Ah, love. It’s in the air! Call us hopeless romantics, but we absolutely adore Valentine’s Day. Hearts, poems, candy, flowers— the season of love is packed with so many special symbols that fill us with warmth. Still, nothing quite embodies the spirit of this enchanting holiday like a great love story. Just in time to celebrate, we’re putting the spotlight on two BlackBerry lovebirds. Recently, Julie, one half of our BlackBerry duo, took to our Facebook Page to share her amazing BlackBerry love story with the world.

Julie and Andrew* first met in England, where their love story began. After exchanging a few flirtatious BBM messages, their relationship took off and the two quickly became inseparable. Sadly, when Julie moved back to Canada to be with her family, the pair thought that their love story was over…until BBM brought them back together! Our hearts melted when we read Julie’s incredibly sweet story about how BBM rekindled their romance and helped bridge the distance across an ocean.

We were so moved, in fact, that we’re bending the rules a little bit and crowning this adorable BlackBerry couple as our BlackBerry Fans of the Month for February. Team BlackBerry, please join us in congratulating Julie (@Jules_Kernal) and Andrew! If you thought their love story was swoon-worthy, just wait until you see what they had to say in response to our questions:

1. How many years have you two been on Team BlackBerry?

I have been a part of Team BlackBerry since 2008; I think Andrew has been a Team BlackBerry member since at least 2007, he says he can’t remember off hand – but he is now a convert, with at least 2 BlackBerry devices at any given time!

2. How many BlackBerry devices have each of you had in total? Could you list them all out for us?

For me, I first fell in love with BlackBerry when it still had the Chicken game (any chance you’re bringing that back?). As for my devices I’ve had the BlackBerry Curve 8900, the original BlackBerry Bold 9000 and then the BlackBerry Torch 9800, which combines the touch screen and QWERTY keyboard in one – and my BlackBerry PlayBook tablet! Andrew has had the BlackBerry Bold 9900, the BlackBerry Torch 9800 and the BlackBerry Torch 9810, the BlackBerry Curve 8900 and then this really old one he cannot remember and his BlackBerry PlayBook tablet that he takes everywhere!

3. How many BBM contacts do you two have collectively?

I have 32, Andrew has 81, so collectively 115 though we tend to use one contact more than all the others!

4. What are your favorite BBM emoticons? Do you use emoticons often when you BBM each other?

I like the smiley face. It’s easy, to the point and universal. Oh and I use the hug one, too. I probably use the smiley face and the heart with Andrew the most. Andrew uses emoticons ALL the time, I think his “most used” with me are the heart (aww) the big happy face , the angry one ~:-) when we are discussing frustrating issues (outside of our relationship) and the /:) which I call the “really?” face, as it is always in response to an interesting point he wants me to elaborate on.

5. Which one of you sent the first BBM to the other? What did it say? What response did you receive in return?

The first BBM?! Truthfully, we wracked our brains and don’t remember exactly, but I think it was probably me and said “Look who’s got BBM! xx” (before then I had been texting from another phone I later got rid of) and I am 90% sure there was a emoticon kiss as a response!

6. Julie, tell us about the best BBM you’ve ever received from Andrew. Your turn Andrew, tell us about the best BBM you’ve ever received from Julie.

I think I have two that are tied. The first was when he sort of said he loved me via BBM; I believe it went something like “I love it, and you”; not the most romantic way to say it for the first time, but most certainly memorable. The second was the BBM I received when we had been apart for so long. I think it simply said: “Hello. I miss you, can I call you?” But it meant the world to me at the time.

Andrew says that “all” of my BBMs to him are the best (aww, how cute).

7. Julie, if you could BBM your BlackBerry, what would you say? And what about you, Andrew?

I would say “A thousand times, thank you for being my life line, my knowledgeable companion and my reminder of all things important. Thank you for capturing amazing life moments and lighting my way in the dark. I’m sorry if I don’t tell you enough – You are Ah-mazing!” I hope my BlackBerry would respond with a Happy Face! (Maybe the new BlackBerry Z10 could actually say “you’re welcome” with Voice Control!)

Andrew: “Thanks mate.”

8. Julie, we also know that you’re an actress. Any upcoming debuts we should be looking out for?

Actually, I’ll be in a commercial coming up this spring!

9. What did you two think about the launch of BlackBerry 10? Did any announcement in particular stand out?

I was so excited about the launch! I have been WAITING for this. As an avid Team BlackBerry member, I did not wish to stray from my trustworthy BlackBerry, though my current one (well-loved and used!) is slowly aging and becoming less reliable (due to overuse, I am sure). The new features of BlackBerry 10 encompass all the things I want in a new phone and more – the camera feature means no more eyes closed!! I have been talking about it to Andrew for months – to the point where I was most certainly telling him things he already knew!

10. And finally, we just have to ask: Are you two prepared to handle the fame that comes with being our Fans of the Month?

Oh I think we can handle it! We are just happy to be a part of the Team and for the opportunity express our thanks to BlackBerry for creating their products. We both use it as a lifeline to each other and our families. Without it, we would not be together now.

*Name has been changed to respect privacy requests.

Be sure to check out the other awesome members of the BlackBerry Fan of the Month (FOTM) club:

January – Brian (@newshutr)
February – Ivan (@IvanSHarris)
March – Jane (@photosfromabb)
April – Josh (@BBbrodyBB)
May - Mark (@AllAboutMyBB)
June – JT (@jt_teran)
July – Kimberly (@kmcooley)
August – Mike (@flash0p)
September – Jon (@nerdologist_jon)
October – Guido (@FuriousGuido)
November – Ange (@Afl2277)
December – Zalman (@Zalman5K)
January 2013 – Arisham (@arisham2003)

Do you have your own BlackBerry love story? We’d love to hear it! Share it with the world by posting on our Facebook Page or in the comment section below.

Keep sharing your FOTM suggestions with us, either by leaving a comment below, tweeting to us @BlackBerry on Twitter, or posting on our Facebook page. Stay tuned – our March FOTM could be YOU!

A new year means new resolutions, new possibilities, and, of course, a new BlackBerry Fan of the Month (FOTM)! To go along with our recent trend of featuring fans from all over the globe, this month we’re putting the spotlight on a dedicated member of Team BlackBerry who hails from Kuala Lumpur.

Our January FOTM is what you might call a “true renaissance man.” He’s a gadget-loving IT specialist with a passion for traveling, hiking, mountain climbing, fishing AND martial arts (phew!) who loves spending time with his wife, kids and his three cats, who he affectionately refers to as his “furry kids”. When he’s not out conquering the world, this family man is known to lend a helping hand to BlackBerry users all around the world in person, over BBM, on Twitter and on the BlackBerry Malaysia Facebook Page. He also has his own Facebook page dedicated to sharing BlackBerry news, providing solutions and debating different topics with other fans!

With that, I’m pleased to introduce you all to our January FOTM, Arisham (@arisham2003). Read on to learn more about his journey on Team BlackBerry.

1. How many years have you been on Team BlackBerry?

I’ve been on #TeamBlackBerry since 2008. Since then I’ve been actively helping to answer BlackBerry questions from all around the globe.

2. How many BlackBerry devices have you had in total? Could you list them all out for us?

9! BlackBerry Bold 9000, BlackBerry Bold 9700, BlackBerry Bold 9790, BlackBerry Curve 8310, BlackBerry Curve 8520, BlackBerry Curve 9300, BlackBerry Storm 9520, BlackBerry PlayBook tablet (2). My next one (No. 10) should be a BlackBerry 10 device!

3. How many BBM contacts do you have?

More than 500 contacts from around the globe.

4. What is your favorite BBM emoticon?

*Running* – It’s my trademark.

