatsApp provides a fantastic experience that leverages the true multi-tasking capabilities of BlackBerry 10. WhatsApp Messenger for BlackBerry 10 gives you an awesome messaging experience, and it looks and feels stunning. Here’s what you can expect from the app:

• Instant push notifications to alert you when you receive messages- even when the screen is locked.
• Full integration into BlackBerry Contacts, with automatic contact scanning to help you build out your contact list and get started right away.

When we launched BlackBerry 10 on January 30th, Martyn Mallick, VP Global Alliances and Business Development at BlackBerry confirmed onstage that WhatsApp was committed to the platform. Here’s what he had to say about the official launch of WhatsApp for BlackBerry 10

“BlackBerry has always been about bringing people together in a way that is fast, reliable and impactful. WhatsApp is a highly anticipated mobile messaging app that connects users to their contacts on several platforms, and we are pleased to work with WhatsApp to bring their service to our customers.”

WhatsApp co-founder Brian Acton also had this to say about building for BlackBerry 10 and bringing WhatsApp into BlackBerry World today.

“BlackBerry has been a great platform for WhatsApp for many years. Delivering WhatsApp on BlackBerry 10 devices is in line with our goals of ensuring that our customers around the world can continue to communicate with the most important people in their lives.”

You can download WhatsApp Messenger in BlackBerry World starting today!

Have you been using WhatsApp for years, or are you a new customer? Either way try out the app and let us know your favorite features in the comments below.

WhatsApp Messenger is available for download in BlackBerry World — please note that it may take up to 24 hoursto appear in the BlackBerry World storefront.

Read more at the Inside BlackBerry Help Blog »

In 1984, a leap year which began on a Sunday, Research In Motion (RIM) was founded in Waterloo, Ontario. Best known for the development of the BlackBerry product line, RIM, now in its late twenties, has grown up with users born that same year.

During that time, RIM has put smartphones, software and the BlackBerry PlayBook tablet in the hands of users all around the world. Mobile access to email, apps, communication and information that matters most are things that BlackBerry customers have grown accustomed to regardless of when they grew up.

Since RIM is still in its late twenties, I’d like to hear from loyal #TeamBlackBerry members under 30 years old. How has mobile technology changed in your lifetime? And what do you expect from your new BlackBerry 10 smartphone?

Let’s hear your thoughts in the comments below!

Let’s make sure that we keep ourselves—and our BlackBerry devices—warm and dry during the coming winter months by keeping an eye on the forecast with BlackBerry weather apps:

WeatherEye HD by The Weather Network: Local weather and alerts are sent straight to your BlackBerry PlayBook tablet through the WeatherEye HD app. You can receive active weather coverage and detailed forecasts for thousands of locations in cities through the U.S., Canada and other locations throughout the world.

e-Mobile Weather by e-Mobile Software, Inc.: This weather app offers live, detailed weather on your BlackBerry smartphone. You can view real-time weather reports, forecasts, trends and radar images. E-Mobile Weather also supports international cities for your trips abroad.

Weather by Simply Apps: With this app you can get day-to-day weather details and weekly weather outlooks on your BlackBerry smartphone. You can save battery life by choosing to refresh weather details automatically or manually. You can even use the GPS on your BlackBerry device for hyper-accurate weather reporting.

How do you use your BlackBerry smartphone or BlackBerry PlayBook tablet to keep tabs on Mother Nature? Let us know in the comments!

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.

Read more at the Inside BlackBerry for Business Blog »

Earlier I blogged about Gamer Nostalgia on BlackBerry Devices, which was a roundup of some old school, nostalgia-inspiring games for BlackBerry smartphones and BlackBerry PlayBook tablets. After reading a few reader comments it occurred to me that beyond the games we played on ancient consoles in our parents’ basements, we also filled our pockets with quarters and travelled to a quintessential geek hangout to play our favorite games – the video arcade.

As an arcade fan, I had to highlight some of the incredible arcade games now available for BlackBerry smartphone and BlackBerry PlayBook tablets in the BlackBerry App World storefront.

• Gauntlet (IN) by Electronic Arts Nederland B.V.: In this game, players must select one of four mythical characters – Thor the Warrior, Merlin the Wizard, Thyra the Valkyrie and Questor the Elf – and use their player’s unique strengths to reign supreme. As a youngster, my parents saw this game as a way to teach me about the merits of individuality. While I didn’t exactly grow up wielding a sword like Thor, I like to think my childhood top scores in this game speak for themselves.

• Pac-Man – FREE Trial by Electronic Arts Nederland B.V.: The 8-year-old arcade fan boy in me is overjoyed to know that the graphics in this arcade classic haven’t deviated from the original Pac-Man. The grownup in me enjoys the game’s modern-day features like Bluetooth multi-player connectivity. For hardcore Pac-Man players, try the Championship Edition.

• Space Invaders Evolution by Electronic Arts Nederland B.V.: One of the most memorable and arcade games is now available on your BlackBerry smartphone! Get ready for your intergalactic mission to eliminate the source of the space invaders, the Mothership. Are you ready to save the world?

