Business cards are one of the most common methods of exchanging contact information, and if your like me you probably have a ton scattered all around. Most people at one point in time have received a business card from someone and then tossed it in the heap of other business cards. The main reason for the toss, is that no one like to take the time to manually enter all the contact information into their mobile device. The process is tedious time consuming and just plain annoying.

Enter Card2Contact, this little app developed for the BlackBerry can easily do it all for you. All you have to do is take a picture. Yes, it really is that simple. I was a bit skeptical about this myself so I decided to give it a try and after a quick snap of the business card, and a short time the contact info was taken from the card and placed neatly into my BlackBerry contacts.

The way the app works is actually pretty neat. It uses the native camera from your BlackBerry to take a picture of the business card. Then from there it is uploaded to Card2Contact's Manual Transcription Team. From there is sent back to your device to be stored into your contact list. The app works on a credit based system so $10 will get you 30 credits. These credits are then used to upload your business cards.

Card2Contact can be downloaded in BlackBerry App World.

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• See full list of improvements and discuss in the forums

InsideBB met with Andreas from Groupon at CES 2012 to chat about the Groupon apps for BlackBerry smartphones and BlackBerry PlayBook tablets. The new "Groupon Now!" deals are featured as a new way to find deals close to your location. Groupon features 50-90% off deals on the best stuff to do, eat, see and buy. Discover your town and the world with "Daily Deals" and "Now! Deals." Groupon is available in more than 200 cities in the US and Canada, and new cities and deals are added every day!

• Download Groupon FREE in BB App World
• Discuss the Groupon app with us in the BBOS forum

In the last few years, the words "apps" and "operating system" have pretty much become household terms that many of us use on a daily basis. As the popularity of smartphones has increased, some confusion has set in for BlackBerry users on both of these fronts. Some have wondered why an OS is available from a certain carrier but not from another (for example, when two people own the same exact phone but are given two different OSes by two different carriers). Along the same lines, with the explosion of iOS and its App Store, and Android and its Market Place there has been some confusion as to why certain apps are available for some OSes but not others. This encompasses a phenomenon I like to call "Blame RIM."

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• Find out more about BBM Music
  
• Tell us what your favorite songs are on the BBM Music App

As you celebrate that special day with that special someone, we at BlackBerryOS.com wish you a Happy Valentine's Day 2012! Make sure you check out our Valentine's Day guides if you are still on the fence about what you can do to make this a special day.

• RIM's Guide To A Last Minute Valentine's Day - Part 1
• RIM's Guide To A Last Minute Valentine's Day - Part 2
• The Final Countdown: RIM's Guide To A Last Minute Valentine's Day - Part 3

The Easy Smiley Pack Pro for BlackBerry Messenger provides access to hidden smileys and emoticons right inside your device so you can customize your BBM messages and surprise your buddies! Also new is the BlackBerry Messenger status customization, you can now add smileys and flags, and digits to your BBM status and profile name!
Note: These icons will even show up in your friend's BlackBerry Messenger screen without having this app installed.

• Download Easy Smiley Pack Pro in BB App World
• See features and discuss this app in the BBOS forums

Vendors do have to be registered by the 15th of February though in order to take advantage of this offer. So if you're a developer that was thinking about submitting an app not totally complete in order to make the deadline, you know have a couple of more weeks to get that app polished and ready to go.

• Check out more info at the official BlackBerry DevBlog
• Let us know what you think about BlackBerry extending the offer in the forums

BlackBerry Messenger has been updated to version 6.1.0.68. Nothing fancy with this release, but it did address some issues that certain users were experiencing. This is good news if you were among those that were having problems.

The following issues are addressed with this hotfix:

• You couldn't open locations in BlackBerry Maps that you sent or recieved - FIXED.
• The Group Updates section didn't show a red star on new items - FIXED.
• Download it in the Beta Zone
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• Download/Upgrade Slacker Radio for the BlackBerry PlayBook from App World
  
• Let us know how this new version is working out for you in the forums

• More information in the BlackBerry Zone
• Let us know how well this version works out for you in the forums

• Download Runtastic in BlackBerry App World
  
• See changelog and discuss the Runtastic app with us in the forums

• Step 1: Turn her day around with a BBM to meet you at your place in an hour. Use the Interactive Greeting Card app to send her a personalized Valentine’s Day card via Facebook or Twitter. Tip: baby animals are probably the only thing that’ll melt her heart at this point. On the bright side, the app is FREE.
  
• Step 2: Using the Seamless Web app, order a spread from the local sushi joint. Restaurants will be busy, so allow a little extra time for delivery.
  
• Step 3: Flowers and gifts will be tough –For gifts, try the Groupon app is one of our favorites. You can search deals at local restaurants, salons and spas and the voucher will be delivered right to her email. Another option is GiftNTake. With this BBM connected app, you can send a variety of mobile gifts – customized for the holiday - right to her BBM.
  
• Step 4: You’ve got to get bubbly and a romantic dessert. Open up Maps to find the closest wine store and supermarket. Use the Wolf Blass Tasting Tutor to help you pick the perfect bottle of wine, then make one more stop at the market for some strawberries.
  
• Step 5: For the finishing touches, hook up your BlackBerry to your big screen and get the Fireplace app going. Then use BBM Music to grab ready-to-go romantic playlists from your friends. When she arrives, she’ll be sure that you spent weeks planning the evening.

• Discuss how you are going to use your BlackBerry for Valentine's Day in the forums

• See key features and download BB Mobile Conferencing app in the forums