5. Tell us about the best BBM you’ve ever received. What did it say and who was it from?

It was a BBM from a Brazilian user that reached me at 3:00am (Malaysia time). He needed help on reinstalling his OS. I guided him through until 5:00am. He then realized that it was late in the morning Malaysia time! We became good friends after that.

6. If you could BBM your BlackBerry, what would you say? How do you think your BlackBerry would respond?

I’d say, “Hi love, thank you for being loyal and for serving me sincerely.” She’d probably say “I’m yours, darling!”

7. Do you have an all-time favorite BlackBerry memory? If so, we’d love to hear about it.

I found a BlackBerry in public restroom. After a few calls, I managed to find the owner of the BlackBerry Bold 9700. I then returned the BlackBerry and said, “Only a BlackBerry lover would return a BlackBerry to the owner…‘cause we know how it feels to lose it!”

8. When did you start actively answering BlackBerry questions from other users on Twitter and Facebook?

I’ve been answering questions from many forums and Facebook Pages since 2008 and have been the resident fan that answers questions on the BlackBerry Malaysia Facebook page since the day the page launched. Twitter users can follow me at @arisham2003. I’ve been tweeting since February 15, 2010.

9. What made you decide to create a Facebook page dedicated to BlackBerry?

I love BlackBerry and I want all people to know news about it. With Facebook I can share my thoughts and carefully answer fans or debate certain topics. You can reach me on Facebook at www.facebook.com/powerfanarisham.

10. What was the most challenging BlackBerry-related support question you’ve ever resolved?

There was one user, she wasn’t a technie and she had hardly used any IT devices. The BlackBerry was given to her by her good friend and her BlackBerry OS corrupted. I carefully guided her step-by-step and did my best to keep her calm. We finally made it! She treated me for a nice coffee a few days after that.

11. What is the #1 BlackBerry tip you’d like to share with fellow BlackBerry users?

You own THE BEST smartphone. In time of need, BBM! We listen.

12. We love that you’re excited for the launch of BlackBerry 10. Which features are you MOST excited to try?

I love Blackberry HUB and the awesome new design paradigmI. Not to forget, the fluid virtual keyboard! Every time I go to sleep, I wish tomorrow is January 30, 2013!

13. Your Twitter bio says that you are an IT Specialist and a Martial Arts practitioner. Are those hobbies or do you do them professionally?

I’m an IT Specialist. I specialized in Document Management System prior to that. I have been a programmer for the last 15 years. I hold a Black Belt in Silat (Malay martial art). I’ve practiced it since I was 7 years old.

14. We also know that you’re a cat lover. Could you tell us more about when you were a CFA (Cat Fanciers’ Association) Ambassador?

I love to speak to people and teach them about cat care and cat shows. I also help spread the benefits of cat neutering to people. I also advise people on how to differentiate between pedigrees and long/semi-long hair cats and why people shouldn’t buy cats from backyard breeders.

I’ve owned Maine Coons, Norwegians and Siberians. I was the first in Asia to own a complete ‘Forest Cat’.

15. And finally, we just have to ask: Are you prepared to handle the fame that comes with being our Fan of the Month?

My martial art guru used to say, “Fame and Knowledge came with responsibility. Knowledge is powerful, Spread it!”

I would like to thank every man and woman who dedicated make a BlackBerry to what it is nowadays. To you guys in Inside BlackBerry for the wonderful conversation, love you! And not to forget, to all BlackBerry believers around the world…#BeBold!

Be sure to check out the other awesome members of the BlackBerry Fan of the Month club:

January – Brian (@newshutr)
February – Ivan (@IvanSHarris)
March – Jane (@photosfromabb)
April – Josh (@BBbrodyBB)
May - Mark (@AllAboutMyBB)
June – JT (@AgentBlackBerry)
July – Kimberly (@kmcooley)
August – Mike (@flash0p)
September – Jon (@nerdologist_jon)
October – Guido (@FuriousGuido)
November – Ange (@Afl2277)

December – Zalman (@Zalman5K)

Keep sharing your FOTM suggestions with us, either by leaving a comment below, tweeting to us @BlackBerry on Twitter, or posting on our Facebook page. Stay tuned – our February 2013 FOTM could be YOU!

We can’t believe that it’s already December, #TeamBlackBerry. Where did 2012 go? As the year winds down, it’s time to crown our final BlackBerry Fan of the Month (FOTM) for 2012. Last month, we were excited to announce the first FOTM from outside of North America; this month, we’re celebrating another first as we announce our first FOTM from Latin America (Colombia, to be exact)!

Our December FOTM is the definition of a BlackBerry pro—by connecting his BlackBerry devices, he’s been able to cut down on the use of PCs and carry out almost all of his work on his BlackBerry Curve 9300 and his TWO BlackBerry PlayBook tablets. This FOTM isn’t all work when it comes to his BlackBerry devices, though. When he’s not blazing through the 100+ emails he typically receives in one day, you can find him placing video calls on his BlackBerry PlayBook tablets or chatting with friends and family over BlackBerry Messenger (BBM) (he can hold up to 15 conversations at once!). Pretty impressive, huh?

Without further ado, it is my pleasure to introduce you all to our December FOTM. #TeamBlackBerry, meet Zalman (@Zalman5K):

Be sure to check out the Spanish version of this interview below!

1. How many years have you been on Team BlackBerry?

Since 2007, when it wasn’t that well-known. Back then I already knew how useful it could be as a work tool.

2. How many BlackBerry devices have you had in total? Could you list them all out for us?

Perhaps 4 or 5. I remember clearly that the first one was a BlackBerry Pearl, then one from the 8500 series, a Bold and now a Curve 9300. But I’m anxiously waiting for the new line with BlackBerry 10.

3. What are your favorite BlackBerry applications?

UberSocial and HootSuite to manage my social networks, mainly my Twitter account (@Zalman5k), BlackBerry Travel to manage and organize my trips, AP Mobile to stay informed, Nobex Radio to listen to my favorite radio stations, and of course, BBM and WhatsApp to talk all day long with all my contacts.

4. What is your favorite BBM emoticon?

Big Smile

5. How many BBM contacts do you have?

Right now, 93. I try to have all the people I talk to the most in my contact list…

6. Tell us about the best BBM you’ve ever received. What did it say and who was it from?

I couldn’t really say which one has been the best. I work as a Life Coach & Business Coach, and every time someone writes to me with good news about their progress, or about getting good results after all their hard work, those are all messages that fill me with joy.

7. Do you have an all-time favorite BlackBerry memory? We’d love to hear about it!

Honestly, every day I build a best memory with my BlackBerry. When I receive a message, I share pictures, videos or content with the people I love the most… The best memories are those when distance is erased and I can be near the people who make me happy thanks to my BlackBerry.

8. We’ve seen you tweet about BlackBerry 10 a good bit and we’re so glad you’re excited for the launch! Which BlackBerry 10 feature are you most excited to try?

All of them! It’s packed with very useful work and connectivity tools, but without a doubt, the ones that I look forward to the most are the selective photo editor to choose segments and go back in time for that image, the multiple working environments, having all the connectivity by sliding the page and, of course, video calls.

9. We see you constantly promoting your love of BlackBerry. How many of your friends have become member of the BlackBerry family because of it?

Hehehe, quite a few, almost 10 new people and almost the same quantity or more people switching from other brands to BlackBerry, because it’s a reliable and secure device and platform.

10. Your Twitter profile says you are a “Coach, Consultant and Strategist” – how do you feel you most influence people’s lives?