• Galaga by Namco Networks America, Inc.: One of the longest-running arcade games in history, Galaga back and ready for your BlackBerry smartphone. Get ready to defend against alien fire and escape their collision-course formation attacks when you relive one of the greatest arcade classics.

For even more arcade games, check out BlackBerry App World!

Do you have an all-time favorite arcade game? Can you play it on your BlackBerry device? Let us know in the comment section below.

Nostalgia is, quite simply, a bittersweet yearning for things, persons, or situations of past. What inspires your nostalgia? Is it watching reruns of your favorite TV show or an old movie? Is it looking through old photo albums? Maybe it’s finding your first BlackBerry ® smartphone, still tucked away in a drawer after all these years. For everyone, nostalgia is a little different. For this self-proclaimed geek, it’s video games!

Here are a few of my favorite BlackBerry smartphone and BlackBerry ® PlayBook ™ tablet games that tend to inspire a little bit of nostalgia:

• Air Hockey by Caner Altinbasak: This game may remind you of plugging in the table and chasing flying pucks around the basement or the arcade. This BlackBerry PlayBook tablet version of the classic game gives you fluid gameplay and a realistic feel with cool graphics and sound. You can even challenge your friends to a game with the paid version, Air Hockey Gold ($0.99).

• Smart Blocks by TechSoft Ventures: What do you say to yourself when faced with more luggage than trunk space? “I was a master at block-stacking puzzle games. I’ve got this.” Smart Blocks will remind you of some of these favorites from your youth and relive some of those good old times on your BlackBerry smartphone.

• The Bard’s Tale by inXile Entertainment: Whether you played the original (circa 1985) or not, this amazing role-playing game on the BlackBerry PlayBook tablet is a tough one to put down. Singing and laughter paired with a huge environment to explore made me glad I downloaded this app. Plus, the teen rating on The Bard’s Tale means that you can let your older kids play it as well.

• Look and Listen by XIMAD INC.: We called this game ‘Simon Says’ or ‘Copy Cat’ back when the buttons actually clicked when you pushed them down. The instructions were simple: Remember the colors and the sequence they appeared. Easy enough, right? Give this relative of the popular game a try on your BlackBerry smartphone today!

• Super Crossfire by Union: You might remember a little arcade game called Space Invaders that took over the gaming world back in 1978. Now you can relive your youth and blast alien invaders away on your BlackBerry PlayBook tablet with Super Crossfire.

These are only a few of my favorite games, but I want to hear from some hardcore old school gamers in the comments below. Which of your nostalgia-inspiring favorite games would you put in a Top 10 list?

If you’ve been reading the blogs lately, you may have guessed I’m a gamer, and you know I love playing games on my BlackBerry ® smartphone or BlackBerry ® PlayBook ™ tablet. When it comes to gaming this Halloween, there are no tricks — only treats. From zombies to snipers to the evil Draky, here are a few of my favorite spooktacular games from the BlackBerry App World™ storefront:

• Bomberman vs Zombies by Contlex Labs LLP: Be brave and save Planet Earth from Zombie invasion with the help of Bomberman on your BlackBerry smartphone. Use his 5 lives wisely to navigate the earth space, or tap into the app’s bonus features to earn extra lives.

• Bloody Sniper by Auto Labs: You know those times when you’re walking home late at night and suddenly find yourself in a cemetery being attached by monsters, zombies and skeletons? That’s exactly what happens to our hero in Bloody Sniper. Help Bloody Sniper defeat this band of evil creatures and survive the night with this BlackBerry smartphone app!

• Draky and the Twilight Castle LITE! by Joyco Games: For those with a Dracula fascination, or want to flex their skills at sparing a couple innocent children from a lifetime in Draky’s evil castle, download this app free for BlackBerry smartphones.

• CandyMare by NoisyNinja: Flex your skills by navigating through a puzzle of monsters and ghosts on your way to the candy factory. With 60 levels of “candy adventures” and the ability to track achievements, this BlackBerry PlayBook tablet app will keep you entertained until the ghouls and goblins are gone.

• Night of the Living Dead Defense by Marmalade: If you’re a fan of the cult-classic horror movie Night of the Living Dead, this HD game for the BlackBerry PlayBook tablet is an excellent pick. Get ready to shoot zombies and save humanity with a host of gameplay features, including multi-screen levels, visible monster paths, and 12 unique upgradable gunners as your backup. The only thing left to do is stay alive!

• Plants vs. Zombies for BlackBerry PlayBook by Electronic Arts Inc.: My Halloween wouldn’t be complete without Plants vs. Zombies for the BlackBerry PlayBook tablet. Ge ready to knock off a mob of zombies with peashooters, wall-nuts, cherry bombs and more before they reach your front door.

These are only a few of my favorite Halloween-inspired gaming apps for BlackBerry devices. How do you plan to stay safe from zombies and vampires more this Halloween? Shout out your favorites in the comments!