My job is to thinking differently, and I focus on being a facilitator and agent of change, both for the people and companies I get the chance to work with. My intention is to influence them in the best way possible, applying all my knowledge, so that they see their own lives as a collection of dreams that can be fulfilled, reached and surpassed!

That’s how I try to create an environment for the person or the company who seeks me out, for them to have a new vision and act on their present and on their best possible future. You can always do better! And if you dream it, you can do it!

11. You seem to be very excited by our Generation BlackBerry challenge. Have you entered? What makes you so excited about it?

I like sharing with all of #TeamBlackBerry, and when I have pictures to share it’s always a pleasure — the same thing with contests and activities. The best thing is being able to meet other people, get to know their interests and things they like, but above all, see how they view their world through their BlackBerry.

12. Last but not least, are you prepared to handle the fame that comes with being our Fan of the Month?

Hahaha it’s an honor and my pleasure. I like knowing that I’m the first person from Latin America and specially having the opportunity of being with #TeamBlackBerry for the end of 2012 and the start of 2013 with the new BlackBerry 10! But the fame is not mine to keep, the brand deserves all of it, it has made my life easier, it’s helped me be more efficient and, without a doubt, it has made my life easier… No doubt about it: I love BlackBerry!!!

Be sure to check out the other awesome members of the BlackBerry Fan of the Month club:

January – Brian (@newshutr)
February – Ivan (@IvanSHarris)
March – Jane (@photosfromabb)
April – Josh (@BBbrodyBB)
May - Mark (@AllAboutMyBB)
June – JT (@AgentBlackBerry)
July – Kimberly (@kmcooley)
August – Mike (@flash0p)
September – Jon (@nerdologist_jon)
October – Guido (@FuriousGuido)
November – Ange (@Afl2277)

Keep sharing your FOTM suggestions with us, either by leaving a comment below, tweeting to us @BlackBerry on Twitter, or posting on our Facebook page. Stay tuned – our January 2013 FOTM could be YOU!

BlackBerry presenta: BlackBerry Fan del Mes, Diciembre de 2012

¡Hola, #FamiliaBlackBerry! No podemos creer que ya sea diciembre… ¿Cómo pasó tan rápido el 2012? Llega fin de año y es hora de elegir al último BlackBerry Fan del Mes de 2012. El mes pasado anunciamos al primer Fan del Mes fuera de Norteamérica y este mes volvemos a incursionar: ¡elegimos al primer Fan del Mes de Latinoamérica (más precisamente, de Colombia)!

Nuestro Fan del Mes de diciembre es todo un experto BlackBerry. Al conectar sus dispositivos BlackBerry, ya no necesita usar tanto su computadora: ahora realiza casi todas sus tareas desde su smartphone BlackBerry Curve 9300 y sus DOS tablets BlackBerry PlayBook. ¡Pero este fan no solo utiliza sus dispositivos BlackBerry para trabajar! Además de revisar sus más de 100 correos electrónicos diarios, realiza videollamadas desde sus tablets BlackBerry PlayBook o chatea con sus familiares y amigos por BlackBerry Messenger (BBM) (¡puede mantener hasta 15 conversaciones al mismo tiempo!). No es poca cosa, ¿verdad?

Después de tanta introducción, es un placer para mí presentarles al Fan del Mes de diciembre. #FamiliaBlackBerry, este es Zalman (@Zalman5K):

1. ¿Hace cuántos años eres parte de la Familia BlackBerry?

Desde el 2007, cuando aún no era tan conocido pero ya tenía una buena idea de hasta donde podría llegar a ser funcional como herramienta de trabajo

2. ¿Cuántos dispositivos BlackBerry has tenido? Sería fantástico que pudieras brindarnos una lista de los modelos que tuviste.

Han sido tal vez cuatro o 5, recuerdo mucho que el primero fue un BlackBerry Pearl, luego alguno de la serie 8500, un Bold y ahora un Curve 9300 pero espero con ansiedad la nueva línea con la serie BlackBerry 10

3. ¿Cuáles son tus aplicaciones BlackBerry preferidas?

UberSocial y Hootsuite para administrar mis redes sociales, principalmente mi Twitter (@Zalman5K), BlackBerry Travel para gestionar y organizar mis viajes, AP Mobile para estar informado, Nobex Radio para escuchar mis estaciones favoritas de Radio y obviamente el BBM y Whatsapp para comunicarme constantemente con todos mis contactos

4. ¿Cuál es tu emoticón favorito de BBM?

Big Smile

5. ¿Cuántos contactos de BBM tienes?

Ahora mismo 93, trato de tener a las personas que más contacto en mi listado…

6. ¿Cuál fue el mejor BBM que recibiste? ¡Cuéntanos qué decía y quién te lo envió!

No sabría decir cual ha sido el mejor, trabajo como lifeCoach & Business Coach y sin duda cuando una persona me escribe con buenas noticias sobre su avance, o los buenos resultados de su esfuerzo tras su trabajo son mensajes que sin duda me llenan de felicidad.

7. ¿Cuál es tu mejor recuerdo de BlackBerry? ¡Nos encantaría que lo compartieras con nosotros!

Mi mejor recuerdo con mi BlackBerry realmente lo construyo cada día, cuando recibo un mensaje, comparto fotos, videos o contenidos con las personas que más quiero… Los mejores recuerdos aparecen cuando la distancia se borra y puedo estar cerca de las personas que me llenan de felicidad gracias a mi BlackBerry

8. Hemos notado que enviaste muchos tweets sobre BlackBerry 10, ¡nos alegra que este nuevo lanzamiento te entusiasme tanto como a nosotros! ¿Qué función de BlackBerry 10 te mueres por probar?

Todas! Esta cargado de herramientas de trabajo y conectividad muy funcionales, pero sin duda dos de las más esperadas son el editor selectivo de fotos para seleccionar segmentos y devolver la imagen en el tiempo, los múltiples marcos de trabajo, disponer de toda la conectividad con deslizar la página y claro, la vídeo llamada

9. Sabemos que compartes tu entusiasmo por BlackBerry con todos, ¡y nos parece genial! ¿Cuántos de tus amigos se sumaron a la Familia BlackBerry gracias a ti?

Jejeje bastantes, cerca de 10 nuevos y un número igual o superior que han dejado otras marcas para llegar a BlackBerry por ser un equipo y plataforma segura y confiable.

10. En tu perfil de Twitter indicas que eres “Koach, Consultor y Estratega”. ¿En qué aspectos eres una influencia para otras personas?

Mi trabajo es pensar diferente, y me enfocó en ser un facilitado y agente de cambio, tanto para las personas como para las empresas con las que tengo oportunidad de trabajar. Mi intención es influenciar de la mejor forma y en la medida de mis posibilidades y conocimientos a estas personas de manera tal que puedan ver su vida como una suma de sueños que se pueden cumplir, alcanzar y superar!

Es así como trato de generar un entorno para la persona o empresa que me busque, logre tener una nueva visión y acción de su presente y su mejor futuro posible. Siempre se puede estar mejor! Y si lo sueñas, lo puedes superar!

11. También notamos tu entusiasmo por el desafío Generación BlackBerry. ¿Has participado? ¿Qué es lo que más te gusta del concurso?

Me gusta compartir con toda la #FamiliaBlackBerry y cuando tengo fotos para compartir siempre es un placer, como todos los concursos y actividades, lo mejor es poder conocer otras personas, sus gustos, intereses, pero sobre todo tener una visión de como ven su mundo desde su BlackBerry

12. Por último, pero no por eso menos importante, ¿estás preparado para la fama que genera ser el Fan del Mes?

Jajajaja Es un honor y un placer, me gusta saber que soy la primera persona en latinoamericana, y sobre todo por tener la oportunidad de acompañar a toda la #FamiliaBlackBerry justo para despedir 2012 y darle la bienvenida al 2013 con el nuevo BlackBerry 10! Pero la fama no es para mi, el mérito es todo de la marca, una

Conoce a los demás usuarios de BlackBerry que fueron elegidos Fan del Mes:

Enero – Brian (@newshutr)
Febrero – Ivan (@IvanSHarris)
Marzo – Jane (@photosfromabb)
Abril – Josh (@BBbrodyBB)
Mayo - Mark (@AllAboutMyBB)
Junio – JT (@AgentBlackBerry)
Julio – Kimberly (@kmcooley)
Agosto – Mike (@flash0p)
Septiembre – Jon (@nerdologist_jon)
Octubre – Guido (@FuriousGuido)
Noviembre – Ange (@Afl2277)

Sigue enviándonos tus sugerencias para ayudarnos a elegir el próximo Fan del Mes. Puedes dejarnos un mensaje aquí abajo, enviarnos un tweet a @BlackBerry, o publicar tu comentario en nuestra página de Facebook. Estate atento… ¡nuestro Fan del Mes de enero podrías ser TÚ!

It’s officially November, #TeamBlackBerry, and that means its time to crown a new BlackBerry® Fan of the Month (FOTM). This month, we are beyond excited to announce some very special news: we have selected our first FOTM from outside of North America!

Hailing from across the pond, our November FOTM is a true double threat—she rocks both a BlackBerry® Curve™ 9320 and a BlackBerry® PlayBook™ tablet! While she’s relatively new to #TeamBlackBerry, you can rest assured that she hasn’t wasted any time becoming a go-to BlackBerry expert for other members on @UK_BlackBerry and the BlackBerry UK & Ireland Facebook page.

When she’s not providing help, tips, and tricks to the online community, you can find this dedicated FOTM lending a helping hand to the members of #TeamBlackBerry she meets outside of digital space (more on this later in her interview). With that, it is pleasure to introduce you to our November FOTM, Ange (@Afl2277)! Check out our conversation with Ange below to learn more about her journey on #TeamBlackBerry.

1. How many years have you been on Team BlackBerry?

Just one year.

2. How many BlackBerry devices have you had in total? Could you list them all out for us?

At first I had the BlackBerry Curve 9300. I now have the BlackBerry Curve 9320 and the BlackBerry PlayBook.

3. What are your favorite BlackBerry applications?

On my BlackBerry Curve 9320: Twitter, Facebook and obviously BlackBerry Messenger (BBM™).
On my BlackBerry PlayBook: Twitter, Facebook and BlackBerry News. I really like Monopoly as well.

4. What is your favorite BBM emoticon?

I’ve got two favorites, actually: the smiley face and the confused face. I love the confused face.

5. How many BBM contacts do you have?

You’re not going to believe this. You’re going to fall off your chair. I’ve just got two. They are very close friends of mine because I’m a very private person. I mostly talk to other BlackBerry users through Facebook and Twitter.

6. Tell us about the best BBM you’ve ever received. What did it say and who was it from?

This is a special one. It was from a young friend of mine, Petra. She lost her mom a couple years ago, and she sent me a BBM and asked, “Would you be the Mother of the Bride at my wedding? And forever after that, be my mom?” It was such an emotional BBM. Very special.

7. We know you love your BlackBerry Curve 9320. If you could BBM it, what would you say? What do you think it would say in response?

I think I would say, “Hey, what are we going to do today?” And my BlackBerry Curve would say to me, “Shall we go on eBay and get me a shiny new case?”

I do love the cases and covers. I have a blue one and a black one. I like looking at them online and thinking about which one I’d like to get next. I just browse and see if anything takes my fancy. I might like a sparkly case next.

8. You are a huge help to Team BlackBerry members on @UK_BlackBerry and the BlackBerry UK & Ireland Facebook page. Is there one time where you helped a fellow user that really sticks out in your mind?

Well, this doesn’t relate to Twitter or Facebook, but once I started talking to a stranger because I saw she had a BlackBerry and she was experiencing an issue with it. In virtually two minutes, I doubled the amount of memory she had on it. It started working quickly again and she was so pleased.

9. Do you have a favorite BlackBerry tip, trick or shortcut?

I like the radio a lot. I put the radio on one of the side convenience keys, which makes it so easy for me to listen. I have my camera on the other convenience key and I use “L” as a shortcut to get to my calendar.

10. Do you have an all-time favorite BlackBerry memory? We’d love to hear about it!

Yes, when I went to the store to buy my first BlackBerry. I remember opening in the box – it was black with shiny chrome. I just thought, “Wow!” I was in love.

11. Who are your BlackBerry BFFs? Feel free to give them a shout out here!

On Facebook: Eugen, Tim, Corrine, Craig and Jackie.
On Twitter: @furiousguido, kmcooley, @UK_Blackberry, @BBOSJoe and @pushybrice.
I’d like to say hello to Emma from RIM as well!

12. We see that you have the #BB10Believe hashtag in your Twitter avatar – tell us, what are you most looking forward to about BlackBerry 10?

I love the way that the screens move across with BlackBerry Flow – you just slide and you have everything you need. It’s fabulous. And I can’t wait to get the BlackBerry 10 update on my PlayBook!

13. Last but not least, are you prepared to handle the fame that comes with being our Fan of the Month?

Many years ago, I was made the president of a fan club. It was such an honor. This ranked above being made president of that one fan club. I can’t believe it happened. It’s brilliant. I feel so honored to have been chosen – it doesn’t seem real!

Be sure to check out the other awesome past members of the BlackBerry Fan of the Month club, in case you missed ‘em:

January – Brian (@newshutr)
February – Ivan (@IvanSHarris)
March – Jane (@photosfromabb)
April – Josh (@BBbrodyBB)
May - Mark (@AllAboutMyBB)
June – JT (@AgentBlackBerry)
July – Kimberly (@kmcooley)
August – Mike (@flash0p)
September – Jon (@nerdologist_jon)
October – Guido (@FuriousGuido)

Keep sharing your FOTM suggestions with us, either by leaving a comment below, tweeting to us @BlackBerry on Twitter, or posting on our Facebook page. Stay tuned – our December FOTM could be YOU!

Phew! I don’t know about the rest of you, but September flew by for us here at RIM ®. Between back-to-school and BlackBerry ® Jam Americas, I barely had time to breathe. I did, however, have a chance to catch up with our October BlackBerry Fan of the Month (FOTM), and I am very excited to hand the crown over to yet another treasured member of #TeamBlackBerry.

Our October FOTM is a true BlackBerry ® wiz – he was proud to tell me that he reads BlackBerry Knowledge Base articles in his spare time! He’s active on our BlackBerry Twitter®, Facebook® and Google+ pages, and eager to help other members of #TeamBlackBerry with their BlackBerry smartphones and BlackBerry ® PlayBook ™ tablets. One solution at a time, this “BlackBerry King” is truly is making the world a better place for BlackBerry users far and wide. So without further ado, I’m pleased to introduce you to our October FOTM, Guido (@FuriousGuido)! Read on to learn more about Guido and what makes him passionate about #TeamBlackBerry. (SPOILER ALERT: there’s a love story revealed in the interview!)

1. How many years have you been on Team BlackBerry?

Since 2007. My first device was a BlackBerry® Curve™ 8320. I needed to organize calendars and memos and meetings and I needed a device to make my life easier. I saw the BlackBerry Curve and it was love at first sight. That’s how it all started.

2. How many BlackBerry devices have you had in total? Could you list them all out for us?

Oh yeah, first I had the BlackBerry Curve 8320. Then I got the BlackBerry Curve 8520 and the BlackBerry Curve 9300. Then I switched to the BlackBerry ® Bold ™ 9700, but I needed a little more power so I got the BlackBerry Bold 9780. Then I wanted to try something different so I went with the BlackBerry ® Torch ™ 9800. Then I got the BlackBerry Curve 9360, the BlackBerry Bold 9790 and the BlackBerry Torch 9810. And then I fell in love with the BlackBerry Bold 9900. I don’t go anywhere without it. I’m head over heels about it. I always tell strangers how it works – on the bus, anywhere. I also have a BlackBerry ® PlayBook ™ tablet. I like to show people how BlackBerry Bridge works with it and my BlackBerry Bold 9900.

3. What are your favorite BlackBerry applications?

The top would be Twitter for BlackBerry and Facebook. Regarding utilities, hands down, it’s File Manager Pro v1.7.0.2. I also use MOLOME, WhatsApp, Screen Muncher Pro, RepliGo Reader, Jingu Smileys Premium, Jingu Text Premium, Contacts Cleaner, EasyDialer and many others.

4. How many BlackBerry Messenger (BBM™) contacts do you have?

Oh lordy, I have 180 contacts. It’s impossible to keep track of everyone, but I speak with about 10 of them every day. With the amazing keyboard on my BlackBerry Bold, I don’t have a problem talking to them all at once. Whenever there’s a Beta release, my phone lights up like a Christmas tree.

5. What is your favorite BBM emoticon?

It would have to be the Big Hug.

6. Tell us about the best BBM you’ve ever received. What did it say and who was it from?

My best friend, Raf. He sent me a BBM one day that said, “Meet me at the coffee shop.” When I got there, he had a gift for me. He had company with him. He somehow ended up finding my first true love. He had looked all over the world for her and found her. I was shocked to say the least. It was the best BBM ever.

7. If you could BBM your BlackBerry, what would you say? What do you think your BlackBerry would say in response?

I would say, “Goooood morning!” And my BlackBerry Bold would respond with a happy smiley face.

8. You’re always helping Team BlackBerry on Twitter, Facebook and Google+. Is there a particular instance of helping a fellow BlackBerry user that really sticks out in your mind? We’d love to hear about it.

t would have to be Sunny (@sachmalh). Sunny’s a great guy. He was experiencing issues and he had no idea what to do or who to contact. I gave him my BlackBerry PIN and I ended up getting everything back up and running for him using BlackBerry Protect.

9. Do you have a favorite BlackBerry tip, trick or shortcut?

I use LT and LD a lot. You press LT on your BlackBerry keyboard and the time shows up. Type in LD and the date shows up. I also love ALT+Right Shift+Delete (the soft reboot) and typing “mypin” to make my PIN automatically display. I retweet the tips from @BlackBerryHelp all the time. I think it’s good for people to get a refresher.

10. You have the word “furious” in your Twitter handle, but you don’t seem furious at all. We have to ask: What was your inspiration behind the name?

I fell in love with The Fast and the Furious films back in 2001. Back then I was driving a 1986 MR2. I had it all done up and when the movie came out, the name just stuck.

11. Your Twitter profile says you’re a “social media adventurer” – tell us, what has been your best adventure so far? What new adventures do you have in store and how will your BlackBerry help you along the way?

I’m always active on Twitter and Facebook with my BlackBerry Bold 9900. I’m also trying to set up my own webpage (http://furiousguido.tumblr.com/). I want to use it to help people who have issues with their BlackBerry devices.

12. We know you have a ton of Team BlackBerry buddies. Would you like to give any of them a shout out here? Now’s your chance!

First of all I’d like to thank my family: Mom Sidia, brother Carlo, & sister Sonya.

Here’s my well-deserved shout-out: @Jawv77, @ToraxCefiro, @Inlove_BB, @digitalhomeboy, @sheldonbk, @joyhacker, @nerdologist_jon, @FortNeyland95, @Flash0p, @AllBBAllthetime, @mobstermdesign, @Jew4BlackBerry, @kmcooley, @BoLdWoMaN2012, @NikiDussault, @Zukka75, @RallsInNC, @BBOSGhostryder, @MRizkBerryEG, @Dan1shMemon, @bricenm, @FaisalMohamedA, @ElingerBello, @jimz22, @vecharo, @luigigosc, @rapidjohn, @mikelcal, @badtoyz, @sarahtingle, @AZ_JOHNNY & @RallsInNC.

I would also like to give a shout-out to Joe and his team at @BlackBerryOS, and a big thanx to John and Mike of RapidBerry.net, for the opportunity to be with #TeamRapid.

I would like to let everyone know that I have not forgotten you and you know where to go when you need help with your BlackBerry device!

13. What do you do in your spare time? You know, when you’re not being a Team BlackBerry all-star.

I build computers. I build them, I repair them, I custom build them. I love what I do. I help people and if they’re happy, I’m happy.

14. Since you’re so in-the-know, we’re sure you’ve seen some of our sneak peeks of BlackBerry 10. Tell us, what are you most excited for?

I talk to people every day about it. I actually have a Dev Alpha device and I love everything about it – it’s powerful, smooth and stable. I can’t wait to get a BlackBerry 10 device when it comes out! I’m really looking forward to it. It has major potential.

15. Last but not least, are you prepared to handle the fame that comes with being our Fan of the Month?

Absolutely, absolutely! The fact that you even picked me, I’m beyond honored.

Be sure to check out the other awesome past members of the BlackBerry Fan of the Month club, in case you missed ‘em:

January – Brian (@newshutr)
February – Ivan (@IvanSHarris)
March – Jane (@photosfromabb)
April – Josh (@BBbrodyBB)
May - Mark (@AllAboutMyBB)
June – JT (@AgentBlackBerry)
July – Kimberly (@kmcooley)
August – Mike (@flash0p)
September – Jon (@nerdologist_jon)

Keep sharing your FOTM suggestions with us, either by leaving a comment below, tweeting to us @BlackBerry on Twitter, or posting on our Facebook page. Stay tuned – our November FOTM could be YOU!

Ah, September, the month that brings us back-to-school and marks the end of summer. With it also comes a brand new BlackBerry® Fan of the Month (FOTM). As the seasons change, you can be sure that this particular FOTM will be there to capture every moment. He’s an avid photographer and has started a blog dedicated to highlighting all the great pictures he takes on his BlackBerry® smartphones and BlackBerry® PlayBook™ tablet.

As a FOTM, he’s also no stranger to #TeamBlackBerry, often providing help, tips and tricks to the community online. Have you ever wondered how to make the most of the camera on your BlackBerry device? Chances are this FOTM has a tip that will take your photos to the next level. And with that, it is my pleasure to introduce you to our September FOTM, Jon (@nerdologist_jon). You’ll read below that he’s definitely got some tenure on the team and he’s eager to share what he’s learned over the years with you. Check it out in his interview:

1. How many years have you been on Team BlackBerry?

Seven years and counting.

2. What inspired you to purchase your first BlackBerry smartphone?

My wife at the time wanted a BlackBerry device because her favorite pop star had one. I inherited it shortly after and have been hooked ever since.

3. How many BlackBerry devices have you had in total? Could you list them all out for us?

BlackBerry® 7100t
BlackBerry® 7105
BlackBerry® 8700
BlackBerry® 7230
BlackBerry® Pearl™ 8100 (Black/Red/White)
BlackBerry® Curve™ 8320 (Gold/Titanium)
BlackBerry® 8800
BlackBerry® Pearl™ 8120 (Titanium)
BlackBerry® Pearl™ Flip 8220
BlackBerry® Curve™ 8900
BlackBerry® Curve™ 8520
BlackBerry® Bold™ 9700
BlackBerry® Storm™ 9500
BlackBerry® Curve™ 9300
BlackBerry® Bold™ 9780
BlackBerry® Torch™ 9800

I’m currently using:
BlackBerry® Curve™ 9360

BlackBerry® Torch™ 9810

BlackBerry® Bold™ 9900
BlackBerry® PlayBook™ (16GB and a 64GB)

So over 20 of them! I might be missing one or two.

4. Which of your current devices do you use most?

I mainly use the BlackBerry Bold 9900, but it depends on my mood. I use my BlackBerry Torch 9810 for pictures, apps and games. I use the Switch Device Wizard to go back and forth.

My 64GB BlackBerry PlayBook tablet has my entire music library on it. I mainly use my 16GB BlackBerry PlayBook for the Pacemaker® app and some of the other DJ apps. I also use it as my test device. My whole family is now a BlackBerry PlayBook family. My son has one, my brother has one and I have two.

5. Which BlackBerry smartphone and BlackBerry PlayBook tablet applications do you use most?

I have over 50 BlackBerry smartphone apps and well over 200 PlayBook apps. My favorite apps vary a lot because I live off my BlackBerry device and my BlackBerry PlayBook. I honestly don’t know where I would be without them. They go everywhere I go. If I had to try and narrow it down to a few, this is how it would pan out:

BlackBerry handheld: BlackBerry® Messenger (BBM™), Twitter® for BlackBerry, Camera and Foursquare.
BlackBerry PlayBook: Camera, Pacemaker, Corkboard, Blaq and all my games (I can’t pick one).

6. How many BBM contacts do you have?

Last count, I think I was at 120.

7. How do you keep track of them all?

Sometimes I don’t! Sometimes it’s hard to manage them all, but I break them up in groups. The most important people go in my “elite” group.

8. What is your favorite BBM emoticon?

:]xx Feeling Beat Up. It’s just hilarious. I like to randomly add it to my status or send it to people.

9. Tell us about the best BBM you’ve ever received. What did it say and who was it from?

That’s a hard one especially since I’m trying to think about all the awesome BBMs I’ve received over seven years. I think it would be from my buddy Mac when he told me he wanted me to write for his blog PocketBerry and when he told me that I was going on assignment to BlackBerry® World™. Every time he messages me about going to an event, I’m super stoked.

10. If you could BBM your BlackBerry, what would you say? What would your BlackBerry BBM you in response?

Me: What are we going to do today?
BlackBerry: Take over the world!

In a small way, I want to catch the world by storm. I want people to know my name, not in a cocky way, but I want to do something where people say “wow, he’s really doing something different.” That’s why I started my photoblog. How many people use their mobile phone to take really cool pictures? This is me taking a passion of mine, and using available technology in an innovative way.

11. You’re an awesome BlackBerry photographer and we LOVE that you’re always sharing your amazing BlackBerry photos on Tumblr® and Twitter®! How long have you been taking pictures with your BlackBerry devices?

Thanks! Ever since the BlackBerry Pearl 8100 came out. I started taking pictures with my BlackBerry and as time went on it became more of a therapy. A way to relax!

12. Do you have an all-time favorite BlackBerry photo? We’d love to see it!

To be honest, it is really hard to choose just one, that’s why I started http://nerdologist.tumblr.com. I now have the ability to share all my favorite pictures. But If I had to choose just one, I would have to say the picture that you guys used for Five Pic Friday on the Inside BlackBerry Blog. It’s my favorite because that picture was an “accident.” I was chasing my son around the beach and had my phone in hand and while running I heard it snap. That’s what was produced. It was so cool. It goes to show there are no such things as accidents — everything happens for a reason, and sometimes out of that “accident” something awesome is developed.

13. Do you ever use any photography apps? If so, which ones do you like most?

Yes, I sure do! I use LensBoost, Pencil Camera, and PicStory on my 9900. On my BlackBerry PlayBook I use InstaPhoto, Pencil Camera and Tilt Shift. However, all the pictures I post on my photo blog are all-natural and raw -– no filters, no nothing.

14. Do you have any BlackBerry photography tips to share with Team BlackBerry?

Yes, of course.

1) Don’t be afraid to play with the scene modes on your camera — don’t just leave it on auto. If you’re at a concert, you’ll want to go with a party scene or a night scene to enhance and brighten up the photo even more.
2) Take multiple pictures with different scene modes. That way you learn how each setting works and what is the best setting for what you are trying to capture. Here’s an example: This was a picture I took at night. I tried both pictures with no flash, limited lighting. I tried one under night scene and one under action. You can clearly see the difference between the photos.

3) Megapixels mean how big a picture is in terms of resolution. Pictures are only as good as you take them.

4) Take pictures the way you see the world. That way you can tell your story through your pictures. Like this picture — it looks like you are seeing the world from my eyes and I’m peering around the corner.

5) You don’t always have to take a picture of something straight on. Capture a picture from different angles. Take as many pictures as you can and you’ll have a lot to choose from.
6) Most importantly, have fun!

15. According to your Twitter profile, you spend an inordinate amount of time on unpopular obscure activities. You’ve sparked our curiosity, tell us more!

I’m a huge nerd and to me, that’s the definition of a nerd. I’ve always been and will always be a nerd. Throughout high school I received letters just like the jocks did, but my letters were all for academics (that’s a bit obscure; usually you wear letterman jackets because you were on the varsity football team or basketball team, not because you were a nerd). What I do may not always be the most popular or coolest thing and may be different, but it’s what I do. I just do my own thing. That’s just me. I dance to the beat of my own drum.

16. Who are your #TeamBlackBerry BFFs? Feel free to give them a special shout-out here!

I think this is the hardest answer so far… there are so many people out there that are #TeamBlackBerry that are important to me.

Of course, all the people at RIM® that I have met at many events!
Mac at Pocketberry.com
All of the press contacts I met from all over the world
Wendy
#TeamFlippinBecca
All the BlackBerry Devs
All the people I met at BlackBerry World
Mauricio
Thoi
Phil
Leo
Elle
#Team “We’re talking about practice!”
Marc
Leo
Mac
Brad
Tom my BBM surfing buddy
All my BBM contacts!
Too many people. They know who they all are!

17. Do you have a favorite BlackBerry memory? Please share!

I have many memories. One of them was when I met former CO-CEO Jim Balsillie at BlackBerry World 2011 while the Goo Goo Dolls were playing. Another was standing next to CEO Thorsten Heins and enjoying the sounds of The Martinez Brothers at BlackBerry World 2012. I didn’t even realize it was him until a couple seconds later! If I were to tell you all my favorite memories we would be here for days.

18. Last but not least, are you prepared to handle the fame that comes with being our Fan of the Month?

You bet I am!

Be sure to check out the other awesome past members of the BlackBerry Fan of the Month club, in case you missed ‘em:

January – Brian (@newshutr)
February – Ivan (@IvanSHarris)
March – Jane (@photosfromabb)
April – Josh (@BBbrodyBB)
May - Mark (@AllAboutMyBB)
June – JT (@AgentBlackBerry)
July – Kimberly (@kmcooley)
August – Mike (@flash0p)

Keep sharing your FOTM suggestions with us, either by leaving a comment below, tweeting to us @BlackBerry on Twitter, or posting on our Facebook page. Stay tuned – our October FOTM could be YOU!

BlackBerry® device owners are doers. They’re always on, and they handle daily responsibilities – plus the occasional crisis – with ease and a BlackBerry smartphone at their side.

BlackBerry products have helped them send documents to colleagues just in time, with just a few taps. They’ve helped users “remember” the name of someone familiar nearby, allowing them to use BlackBerry® Messenger (BBM™) to communicate with a mutual friend on the other side of the world. And these are only a few stories.

Over the next two weeks, we’re collecting heroics (or stories)! No BlackBerry rescue is too small or too large. Tell us about it! I’ll even share one of the many times my BlackBerry smartphone rescued me this month to get the ball rolling.

About a year ago I was travelling with my family on vacation when my father experienced a medical emergency on a ski hill. Luckily we were able to use our BlackBerry smartphones to not only find aid, but to communicate in real time with family back home and provide updates. Our trip was extended for a few days and we used our smartphones to find our way around the community. Tips on where to find 24-hour coffee shops and other nearby amenities are key for situations like this. I was able to keep in touch with the office as well, which definitely came in handy. With the help of entertaining apps and videos on our BlackBerry PlayBook tablet, our family got through those long waiting room hours. My father made a full recovery, and what could have been a really rough time was made that much smoother. And yes, the picture above was snagged from my BlackBerry device.

Now it’s your turn — let’s hear some good ones! Share your story by leaving a comment, or sharing on Twitter® (#BoldRescue) or Facebook®.

August is upon us, #TeamBlackBerry, and with July in the rear view, it’s time to once again introduce you to a new BlackBerry® Fan of the Month (FOTM). If you frequent our various Twitter® properties or have tweeted about your BlackBerry smartphone, you may have come across our FOTM for August. As with fans past, this person is always eager to offer up invaluable tips, tricks, and a helping hand to our dedicated following of fans online — all out of kindness. Needless to say, our crew of FOTMs is making the world a better place one tweet at a time, and we THANK YOU.

For August, we’re pleased to introduce you to someone who loves staying on top of all things tech and mobile. He’s picked up his own set of tips and tricks over the years and is always keen to share them with others. We’ve come to learn that when he doesn’t have his BlackBerry smartphone in hand, he’s either playing video games or out hiking. You may have already guessed — but without further ado, we’d like to introduce August Fan of the Month Mike (@Flash0p).

1. How many years have you been on Team BlackBerry?

About 5-6 years.

2. How many BlackBerry devices have you had in total?

I’ve had about 6 or 7 devices in total. The BlackBerry® Curve™ 8330 smartphone was my favorite model. I was pretty rough on it, but it was so durable -– it got beat up and just kept going! I currently have the BlackBerry® Bold™ 9930 smartphone and the BlackBerry® PlayBook™ tablet.

3. How many BlackBerry® Messenger (BBM™) contacts do you have?

I have 64 BBM contacts. They’re all dedicated fans just like me and I enjoy talking to them. At one point, I had 130 BBM contacts. It was hard to keep track of them all, so I’ve brought it down over the years.

4. What is your favorite BBM emoticon?

The basic smiley, because I use it so much.

5. If you could BBM your BlackBerry, what would you say? What would your BlackBerry say in response?

I would say, “Thank you for entertaining me. Thank you for remembering the things I forget.” And it would say, “My pleasure.”

6. What is your favorite BlackBerry app?

On my phone, it would be BeBuzz. I have all the different colors of LED lights. My phone can be completely silent and I’ll know who the call is from and how important it is.

For the BlackBerry PlayBook tablet, it would be Blaq, the Twitter app. It has a great interface and shows the power of the OS on the PlayBook.

7. You are always helping Team BlackBerry with their questions on Twitter. (We think that’s pretty awesome, btw.) Is there a time when you helped a fellow BlackBerry user that really sticks out in your mind?

I have a terrible memory, so I’ll just talk about the most recent time. I was talking to someone the other day that had done something that rendered their BlackBerry smartphone unusable, was off their warranty, and didn’t know how to fix it. I was able to talk them through the recovery process so they could get their BlackBerry up and running again.

8. Do you have a favorite BlackBerry tip you like to share with fellow users?

I love the shortcut that allows you to use the Space key for page down. It makes it a lot easier to scroll and it works almost everywhere, including third party apps. People tend to forget that one, so I like to remind them of it.

9. Would you like to say hello to your best BlackBerry bud?

@DJGhettoRedneck. I’ve been friends with him for a while. He’s another huge fan of BlackBerry and he’s so generous. Sometimes he’ll even buy apps for other users. We have a BBM group and we just chit chat about day-to-day stuff. There are about 13 people in the group. Some of us are in different time zones. We share apps, remind each other of features and share news articles.

10. In your Twitter bio, you say you love what you do. How does your BlackBerry help you love what you do even more?

I work in the cellphone industry and my BlackBerry smartphone helps me stay organized at work. It helps me stay on task and keep productive. I can go all work day without plugging it into the wall.

11. Do you have an all-time favorite BlackBerry memory? Please share!

Whenever I get anyone to say, “Wow! I had no idea BlackBerry could do that!” That always makes my day.

12. Are you prepared to handle the fame that comes with being our Fan of the Month?

I sure hope so!

13. Any final words of wisdom for Team BlackBerry?

The night is darkest just before the dawn. With BlackBerry® 10 right around the corner, I know our good days are coming!

Be sure to check out the other awesome past members of the BlackBerry Fan of the Month club, in case you missed ‘em:

January – Brian (@newshutr)
February – Ivan (@IvanSHarris)
March – Jane (@photosfromabb)
April – Josh (@BBbrodyBB)
May - Mark (@AllAboutMyBB)
June – JT (@AgentBlackBerry)
July – Kimberly (@kmcooley)

Keep sharing your FOTM suggestions with us, either by leaving a comment below, tweeting to us @BlackBerry on Twitter, or posting on our Facebook page. Stay tuned – our September FOTM could be YOU!

It’s hard to believe that July is already upon us. With a new month comes a new reigning BlackBerry® Fan of the Month! I am ecstatic to announce Kimberly as July’s BlackBerry Fan of the Month. Kimberly — @kmcooley on Twitter® — has been a model BlackBerry advocate. She has been helping, engaging and even building the #TeamBlackBerry community on an ongoing basis. Kimberly has put a lot of effort, passion and energy into #TeamBlackBerry, and it shows with all her tweets and comments.

I was looking forward to interviewing Kimberly, because over my two years as a community manager, I’ve seen her day-in day-out engagement – whether it be with her friends, fans, colleagues, or our BlackBerry community managers and customers. As soon as our interview began, I immediately noticed that the passion and energy she puts in her tweets extends far beyond her online persona.

Calling Kimberly a heavy BlackBerry smartphone user would be an understatement. Throughout the conversation she told me stories about how she would always have her BlackBerry handy — from using it to save a conference call during an electrical blackout to how she converted her co-workers to #TeamBlackBerry, and more fun stories below.

So Team BlackBerry, please congratulate Kimberly as our BlackBerry Fan of The Month for July and check out our interview below to learn all the awesome work she has done.

1. How many years have you been on Team BlackBerry?

10 years. I started out with the BlackBerry® 7250 smartphone.

2. How many BlackBerry devices have you had in total? Could you list them all out for us?

I’ve had the following smartphones: BlackBerry 7250, BlackBerry® 8703e, BlackBerry® Curve™ 8330, BlackBerry® 8830, BlackBerry® Tour™ 9630, BlackBerry® Bold™ 9650, BlackBerry® Bold 9930, and my BlackBerry® PlayBook™ tablet, of course.

My dream device would be the internal components of the BlackBerry Bold 9930 smartphone built inside the shell of the BlackBerry 8703 smartphone. It [the BlackBerry 8703 smartphone] was just a really solid-feeling device. For whatever reason, it is my all-time favorite.

3. How many BBM™ contacts do you have?

Right now, I have around 28.

4. What is your favorite BBM emoticon?

Can’t Wait – the one with the hand over the eyes. I’m usually shaking my head when I use that one.

5. Tell us about the best BBM you’ve ever received. What did it say and who was it from?

It’s hard to pinpoint just one BBM! It’s one of those situations that if I don’t mention something, I’ll get in trouble from friends and family. One memory that stands out was during Father’s Day weekend. My best friend sent this one that morning. Long story short, my dad died when I was 15, and 16 years later, Father’s Day is still difficult for me because he and I were just that close. So Rox sending me this message made a huge difference in my day:

6. If you could BBM your BlackBerry smartphone, what would you say? What do you think your BlackBerry would say in response?

I would say, very sarcastically, “Do I have to?” and my BlackBerry would respond with, “Yes, you can do it!”

This would be in response to the high volume of emails I receive.

7. What is your favorite BlackBerry app?

My favorite app right now is called SocialScope. I love the horizontal scrolling through all of my Twitter lists. It’s very quick and efficient.

8. We know you work in education. How does your BlackBerry smartphone help you get the job done?

Lots of ways, but email would be at the very top of the list. I can multi-task with my BlackBerry smartphone and it helps me keep my head above water.

Once a power line was down on campus and internet went out, but with BlackBerry® Bridge™, I had Internet access! It was like everyone else was sitting around twiddling their thumbs.

One day the university president was on a conference call and the phone system went down a few minutes into the call. At that point of my career, I was in IT and my first thought was to whip out my BlackBerry 8830 smartphone, put it on the table and get everyone back into the conference. I was pretty proud of that.

9. We think it’s awesome that you are always encouraging friends, family members and fellow Twitter users to get BlackBerry devices. How many people have joined Team BlackBerry as a result of your advice?

If I look back on the last four or five years, I’d say at least 100.

10. You use the #BeBold hashtag a good bit on Twitter. (And we love it!) Could you share a personal Be Bold story with us?

I attended a higher education web conference last year right after the BlackBerry® PlayBook™ tablet came out. They were showing Google Analytics and my BlackBerry PlayBook tablet was the only device in the room that could actually render the site.

11. We see you chatting with Team BlackBerry all the time on Twitter. Would you like to give any of your buddies a shout out here?

Yes! Don (@BlkScorp33) is one of my very best friends.

12. You refer to yourself as a “BlackBerry Expert” – what is one thing you think every BlackBerry user should know?

The “end” key – it’s not just to end a phone call. It can also take you step by step back to where you want to go.

13. Do you have an all-time favorite BlackBerry memory? We’d love to hear it!

About two Christmases ago, I looked around the table and realized that everyone had a BlackBerry device. It was an awesome moment.

14. Last, but not least: Are you prepared to handle the fame that comes with being our Fan of the Month?

Yes, of course! We’re #TeamBlackBerry, fame is nothing new to us.

Now, in case you have missed our other awesome past members of the BlackBerry Fan of the Month club, you can check ‘em out here:

January – Brian (@newshutr)
February – Ivan (@IvanSHarris)
March – Jane (@photosfromabb)
April – Josh (@BBbrodyBB)
May – Mark (@AllAboutMyBB)
June – JT (@AgentBlackBerry)

Keep sharing your FOTM suggestions with us, either by leaving a comment below, tweeting to us @BlackBerry on Twitter, or posting on our Facebook page. Stay tuned – our August FOTM could be YOU!

June is upon us, and this year it not only signifies a kickoff to summer, but the start of a month-long reign for JT (@AgentBlackBerry) as our BlackBerry® Fan of the Month! Just like FOTMs past, JT has definitely dedicated a lot of his time and energy towards his passion for all things BlackBerry.

JT is a heavy BlackBerry smartphone user; tweeting, blogging and chatting with the community regularly. He’s been known to talk about everything from the accessories he’s using to his own tips and tricks, and he even offers helpful advice to fellow BlackBerry lovers. He was notably very active on Twitter® during the release of BlackBerry® PlayBook™ OS 2.0, generating excitement and rallying #TeamBlackBerry to update. We are honored to present JT as the BlackBerry FOTM for June – and to formally introduce him to you, I had the chance to chat with him and ask a few questions. Meet JT and be sure to welcome him in that awesome #TeamBlackBerry way:

1. How many years have you been on #TeamBlackBerry?

It was officially four years this past January.

2. How many BlackBerry smartphones have you had in total? Can you list them all out for us? What kind of BlackBerry smartphone do you currently have?

I have had seven different BlackBerry smartphones: the BlackBerry® Curve™ 8310, BlackBerry® Bold™ 9000, BlackBerry® Bold™ 9700, BlackBerry® Torch™ 9800, BlackBerry® Torch™ 9810, BlackBerry® Torch™ 9860, and BlackBerry® Bold™ 9900.

At first, I was against having the BlackBerry Bold 9900 smartphone, because I was a loyal BlackBerry Torch smartphone user. But once I switched, I was mad at myself for not having it before. It’s such a ridiculously awesome device.

3. How many BlackBerry® Messenger (BBM™) contacts do you have?

Right now, I have 173 BBM contacts.

4. What is your favorite BBM emoticon?

That’s a tough one… I had conducted a poll on Twitter one time to help me out with this one because I have four favorite ones (Dancing, Straight Face, I Dunno and Huh?). If I had to pick one, I’d say the Dancing emoticon for sure though. But I was talking with some of my contacts and they were like, “you use ‘I Dunno’ all the time!” So, on second thought, that one may take the cake.

5. Tell us about the best BBM you’ve ever received. What did it say and who was it from?

Every time I’ve gotten a friend or family member to get a BlackBerry smartphone and they add me on BBM – that first message is always pretty awesome.

6. If you could BBM your BlackBerry smartphone, what would you say? What do you think your BlackBerry smartphone would say in response?

Well, my BlackBerry Bold 9900 is still relatively new so I would probably say “Hey, enjoy the ride” and it would probably reply with “You look at me wayyy too much.”

7. When you aren’t blogging about BlackBerry devices, you spend your time as a DJ. How has your BlackBerry smartphone helped you be a better DJ?

At BlackBerry World™ this year, a few of us lucky BlackBerry® PlayBook™ tablet owners were able to get early access to the Pacemaker beta app. It is simply an amazing DJing app, and I cannot say enough good things about it and how easy it is to mix using it. I have actually already made my first mix using it. I just used a standard male-to-male 3.5mm headphone jack cable from my BlackBerry PlayBook tablet to the input of my laptop to record it. I think it came out pretty good too!

8. We know you’re into sports. How do you keep track of your favorite teams with your BlackBerry smartphone?

ScoreMobile for BlackBerry smartphones and ScoreMobile for BlackBerry PlayBook are a couple of my all-time favorite apps, hands down. I’ve been known to trash talk a little on BBM via my status message or direct BBMs about my favorite teams. ScoreMobile makes it ridiculously easy to keep track and share my passion for my teams.

9. Last, but not least: Are you prepared to handle the fame that comes with being our Fan of the Month?

I think so… bring it on!

Other Fun Facts about JT:

• I’m left-handed.
• Spanish is actually my first language.
• Baseball is my favorite sport.
• I am a huge lover of pasta, any kind.

Now, in case you have missed our other awesome past members of the BlackBerry Fan of the Month club, you can check ‘em out here:

January – Brian (@newshutr)
February – Ivan (@IvanSHarris)
March – Jane (@photosfromabb)
April – Josh (@BBbrodyBB)
May - Mark (@AllAboutMyBB)

Keep sharing your FOTM suggestions with us, either by leaving a comment below, tweeting to us @BlackBerry on Twitter, or posting on our Facebook page. Stay tuned – our July FOTM could be YOU!